Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Patient's rights are to be supported by all medical and dental treatment health facility personnel and are an integral part of the healing process.  These patient rights are:

Patient's rights are to be supported by all medical and dental treatment health facility personnel and are an integral part of the healing process.  These patient rights are:

1.  Health Care.  The right to quality care and treatment consistent with available resources and generally accepted standards.  The patient has the right to participate in planning medical treatment including the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and government regulations and to be informed of the consequences of his/her actions.

2.  Respectful Treatment.   The right to considerate and respectful care, with recognition of personal dignity and consideration of the psychological, spiritual, and cultural variables that influence his or her perceptions of illness.

3.  Privacy.   The right to privacy during the provision of treatment of care within law and military regulations.

4.  Confidentiality.   The right to expect all communications and records pertaining to his/her health care be treated as confidential.

5.  Identity.   The right to know, at all times, the professional status and credentials of health care personnel, as well as the name of the health care provider primarily responsible for their care.

6.  Explanation of Care.   Receive an explanation from a committed and trained staff member in plain language of the diagnosis, treatment, procedures, and anticipated outcomes of care.  Patients and their families have a right to be informed by a committed and trained staff member of unanticipated outcomes of care and events.  When it is not possible or medically advisable to give such information to the patient, it will be provided to family members or another appropriate person.

7.  Informed Consent.   The right to be advised in non-medical terms on information needed in order to make knowledgeable decisions for consent or refusal of treatment.  Such information should include significant complications, risks, benefits, and alternative treatments available.

8.  Medical Record.  The right to have patients’ electronic medical record available for each appointment.  The right to receive one courtesy copy of your record from Outpatient Medical Records.

9.  Research Projects.   The right to be advised if the facility proposes to engage in or perform research associated with their care or treatment.  The patient has the right to refuse to participate in any research projects.

10.  Safe and Secure Environment.   The right to care and treatment in a safe and secure environment.

11.  Pain Management.  The right to information about pain and pain relief measures by a concerned staff committed to pain prevention and management.  The right to expect your reports of pain will be quickly addressed and appropriate pain management measures will be implemented.

12.  Rules and Regulations.   The right to be informed of the facility's rules and regulations relating to patient or visitor conduct.  The patient should also be informed about smoking rules, and that compliance with those rules is expected from all individuals.

13.  Resolution of Complaints.   The right to information about the hospital's policies and procedures for the initiation, review, and resolution of patient complaints.

14.  Communication.   The right to informed and timely communication regarding all health care matters.   Additionally, full explanations of why in the unlikely event restricting communication is deemed therapeutically beneficial.

15.  Ministry and Pastoral Care.   The right to information about the ministrations of the Church and pastoral care and counseling available during hospitalization.

16.  Advance Directives.   The right to formulate advance directives, such as Living Will or Durable Medical Power of Attorney for health care, and the right to appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on your behalf to the extent permitted by law.  The right to receive information about advance directives during pre-admission and admission to the hospital.

Providing quality health care is a complex task which requires close cooperation between patients and health facility personnel.  Patients can take responsibility for their care by helping the medical team give the best possible care.  These patient responsibilities are:

1.  Providing Information.  The responsibility to provide, to the best of their knowledge, accurate and complete information about complaints, past illness, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to their health.   A patient has the responsibility to let his/her health care provider know whether he or she understands the treatment and what is expected of him/her.

2.   Respect and Consideration.   The responsibility for being considerate of the rights of other patients and health care personnel and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors.  The patient is responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the facility.

3.  Compliance with Medical Care.   The responsibility for complying with the medical and nursing treatment plan, including follow-up care recommended by health care providers.  This includes keeping appointments on time and notifying the health facility when appointments cannot be kept.

4.  Pain Management.  Patients and/or their family members have the responsibility to ask the health care provider what to expect regarding their pain management and to participate in discussion and decisions.  Patients should ask for pain relief when the pain first begins and notify the health care provider if the pain is not relieved; share the concerns.

5.  Rules and Regulations.   The responsibility for following the rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

6.  Reporting of Patient Concerns.   The responsibility for helping the health facility commander to provide the best possible care to all beneficiaries.  Patient's recommendations, questions, or concerns, should be reported to our Patient Representative at 803-751-2123 or DSN 734-2123. 

For information and assistance on your rights and responsibilities, please contact your Patient Services located on the 11th Floor of Moncrief Army Community Hospital or call (803) 751-2123