RFGH is committed:

• to protect and promote each patient's rights and to provide a mechanism of informing patients or patient's representative of their rights and responsibilities.
• to respect religious, ethnic and cultural diversity of patients and to recognize that each patient has individualized needs.

Definition:

Patient means patient or patient representative as allowed under State Law. When the patient does not have the mental or physical capacity to make care decisions, or when the patient is a child, an individual other than (or in addition to) the patient need to be involved in decisions regarding their care, a surrogate decision maker is identified.  In the case of an unemancipated minor, the family or guardian is legally responsible for approving the care prescribed.

Patients have the right:

• To be informed of their rights in advance of furnishing or discontinuing patient care, whenever possible. 
• Each Medicare beneficiary has the right to be provided a notice of beneficiary rights to receive covered services, to be involved in decisions about hospital stay, to report concerns about quality of care to the Quality Improvement Organization and has the right to appeal premature discharge.
• When patients who are deaf, blind or do not speak or understand the predominant language of the community present, they shall have access to an interpreter and/or resources for alternative communication techniques or assistive devices.
• To prompt resolution of grievances (complaints) and to be informed about whom to contact to file a written or verbal grievance.  When the patient has a problem with hospital stay, the caregiver, department manager or nurse supervisor can be contacted to initiate the process.

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Patients have the right:

• To participate in the development and implementation of their plan of care for inpatient treatment/care, outpatient treatment/care, and revisions to either, pain management, and revisions to either pain management plan and discharge plan.
• To make informed decisions regarding their care.
• To obtain, from the practitioner responsible for coordinating their care, complete and current information concerning their health status and diagnosis, to the degree known, treatment, and any known prognosis.  This information shall be communicated in terms that patients can reasonably be expected to understand.  When it is not medically advisable to give such information information to patients, the information should be made available to a legally authorized individual.
• To request or refuse treatment.  This right must not be construed as a mechanism to demand the provision of treatment or services deemed medically unnecessary or inappropriate.
• To be informed by the practitioner responsible for their care, or their delegate, or any continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital.
• To formulate Advance Directives and to have the hospital staff and practitioners implement and comply with these directives.
• To have their family, friends and representatives of their choice or physician notified promptly of their admission to the hospital.
• To exclude any or all family members from participating in their care decisions.
• To refuse to talk with or see anyone not officially connected with the hospital. including visitors or persons officially connected with the hospital but not directly involved in care.
• To access people outside of the hospital by means of visitors, and by verbal and written communication.  Patients have the right to designate who may visit.
• To be accorded impartial access to treatment or accommodations that are available or medicallyindicated, regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin or sources of payment for care.
• Patients asked to participate in research/educational projects affecting their care or treatment are given information about projects and the patient has the right to refuse to participate in any such activity.
• Patients or the patient's legal representative shall be informed if the hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation or other research/educational projects affecting their care or treatment.
• The patient shall be informed of the expected benefits; potential discomforts and risks; alternative services that might also prove advantageous; and an explanation of the procedure to be followed, especially those that are experimental in nature.  The patients have the right to refuse or participate in any such activity.
• To wear appropriate personal clothing and religous or other symbolic items, as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatments.
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• In advance of furnishing patient care whenever possible, inform each patient (or support person, where appropriate) of the right, subject to his or her consent, to receive visitors, and the right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time. Visitation will not be restricted, limited, or otherwise denied based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Although it is impossible to decline or anticipate every clinical reason that could warrant restrictions or limitations, Visitation may be limited or restricted if clinically necessary when the patient is undergoing care interventions; when there may be infection control issues; and when visitation may interfere with the care of other patients.

Patients have the right:

• To personal privacy, respect, dignity and comfort.  Personal privacy will be ensured during personal hygiene, treatments and when requested as appropriate,
• This includes the right to have a person of one's own sex present during certain parts of a physical examination, treatment, or procedure performed by a health professional of the opposite sex and the right not to remain disrobed any longer than is required for accomplsihing the purpose for which the patient was asked to disrobe.
• To receive care in a safe setting and an environment that a reasonable person would consider safe to include emotional and physical safety.  Vulnerable populations such as children will be protected.
• To be free from all forms of abuse, neglect or harassment.

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Patients have the right:

• To confidentiality of clinical records.  Information is limited only to those people designed by laws, regulation and policy.
• To access information contained in their clinical records within a reasonable time and to amend it if needed.
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Patients have the right:

• To be free from physical or mental abuse and corporal punishment.
• To be free from restraints (physical or chemical) or seclusion imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation.  Restraint or seclusion may only be imposed to ensure the immediate physical safety of the patient, staff or others.

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Patients have the right:

• To know the identity and professional status of individuals providing services and to know which physician or other practitioner is primarily responsible for their care.  This includes patients' right to know of the existence of any professional relationship to any other health care or educational institutions involved in their care.

Patients have the right:

• At their own request and expense, have the right to consult with a specialist and RFGH will facilitate that request.
• Patients may not be transferred to another facility unless they have received a complete explanation of the need for the transfer and of the alternatives to such a transfer and unless the transfer is acceptable to the other facility.

Patients have the right:

• Regardless of the source of payment for this care, patients have the right to request and receive an itemized and detailed explanation of their total bill for services rendered in the hospital.
• To timely notice prior to termination of eligibility for reimbursement by any third-party payer for the cost of their care.
• Redington-Fairview General Hospital is committed to providing safe, reliable care. RFGH will not knowingly charge patients or their insurer for treatment to correct a serious healthcare mistake or preventable adverse event that occurs according to Maine Law LD 2044.

RFGH wants to hear your concerns so we can resolve them promptly. Any staff member will listen to or receive your concern or complaint. You also may ask to talk to the department head or supervisor. The staff, department head or supervisor will immediately address your grievance privately with no discrimination.

Patient shall be informed of the hospital rules and regulations applicable to their conduct as patients.

PROVISION OF INFORMATION:

Patients are responsible:

• to provide, to the best of their knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to their health.
• for reporting unexpected changes in their condition to the responsible practitioner.
• for reporting whether they clearly comprehend a contemplated course of action and what is expected of them.

COMPLIANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS:

Patients are responsible:

• for following the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for their care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and allied health personnel as they carry out the coordinated plan of care and implement the responsible practitioner`s orders, and as they enforce the applicable hospital rules and regulations.
• for keeping appointments and, when they are unable to do for any reason, for notifying the responsible practitioner or hospital.

REFUSAL OF TREATMENT:

Patients are responsible:

• for their actions if they refuse treatment or do not follow the practitioner's instructions.

HOSPITAL CHARGES:

Patients are responsible:

• for assuring that the financial obligations of their health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible and for notifying the hospital if the believe they have been billed for care of a serious, preventable event.

HOSPITAL RULES AND REGULATIONS:

Patients are responsible:

• for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION:

Patients are responsible:

• for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise, and the number of visitors.
• for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.
• to treat staff, medical staff and others in a manner that is reasonable, collaborative and respectful.

QUESTIONS:

If you have any questions about your rights or responsibilities as a patient, or if you have a problem or wish to make a suggestion, you may talk with your caregiver, contact the RFGH operator and ask for the nursing supervisor, or contact the public relations director at extension 319, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am until 4:00 pm

Revised 6/11