PATIENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In keeping with the SETON Healthcare Network's mission, philosophy, core values and commitment to the delivery of quality health care, Seton Northwest recognizes, protects and promotes the following rights for each patient, to include, as appropriate, the patient's legally authorized representative (referred to in this policy as patients).
As a Seton Northwest patient, you have the right to:
- Participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care and make decisions regarding your care, including pain management.
- Make informed decisions regarding your care, including being informed of your health status, being involved in your care planning and treatment, and being able to request or refuse treatment.
- Formulate advance directives and to have Seton Northwest staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives in accordance with the law.
- Have a family member of your own choice and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.
- Personal privacy.
- Receive care in a safe setting.
- Be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
- Confidentiality of your clinical records in accordance with law.
- Access information contained in your clinical record within a reasonable time frame.
- Be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff for acute medical or surgical care.
- Be free from seclusion and restraints, of any form, imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff for behavioral management.
- Receive reasonable access to care.
- Care that is considerate and respectful of personal values and beliefs. . Participate in ethical issues that may arise in the course of your care.
- Receive information about clinical experiments, research or educational projects affecting your care or treatment including the expected benefits, potential discomforts and risks and alternatives that may also be available.
- Receive a reasonable response to requests for treatment or service.
- Appropriate assessment and management of pain.
- Have Seton Northwest use its best efforts to meet your special communication needs.
- Receive, upon request, Seton Northwest's policies related to patient rights.
- Be informed of Seton Northwest's complaint/grievance process and to voice complaints or concerns without affecting your care or treatment.
- Accept or refuse medical care to the extent permitted by law, or to change your mind regarding your care.
- Be informed of Seton Northwest's rules and regulations applicable to patient care and conduct.
- Request and receive a detailed explanation of your bill.
As a Seton Northwest patient, you have the responsibility to:
- Provide accurate and complete health information and to understand your plan of care.
- Follow the agreed-upon plan of care.
- Accept responsibility for the outcomes of refusing treatment or for not following the agreed-upon plan of care.
- Fulfill your financial obligations.
- Follow Seton Northwest's rules and regulations about patient care and conduct.
- Be considerate and respectful of other patients, Seton Northwest staff and their property.
- Provide us with a copy of your Advance Directives, if you have one.
PATIENT HEALTHCARE CHOICES
You have the right to make important legal decisions in advance about your health care. "Advance Directives" are documents written in advance of the time when you are unable to make health care decisions for yourself. By law, the lack of advance directives does not hamper your access to care.
Advance Directives
Please bring in a copy of your Advance Directives, if you have already made decisions about your healthcare. This is extremely important, as your healthcare team needs to place this document on your chart. That guides our care delivery during your stay.
Here is a summary of important aspects of the September 1,1999, Texas "Advance Directive Act":
- Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Order: a written form directing health care professionals in out-of-hospital settings not to initiate or continue certain medical interventions. Declaration for Mental Health Treatment: a written directive specifying preferences or instructions regarding mental health treatment.
- Organ and Tissue Donation: a written statement, signed by the donor or legally authorized representative, authorizing the donation of organs and/or tissues after death.
- Medical Power of Attorney: a written directive designating a person or persons to make healthcare decisions if the patient becomes unable to make his/her own decisions. (*Prior to September 1, 1999, this document was known as a "Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care".)
- Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates: a written directive specifying choices for life-sustaining treatment in the event of a terminal or irreversible condition, including wishes regarding life support. (*Prior to September 1, 1999, this document was known as a "Directive to Physicians/Living Will" and only addressed terminal condition and did NOT provide the option to request being kept alive using available life-sustaining treatment.) Seton Northwest offers assistance to patients who choose to revoke the Directive to Physicians/Living Will and execute the Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates. However, a patient may wish to consult with an attorney or other resources for specific advice before doing so.
- Please note: Advance Directives signed before September 1,1999 remain valid. Patients are NOT required to sign the updated versions.
Advance Directive information is available from the admitting staff, nurses, chaplains, social workers, case managers and patient representatives, or at the Information Desk.
Ethics Consultation
Consultations for ethical problems related to healthcare are available for each patient, their family or legal representative. In general, an ethical problem may exist when the right thing to do is not clear or when people disagree about what is appropriate. For more information, contact your patient representative at 324-6000, x67963 or your nurse who can help arrange for the consultation. If needed, an Ethics Team can work with you or your Medical Power of Attorney.
Chaplain Services
The Chaplains are available for visitation, prayer, counseling, spiritual and emotional support for the patient, family and the staff twenty-four hours of the day. For Catholics, Sacramental Services are available upon request. To reach a chaplain on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., call 324-6480. To contact a chaplain at other times, please call the operator and ask for the chaplain on call. The chapel and the office are located on the ground floor. Holy Mass is held in the chapel on weekdays at Noon and on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Holy Mass is not held on Saturdays.
Pain Management/Pain Scale
At Seton Northwest Hospital, our doctors or nurses may ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 0 - 10, with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain. Rating your pain on a scale helps nurses and doctors tell if your pain management is working or if changes are needed. An example of our pain scale is below.
