Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Wabash General Hospital and the Medical Staff have adopted the following statement of patient rights. This list shall include but not be limited to the patient's rights to:

Become informed of his or her rights as a patient in advance of, or when discontinuing, the provision of care. The patient may appoint a representative to receive this information should he or she so desire.
Exercise these rights without regard to sex or cultural, economic, educational, or religious background or source of payment for care.
Considerate and respectful care provided in a safe environment, free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
Patients have the right to access protective services.
Appropriate assessment and management of pain.
Remain free from seclusion or restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
Knowledge of the name of the physician who has primary responsibility for coordinating his/her care and the names and professional relationships of other physician and healthcare providers who will see him/her.
Receive information from his/her physician about his/her illness, course of treatment, outcomes of care (including anticipated outcomes), and his/her prospects for recovery in terms that he/she can understand.
Receive as much information about any proposed treatment or procedure as you may need in order to give informed consent or to refuse the course of treatment. Except in emergencies, this information shall include a description of the procedure of treatment, the medically significant risks involved in the treatment, alternate course of treatment or non-treatment and the risks involved in each and to know the name of the person who will carry out the procedure or treatment.
Participate in the development and implementation of his or her plan of care and actively participate in the decisions regarding his/her medical care. To the extent permitted by law, this includes the right to request and/or refuse treatment.
Formulate advance directives regarding his or her healthcare, and have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives (to the extent provided by state laws and regulations).
Have a family member or representative of his or her choice notified promptly of his or her admission to the hospital.
Have his or her personal physician notified promptly of his or her admission to the hospital.
Full consideration of privacy concerning his/her medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discretely. The patient has the right to be advised as to the reason for the presence of any individual involved in his or her healthcare.
Confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to his/her care and his/her stay in the hospital. His/her written permission will be obtained before his/her medical records can be made available to anyone not directly concerned with his/her care.
Access information contained in his or her medical record within a reasonable period (until within 2 working days of request).
Reasonable responses to any reasonable request he/she may make service.
Leave the hospital even against the advice of his/her physician, unless legal restrictions apply
Reasonable continuity of care.
Be advised of the hospital grievance period process, should he or she wish to communicate a concern regarding the quality of the care he or she receives or if he or she feels determined, discharge date is premature. Notification of the grievance process includes: whom to contact to file a grievance, and that he or she will be provided with a written notice of the grievance determination that contains the name of the hospital contact person, the steps taken on his or her behalf to investigate the grievance, the results of the grievance and the grievance completion date.
Be informed by his/her physician or a delegate of his/her physician of the continuing healthcare requirements following his/her discharge from the hospital.
Examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill regardless of source of payment.
Know which hospital rules and policies apply to his/her conduct while a patient.
Have all patients' rights apply to the person who may have legal responsibility to make decisions regarding medical care on behalf of the patient.

All hospital personnel, medical staff members and contracted agency personnel performing patient care activities shall observe these patients' rights.

The care a patient receives depends partially on the patient himself. Therefore, in addition to these rights, a patient has certain responsibilities as well.

These responsibilities should be presented to the patient in the spirit of mutual trust and respect:

The patient has the responsibility to provide accurate and complete information concerning his/her present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his/her health.
The patient is responsible for reporting perceived risks in their care and unexpected changes in their condition to their responsible practitioner.
The patient and family are responsible for asking questions when they do not understand what they have been told about the patient's care or what they are expected to do.
The patient is responsible for following the treatment plan established by his/her physician, including the instructions of nurses and other health professionals as they carry out the physician's orders.
The patient is responsible for keeping appointments and for notifying the hospital or physician when he/she is unable to do so.
The patient is responsible for his/her actions should he/she refuse treatment or not follow his/her physician's orders.
The patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his/her hospital care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
The patient is responsible for following hospital policies and procedures.
The patient is responsible for being respectful of his/her personal property and that of others in the hospital
The patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel.
The patient is responsible for providing the hospital with copies of any Advance Directive they have executed.
The patient is responsible for requesting that visitors comply with hospital rules and regulations.