Health care finance week 4

Chapter 12

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Discuss the importance of understanding patient rights.

• Discuss the importance of understanding patient responsibilities.

• Describe the Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry’s listing of patient responsibilities.

Patient Rights – I

• Right to Examination & Treatment

• Right to Ask Questions

– clarification of caregiver’s instructions

– interpretation of caregivers’ handwriting

– instructions for medication usage

• frequency

• dosing

• side effects, drug-drug & food-drug interactions

Patient Rights – II

• Right to Know Your Rights • Right to Explanation of Your Rights • Right to Admission • Right to Have Special Needs Addressed • Right to Know Caregivers • Right to Appoint Decision Makers • Right to Execute Advance Directives • Right to Compassionate Care • Right to Quality Care • Right to Dignity and Respect

Patient Rights – III

• Right to Refuse Treatment • Right to Discharge • Right to Stabilization and Transfer • Right to Access Records • Right to Know Third-Party Care Relationships • Right to Pain Management • Right to Know Restrictions on Rights • Right to Transparency

– Hospital Charges

Patient Responsibilities – I

• Practice a Healthy Lifestyle

• Maintain Medication Records

• Keep Appointments

• Provide Full Disclosure of Medical History

• Inpatient Care Responsibilities

• Stay Informed

• Comply with Rules and Regulations

Patient Responsibilities – II Provide Caregivers

• Accurate, timely, & complete information

• Medical complaints

• Symptoms

• Past illnesses

• Treatments

• Surgical procedures

• Hospitalizations

• Medications

Patient Responsibilities – III

• Report Unexpected Changes in Condition

• Understand

– plan of care

– course of treatment

– care instructions

• Ask Questions

– This is not only a right, it is a responsibility

Patient Responsibilities – IV

• Report Pain to Caregivers

• Follow Recommended Treatment Plan

• Follow organization’s rules & regulations

• Refrain from self-administration of drugs

• Accept Consequences of

– refusing treatment

– not following instructions

Patient Responsibilities – V

• Be Considerate of the Rights of Others

– caregivers

– control of noise

– avoid smoking

– limit number of visitors

• Be Respectful of the Property of Others

• Recognize Effect of Lifestyle on One’s Health

Patient Responsibilities – VI

• Keep Appointments

• Request 2nd Opinion

• Confirm Surgery & Surgical Site

• Inform Caregivers of Care preferences

– who the surrogate decision-maker is

PATIENT ADVOCACY

• Caregivers are patient advocates because of their position to help patients who are often helpless & unable to speak for themselves.

• Many states have established ombudsperson programs responsible for the investigation of reports of abuse.

REVIEW QUESTIONS – I

1. When considering a person's religious beliefs, should the state have a right to interfere with a mother's decision to refuse a blood transfusion? Why?

2. Should a hospital be able to raise whatever interest the state itself may have in seeking to compel an unwilling patient to undergo a routine, lifesaving medical procedure? Explain.

REVIEW QUESTIONS – II

3. Describe why a patient's responsibilities are as important as his or her rights.

4. Discuss the ramifications of the following statement: It is the patient's responsibility to communicate to the staff any symptoms that he or she is experiencing.