Rights and Responsibilities

North Alabama Medical Center wants you to have appropriate care as prescribed or recommended by those who are treating you. We want you to know what your rights are as a patient as well as what your obligations are to yourself, your physician and the hospital. We encourage you to talk openly with those involved in your care.

Rights

At North Alabama Medical Center, you have the right to:

• care that is considerate and respectful without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
• have complete information about your illness and treatments in words that you understand so that you can help make informed decisions about your care, treatment and services; consent to or refuse treatment or services after receiving information to help you make that decision;
• choose who may visit you, regardless of relationship or their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability, in accordance with visitation policies and clinical restrictions;
• choose a support person to make decisions about your visitors if you are unable to speak for yourself;
• expect that we will ask for permission before recording or filming your care and treatment for any reason other than identification, diagnosis or treatment;
• receive adequate information about those responsible for the delivery of your care, treatment and services;
• refuse care, treatment or services that are in conflict with your religious, cultural or personal beliefs unless state or federal law requires otherwise;
• have your wishes about care at the end of your life addressed and respected;
• be told about outcomes of care or treatment, including things that might be unexpected;
• express concerns or complaints about your care or treatment. You may speak with your nurse, patient care manager, doctor or the patient experience champion at extension 9140. If we cannot satisfy your concerns, you may contact the Alabama Department of Public Health at (800) 356-9596 or the Joint Commission at (800) 994-6610;
• be cared for in a safe and secure environment and be free from neglect, exploitation and verbal, mental, physical or sexual abuse;
• be communicated to in a way that is appropriate for your age and in a language that you understand;
• privacy during your treatment and care and the assurance that information about your health and health care will be kept in confidence by those caring for you;
• an environment that preserves your dignity and contributes to a positive image of yourself;
• have pain assessed and managed appropriately;
• help finding protective and advocacy services;
• get information about charges that you will have because of treatment.

Responsibilities

You have the responsibility of:

• giving complete and accurate information about your health and your medical history;
• asking questions when you do not understand your care, treatment or instructions about what you are supposed to do;
• following instructions about your care and treatment, and understanding the consequences if you do not follow them;
• being considerate of those caring for you as well as other patients and visitors, and for following hospital guidelines;
• making certain your health care bills are paid as soon as possible.
• If you have questions or if you desire more information about these rights and responsibilities, please contact the patient experience champion at ext. 9140 and she will be happy to arrange a meeting for you.