Your Rights & Responsibilities

Respect for our patients and their healthcare journey is integral to Riverside Healthcare’s culture of caring. We developed the following set of patient rights and responsibilities out of genuine respect and consideration for our patients. They reflect our core values of partnership, integrity, excellence and stewardship and indicate the quality of care you can expect to receive from us, because we believe that you and all of our patients deserve the highest standard of care and to be completely satisfied with your healthcare experience.

Patient’s Rights

The patient or patient’s representative (as allowed under state and federal law) has the following rights:

1. To be given access to treatments and facilities regardless of race, religion, color, language, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, ability to understand, physical or mental handicap/disability, or any other classification protected by any applicable law. If Riverside cannot provide the care needed, staff will inform you of your needs and the alternatives to care.
2. To accommodate any special needs or disabilities including provision of interpretive assistance or assistive devices.
3. To be respected as an individual deserving competent, private and compassionate care.
4. To know the names of your physicians and your Healthcare team members.
5. To receive pastoral care and/or spiritual guidance.
6. To receive care and treatment consistent with sound nursing and medical practices in a safe setting free of abuse, neglect or harassment of any kind.
7. To access protective and advocacy services.
8. To be free from seclusion and restraints of any form that is not medically necessary.
9. To be informed of his/her health status, condition and proposed treatment, to be involved in care planning and treatment, and to make informed decisions regarding his/her care.
10. To be informed about the outcomes of care, treatment and services including unanticipated outcomes.
11. To privacy (visual and auditory), and that consultations involving your care will be discreet.
12. To be respected for your spiritual, cultural, psychosocial needs, beliefs and values.
13. To an environment that preserves dignity and a positive self-image.
14. To obtain information regarding the relationship of Riverside, your physician and other organizations as it relates to your care.
15. To collaborate with your Healthcare staff to make informed decisions.
16. To refuse to talk to or see anyone not officially connected with Riverside or your physician’s office.
17. To a reasonable response to your request for services.
18. To formulate Advance Directives including appointing a surrogate to make Healthcare decisions on your behalf.
19. To review clinical criteria used in utilization activities in the event you are notified that your stay is non-certified.
20. To pain management.
21. To require or refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law. The patient does not have the right to services deemed medically unnecessary or inappropriate.
22. To request a consultation or second opinion from another physician as well as to change physicians, hospitals or outpatient centers.
23. To have a family member or representative and the patient’s physician notified of admission.
24. To participate in research studies after receiving an explanation of the nature and possible consequences of the research before it is conducted and after giving informed consent.
25. To consent to, or refuse to consent to, being filmed or recorded without such a decision affecting the healthcare received.
26. To request and participate in an ethics consultation.
27. To know the approximate cost of hospital or outpatient services or whether a service is covered by Medicare or other insurer, before admission or treatment, and to examine and receive a reasonable explanation of the patient’s bill for services rendered by his/her physician or Healthcare provider, including the itemized charges for specific services rendered.
28. To have their end-of-life wishes honored by their caregivers, including the right to withhold resuscitative services or withdraw life-sustaining services.
29. To have their organ donation wishes honored by their caregivers.
30. To personal privacy and to the confidentiality of his/her medical and information (to the extent provided by law).
31. To inspect, copy and to request amendments to the patient’s medical information and to have access to his/her medical while hospitalized. After discharge, the patient may request a copy of his/her medical record.
32. To request restrictions or limitations on the medical information that RHC discloses about the patient.
33. To receive confidential communication (i.e. that RHC only contact the patient in a certain manner or at a certain location) from RHC.
34. To an accounting of disclosures required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s Privacy Rule.
35. To receive a copy of RHC’s Notice of Privacy Practices upon the patient’s first visit to RHC.
36. To know the identity and the role of the individuals involved in your care. Because this is a teaching hospital, there are many members of the health care team participating in your care and treatment. You may request that an individual not be assigned to your care and may expect that this request will be honored whenever this is possible without jeopardizing access to medical or psychiatric attention.
37. To be permitted unimpeded, private, and uncensored communication with persons of your choice by mail, telephone and visitation.
38. To receive visitors or a support person of your choice while preserving patient safety or clinical needs. You can withdraw or deny visitation consent at any time.
39. To receive a written statement at time of admission of the above rights if you are admitted to Riverside Medical Center or as soon thereafter as the condition of the patient permits.

Patient’s or Family Member’s Responsibilities

The patient or the patient’s representative has the following responsibilities:

1. To provide an accurate and complete information about your health to the best of your knowledge.
2. To provide the information necessary for insurance processing and to provide timely payment for services provided.
3. To ask questions if information is not fully understood.
4. To follow the treatment plan and inform your physician or Healthcare staff member of any changes in your condition.
5. To let us know if you do not understand the treatment plan or decisions about your care.
6. For the outcomes if you do not follow the care, treatment and service plans provided by the staff.
7. To follow the rules and regulations of Riverside Medical Center.
8. To treat other patients, RHC staff and your physicians with consideration and respect, including their property.
9. To inform the staff or your physician if you are dissatisfied with your care.
10. To tell us if you have a Living Will, Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare, Legal Guardianship for the patient or are an organ donor.

Medical Chaperones

We value the safety and dignity of our patients. We are committed to creating a respectful, comfortable environment. It is our commitment to provide chaperones during sensitive exams and procedures or upon request.

What is a Medical Chaperone?

A medical chaperone is a witness who may assist patients and health professionals in completing sensitive exams, procedures and care in a consistent, safe and respectful manner.

• A medical chaperone will always be offered during sensitive exams, procedures or care for all adult and vulnerable patients.
• Adults may decline a medical chaperone if they wish.
• A medical chaperone will always be available for any patient during any exam, procedure or care by request.

What Will the Medical Chaperone Do?

A medical chaperone is present to provide comfort and reassurance throughout the exam, procedure or care. This may include assuring the patient is appropriately gowned or covered, communicating to the patient what will happen and why, and monitoring the patient for signs of discomfort during the exam or procedure.

The medical chaperone will only be present during the sensitive parts of the exam, procedure or care or as the patient and/or provider requests. They will position themselves in a location that allows observation of the health professional’s clinical actions.

What is a Sensitive Exam?

Any exam, procedure or care that includes physical examination or touching of the genitalia, rectum or female breast.

Your Right To Privacy

Riverside Healthcare uses health information about you for treatment, to obtain payment for treatment, for administrative purposes, and to evaluate the quality of care you receive. Your health information is contained in a medical record that is the physical property of Riverside Healthcare. We respect your right to privacy and make every effort to maintain confidentiality. According to the federal law named the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” (HIPAA), you have rights concerning the use of individually identifiable health information. Only individuals with a legitimate “need to know” may access, use or disclose patient information.

You have a right:

• To receive a copy of Riverside’s Notice of Privacy Practices.
• To an accounting of disclosures required by HIPAA’s Privacy Rule.
• To complain if the patient believes his/her privacy rights have been violated.

For privacy-related complaints, the patient should be referred to Riverside’s Chief Privacy Officer. The patient may also contact the Department of Health and Human Services at:

Centralized Case Management Operations
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave, S.W., Room 509F HHH Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Fax: 1-202-610-3818
Email: OCRComplaint@hhs.gov
More information: www.hhs.gov/hipaa