Patient Rights

Your Rights as a Patient

You are a partner in your hospital care. You have rights and responsibilities. While you are a patient in this hospital, your rights include:

• You have the right to considerate and respectful care.
• You have the right to be told about your illness, possible treatments, and likely outcomes and to discuss this information with your doctor. You have the right to know the names and roles of people treating you.
• You have the right to make decisions about your healthcare, to consent to or refuse a treatment, as permitted by law, throughout your hospital stay. If you refuse a recommended treatment, you will receive other needed and available care.
• You have the right to have an advance directive, such as a living will or health care proxy. These documents express your choices about your future care or name someone to decide if you cannot speak for yourself. If you have a written advance directive, you should provide a copy to the hospital, your family and your doctor. This advance directive will be followed to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy.
• You have the right to privacy. The hospital, your doctor, and others caring for you will protect your privacy as much as possible.
• You have the right to expect that treatment records are confidential unless you have given permission to release information or reporting is required or permitted by law. When the hospital releases records to others, such as insurers, it emphasizes that the records are confidential.
• You have the right to review your medical records and to have the information explained, except when restricted by law.
• You have the right to expect to receive necessary health services within the capabilities and policies of the hospital. The hospital will make reasonable response to the request of a patient for appropriate and medically indicated care and services. Treatment, referral or transfer may be recommended. If transfer is recommended or requested, you will be informed of risk, benefits, and alternatives. You will not be transferred until the other institution agrees to accept you.
• You have the right to know if this hospital has relationships with outside parties that may influence your treatment and care. These relationships may be with educational institutions, other health care providers, or insurers.
• You have the right to consent or decline to take part in research affecting your care. If you choose not to take part, you will receive the most effective care the hospital otherwise provides.
• You have the right to be told of realistic care alternatives when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
• You have the right to know about hospital rules that affect you and your treatment and about charges and payment methods. You have the right to know about hospital resources, such as patient representatives or ethics committees, that can help you resolve problems and questions about your hospital stay and care.

Your Responsibilities as a Patient

The collaborative nature of health care requires that patients, or their families/surrogates, participate in their care. The effectiveness of care and patient satisfaction with the course of treatment depend, in part, on the patient fulfilling certain responsibilities.

• You are responsible for providing information about your health, including past illnesses, hospital stays, and use of medicine.
• You are responsible for asking questions when you do not understand information or instructions. You are responsible for making sure that the hospital has a copy of your written advance directive if you have one
• If you believe you can't follow through with your treatment, you are responsible for telling your doctor.
• Onslow Memorial Hospital works to provide care efficiently and fairly to all patients and the community. You and your visitors are responsible for being considerate of the needs of other patients, staff and the hospital.
• You are responsible for providing information for insurance and for working with the hospital to arrange payment, when needed.
• Your health depends not just on your hospital care, but in the long term, on the decisions you make in your daily life. You are responsible for recognizing the effect of life-style on your personal health.