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Patient Rights & Responsibilities*Northwestern Medical Center recognizes and respects the rights and individuality of each of our patients, infants, children, adults, and the elderly.
In keeping with this, our policies reflect the following patient rights:
You have the right to expect high quality health care regardless of your sex, handicap, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, religion, race, color, national origin, educational background, or source of payment for your bill.
You have the right to prompt response to all reasonable requests or needs for treatments or service.
You have the right to the most appropriate medical treatment available, delivered in a safe, considerate, and respectful manner.
You have the right to receive professional assessment of pain and professional management.
You have the right in collaboration with your physician, to make decisions involving your care. This includes whether to accept medical care or refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences.
You have the right to make advance directives that guide your healthcare providers by informing them of your treatment preferences if you cannot speak for yourself.
You have the right to appoint someone as your agent to speak for you, regarding your treatment preferences if you cannot speak for yourself.
You have the right to complete ongoing information concerning your diagnosis, treatment, any known prognosis, and information on post-discharge care needs; and to have this information be given to a guardian or immediate family member if it is not medically advisable or possible to be given to you.
You have the right to know the number of inpatients and the number of staff providing direct patient care (Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Licensed Nursing Assistants) on each shift on your unit.
You have the right to express concerns relating to your care as outlined in the Patient Relations section of this website.
You, or a designated representative, have the right to participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise in the course of your care.
You have the right to information on any research or educational projects affecting your care or treatment and the right to refuse to participate in such activity.
You, or a designated representative, have the right to confidentiality regarding your medical care and treatment.
You have the right to have access to the information contained in the patient’s medical record, within the limits of the law.
You have the right to know the identity and professional status of the individuals providing you service.
You have the right to an interpreter if language or hearing present a continuing problem in under standing care.
You have the right to consult a specialist at your request and expense.
You have the right to a complete explanation of the need for transfer to another facility and of alternatives to transfer.
You have the right to know what hospital rules and regulations apply to you as a patient.
You have the right to have a parent, guardian, immediate family member, or agent stay with you 24 hours a day if you are a child or are terminally ill.
You have the right to be informed in writing of the availability of hospice services and the eligibility criteria for those services.
You have the right to examine an itemized copy of your hospital bill and to have it explained to you, regardless of source of payment. You also have the right to information concerning possible resources of financial assistance.
You have the right to have a designated representative exercise these rights on your behalf if you are judged to be incompetent, medically incapable of understanding, unable to communicate, or are a minor.
* Updated June 1, 2006
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