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Encompass Urgent Care
Rights and Responsibilities of Patients

INTRODUCTION

Encompass Urgent Care and its staff support and protect the fundamental human, civil, constitutional and statutory rights of each patient. Providers supervise each patient's individual treatment plan; patient rights shall be assured and protected within the constraints of the individual treatment plan. When the patient is a minor these rights are also assured to the parent or authorized representative of the patient. Likewise, patients have the responsibility to abide by the rules of the center, assure that family and visitors also abide by those rules and to cooperate with and participate in the treatment plan of care. "Rights and Responsibilities of Patients" will be given to every patient or his/her representative at the time of admission. Any written order denying a patient's rights shall be issued/reviewed as per the "Denial of Rights" section of this policy. The rights of all patients are guaranteed. Parents or guardians of minors shall have the same rights and responsibilities as patients.

I. EACH PATIENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

1. Be treated without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.
2. Have you and your property treated with dignity and respect.
3. Participate in the development and implementation of his/her care plan.
4. Be kept informed of his/her status and be involved in decisions/revisions regarding his/her care.
5. Refuse treatment and be informed of the consequences of refusal.
6. Formulate advance directives and to expect staff to comply with the directives.
7. Confidentiality of all medical, financial, and other information related to care.
8. Access information contained in his/her clinical records within a reasonable timeframe.
9. Have his/her medical record read only by individuals directly involved in his/her care and/or as designated by law, regulation or policy. Other individuals must have the patient's/authorized representative's written authorization.
10. Have access to information contained in his or her clinical records within a reasonable time frame (unless access to such information is limited as stipulated by law).
11. Personal privacy:
    1. Refuse visitors not involved in his/her care.
    2. Wear personal clothing and religious items, as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.
    3. Be examined/interviewed in surroundings designed to assure reasonable privacy, including; having a person of one's own sex present during certain physical examinations, treatments and procedures performed by health professionals of the opposite sex, and not to remain disrobed any longer than necessary.
    4. Expect that no individual not directly involved in his/her care will be present during consultation, discussions, or while performing personal hygiene activities without his/her permission.
    5. Be placed in protective privacy when necessary for personal safety.
12. Receive care in a safe setting, free from all forms of abuse or harassment. Abuse is defined as the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment, with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish to include staff neglect or indifference to infliction of injury or intimidation of one patient by another. The right to access protective services, and be assisted in accessing protective services, if desired.
13. Know the identity and professional status of all staff including physicians responsible for his/her care.
14. Access an interpreter if he/she does not speak or understand the predominant language of the community.
15. Not be transferred to another facility unless he/she or his/her authorized representative receives a complete explanation of the need for transfer.
16. Receive timely notice of impending transfer or discharge, continuing care requirements, and other services available.
17. Request and receive an itemized bill for services regardless of payment source.
18. Be informed of any human experimentation or other research/educational projects affecting his/her care and to decline participation. Be advised of the participation of students, interns, residents in his or her care, and have the right to refuse such involvement.
19. Expect an established mechanism for resolving conflicts that arise concerning care. (See Patient/ Visitor Grievance Process)
20. Freedom from restraints and seclusion of any form that are not medically necessary, used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
21. A current, individualized, written treatment plan provided within the least restrictive environment possible.
22. Keep her/his personal possessions and have access to a private storage area without charge.
23. Representation by own legal counsel.
24. Petition for a writ of habeas corpus (right to petition the court to determine whether continued detention is lawful).
25. Not be required to perform routine labor tasks of the facility other than personal housekeeping duties and those essential for treatment.
26. Exercise all civil rights including but not limited to the right to dispose of property, execute instruments, make purchases, enter contractual relationships and vote (unless adjudicated incompetent and has not been restored to legal capacity).
27. Be free from potentially unusual or hazardous treatment procedures unless the patient has given her/his express and informed consent. These may include electroconvulsive therapy, unusual medications, or participation in any research project.
28. The right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.

II. EACH PATIENT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO:

1. Accept all caregivers without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.
2. Provide accurate and complete health history and to report any unexpected changes in condition to responsible practitioner.
3. Provide necessary insurance and financial records and assure that the charges for care rendered are paid.
4. Participate in and follow the treatment plan recommended by your practitioner.
5. Accept the consequences for any refusal of treatment or lack of compliance with instructions.
6. Follow facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
7. Be considerate of rights of other patients and center personnel (i.e. control noise, no smoking, number of visitors, and respect for personal property).
8. Provide a copy of an advance directive, if one exists.
9. The family will be encouraged to participate in care decisions, with permission, where appropriate and clinically indicated.

III. DENIAL OF RIGHTS:

1. It is the belief of Encompass Urgent that patients have a right to considerate care that safeguards their personal dignity and respect. When the patient's rights are in conflict with their clinical welfare, the following action(s) will be taken.
2. Denial of patient rights (including visitation, mail or telephone use, or wearing one's own clothing) requires the order of a Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP).
3. The order must be time-limited and will be reviewed for continuation at the next available treatment team.
4. The order must delineate the clinical justification for the denial of rights.
5. The order must specify which right(s) are being denied.
6. Any denial of rights must be discussed with the patient and the patient's family (or his/her representative), as appropriate, prior to implementation.
7. The patient's family or authorized representative's understanding of the rational for the denial of rights must be documented in the medical record.
8. The right to have contact with legal representation, clergy or other spiritual leaders cannot be denied.

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