Patient Rights and Responsibilities

In accordance with South Pointe Hospital’s mission and values, as well as applicable laws, accreditation standards, CMS’ Conditions of Participation, the Hospital Staff and its Medical Staff are committed to providing services on an individualized basis to every person who is sick or injured, regardless of age, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental challenges, or sources of payment.

Each Hospital employee and Medical Staff member is responsible for ensuring all patients are afforded their rights at all times. A patient or patient’s legally authorized representative shall exercise these rights while receiving care or treatment in the facility without coercion, discrimination, harassment, abuse or retaliation. Any discriminatory behavior by the Hospital Staff will lead to corrective action.

These rights and responsibilities also apply to pediatric patients, parents and/or guardians of such patients. The following is a summary of your rights as a patient, which are protected and promoted by South Pointe Hospital. Download Cleveland Clinic Patient Rights and Responsibilities.

PATIENT RIGHTS
As a patient, you have the right…

Personal Privacy/Security

To have your personal dignity respected.
To be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
To enjoy personal privacy and a safe, clean environment and to let us know if you would like to restrict your visitors or phone calls.
To access protective and advocacy services.
To know that restraints will be used only when necessary.
To confidentiality of your identifiable health information.

Cultural and Spiritual Values

To have your cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, and personal values, beliefs and preferences respected.
To have access to pastoral and other spiritual services.

Access to Care

To receive care regardless of your race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability or manner of payment.
To ask for a change of provider or a second opinion.

Access to Information

To make advance directives and have them followed.
To have your family or a representative you choose and your own physician, if requested, be informed of your hospital admission.
To know the rules regulating your care and conduct.
To know that Cleveland Clinic hospitals are teaching hospitals and that some of your caregivers may be in training. To ask your caregivers if they are in training.
To know the names and professional titles of your caregivers.
To have your bill explained and receive information about charges that you may be responsible for, and any potential limitations your policy may place on your coverage.
To be told what you need to know about your health condition after hospital discharge or office visit.
To be informed and involved in decisions that affect your care, health status, services or treatment.
To understand your diagnosis, condition and treatment and make informed decisions about your care after being advised of material risks, benefits, and alternatives.
To knowledgeably refuse any care, treatment and services.
To say “yes” or “no” to experimental treatments and to be advised when a physician is considering you to be part of a medical research program or donor program. All medical research goes through a special process required by law that reviews protections for patients involved in research, including privacy. We will not involve you in any medical research without going through this special process. You may refuse or withdraw at any time without consequence to your care.
To legally appoint someone else to make decisions for you if you should become unable to do so, and have that person approve or refuse care, treatment, and services.
To have your family or representative involved in care, treatment and service decisions, as allowed by law.
To be informed of unanticipated adverse outcomes.
To have your wishes followed concerning organ donation, when you make such wishes known, in accordance with law and regulation.

Communication

To receive information you can understand.
To have access to an interpreter and/or translation services.
To know the reasons for any proposed change in the attending physicians/professional staff responsible for your care.
To know the reasons for your transfer either within or outside the hospital.

Pain Management

To have pain assessed and managed appropriately.

Disclosures

To request a listing of disclosures about your healthcare, and to be able to access and request to amend your medical record as allowed by law.
To know the relationship(s) of the hospital to other persons or organizations participating in the provision of your care.

Recording and Filming

To provide prior consent before the making of recordings, films, or other images that may be used externally.

Concerns, Complaints, or Grievances

To receive a reasonably prompt response to your request for services.
To be involved in resolving issues involving your own care, treatment and services.
To express concerns, complaints and/or a grievance to your providing hospital personnel. You may do this by contacting your Ombudsman office at: South Pointe Hospital, 216.491.6299. Should you continue to remain concerned after contacting the Ombudsman office, you may contact the Joint Commission’s Office of Quality Monitoring by calling 800.994.6610 or emailing complaint@jointcommission.org or call the Ohio Department of Health at 800.342.0553. Medicare beneficiaries may call the Medicare Beneficiary Helpline at 800.589.7337 to report a quality of care concern or to appeal a discharge decision.

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

As a patient, it is your responsibility…

Provision of Pertinent Information

To give us complete and accurate information about your health, including your previous medical history and all the medications you are taking.
To inform us of changes in your condition or symptoms, including pain.

Asking Questions and Following Instructions

To let us know if you don’t understand the information we give you about your condition or treatment.
To speak up. Communicate your concerns to any employee as soon as possible – including any member of the patient care team, manager, administrator or patient advocate.

Refusing Treatment and Accepting Consequences

To follow our instructions and advice, understanding that you must accept the consequences if you refuse.

Explanation of Financial Charges

To pay your bills or make arrangements to meet the financial obligations arising from your care.

Following Rules and Regulations

To follow our rules and regulations.
To keep your scheduled appointments, or let us know if you are unable to keep them.
To leave your personal belongings at home or have family members take all valuables and articles of clothing home while you are hospitalized.

Respect and Consideration

To be considerate and cooperative.
To respect the rights and property of others.