It is the policy of Payson Regional Medical Center to assure both the preservation of basic human rights and to assure any specific compliance as required by regulatory agencies for all its patients.  This applies to all patients, including neonate, child and adolescent patients and their parents or guardians; adults and their legally appointed representatives.  In providing care, Payson Regional Medical Center expects behavior on the part of the patients, their relatives and friends, which is reasonable considering the nature of their illness.

Patient Rights:
1. No patient of this hospital shall be deprived of any rights, benefits or privileges guaranteed by laws, the Constitution of the State, or the Constitution of the United States.

2. The patient has the right to considerate, respectful care at all times and, under all circumstances, with recognition of his/her personal dignity.

3. The patient shall be granted respect and privacy in his/her medical and personal care program.  Patient records, case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment shall be confidential and shall be conducted discreetly.

4. The patient has the right to expect reasonable safety insofar as the hospital practices and environment are concerned.

5. The patient has the right to have a family member or representative of the patient's choice and the patient's own physician notified promptly of his/her admission to a hospital.

6. The patient has the right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service.  Participation by patient in clinical training programs or in the gathering of data for research purposes is voluntary.

7. The patient shall be permitted to obtain from the physician complete and current information concerning his/her medical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms and language the patient can reasonably be expected to understand.

8. The patient has the right of access to people outside the hospital by means of visitors and by verbal and written communication.  When the patient does not speak nor understand the predominant language of the community, the hospital will make a reasonable effort to provide an interpreter.

9. No patient shall be subjected to experimental research or treatment without prior knowledge and consent.  The patient has the right to full involvement in his/her treatment and informed participation in decisions involving his/her health care.  To the degree possible, this should be based on a clear, concise explanation of the patient's condition and of all proposed technical procedures, including the possibilities of any risk of mortality or serious side effects, problems related to recuperation, and probability of success.  The patient should not be subjected to any procedure without his voluntary, competent and understanding consent or the consent of his/her legally authorized representative.  Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, the patient shall be so informed.

10. The patient, at his/her own request and expense, has the right to consult with a specialist.

11. The patient shall be permitted to refuse medical treatment and to know the consequences of such action.  The patient's refusal will free the hospital from the obligation to provide the treatment.

12. The patient may expect freedom from restraints used in the provision of acute medical and surgical care unless clinically necessary and freedom from seclusion and restraint used in behavior management unless clinically necessary.           

13. The patient may not be arbitrarily transferred to another facility or organization unless he/she has received a complete explanation of the need for the transfer, any rights involved in transfer, and of alternatives to such a transfer.  The patient shall agree in writing to the transfer.

14. The patient has the right to be informed by the practitioner (or delegate) responsible for his/her care of any continuing healthcare requirements following discharge from the hospital.

15. The patient is entitled to an itemized copy of his/her bill.

16. The patient is entitled to information about the hospital's mechanism for the initiation, review and resolution of patient complaints.  Access to health care services will not be jeopardized because a complaint has been filed.

17. The patient has the right to formulate an Advance Directive and to appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on his/her behalf to the extent permitted by law.

18. Patients have the right to make their concerns or grievances heard.  Patients, at their option, may file a grievance with the hospital or directly with the state survey agency at the following number and address regardless of whether the patient utilizes the hospital's complaint/grievance resolution process:
Arizona Department of Health Services
1647 E. Morten, Suite 160
Phoenix, Arizona 85020-4610
(602) 674-9750 

19. Patients have the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.
  
Any patient and or family member who identifies an issue which presents a conflict in the care that the patient is receiving, shall be encouraged to address that issue verbally or in writing with the following classes of staff in order of the priority listed:

· Direct Patient Care Provider
· Immediate Department Supervisor
· Department Manager
· Administrative Representative

In the event that the conflict cannot be resolved within the above classes, the family or patient shall be directed to the Ethics Committee Chairperson to allow for a multidisciplinary approach towards resolution of the conflict.

Patient Responsibilities:

1. It is the patient's responsibility to provide accurate and complete information about present health complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters related to his health.  The patient is responsible for reporting whether he/she clearly understands the plan for recovery.

2. The patient is responsible for following his/her prescribed plan of care.

3. The patient is responsible for his/her actions if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow physician instructions.

4. The patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his/her health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

5. The patient is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

6. The patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel, and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking and number of visitors.  The patient is responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.

7. The patient is responsible for notifying the attending physician of the Advance Directive Declaration (Living Will or Medical Power of Attorney), giving attending physician a copy of the Declaration, and for notifying the attending physician if Advance Directive Declaration is revoked.

8. The patient is responsible to ask for pain relief when pain first begins, help their doctor or nurse assess their pain, inform the doctor or nurse if it is not relieved.