Patient Responsibilites

The nature of healthcare requires that you, your support person or representative take part in your care. The success of your treatment and your satisfaction depends, in part, on your responsibilities as a patient.

You are responsible for: 

• telling your doctor and caregivers everything about your health. This includes information about illnesses you currently have or have had as well as other times you have been in the hospital.
• telling your doctor and other caregivers about any medicine you are taking. This includes medicine the doctor has prescribed and “over-the-counter” medicine you can buy off the store shelf. This also includes vitamins, herbs and any dietary or nutritional “supplement” or recreational drug.
• telling your doctor and other caregivers if you have any pain or discomfort. You are responsible for following the instructions the doctor or caregiver gives you to reduce or stop this pain.
• asking your doctor or caregiver to explain if you do not understand something.
• telling your doctor and caregivers if you think you will have problems following your treatments or if you have any concerns about your ability to follow the proposed plan of care. This means every effort will be made to adapt a plan to your specific needs. If adaptations are not recommended, you are responsible for understanding the consequences and accepting the outcomes if you do not follow the care, service or treatment plan.
• providing the name of a caregiver, if one is desired.
• giving us a copy of your advance directive, living will or durable power of attorney, if you have one (each time you are admitted to the hospital). An Advance Directive is a legal document that explains what kind of medical care you want to receive if you become ill or injured and are mentally or physically unable to make your own decisions. In the outpatient setting (excluding day surgery), an advance directive is not acknowledged. 
• providing insurance information or information on how you will pay your bill.
• understanding our policies and following our rules and regulations. Maintaining civil language, conduct and showing respect for others as well as being considerate of the hospital’s personnel and property. This means you may have to make reasonable adjustments to the needs of the hospital, other patients, medical staff and hospital employees.
• understanding our rules include but are not limited to:
  not leaving the hospital premises without authorization. You must inform the nursing staff if you wish to walk off the unit. Cigarettes (including electronic cigarettes and vaporizers), smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products are not allowed on the hospital’s campus or at any offsite location. Alcohol consumption and/or the use of illicit substances is prohibited on the hospital’s campus and at all offsite locations. No firearms or other weapons are allowed on the hospital campus or offsite locations at any time.
• recognizing that your lifestyle affects your health and that your health depends on much more than just the services we provide.
• meeting your financial commitments.