Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Thank you for choosing Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital for your health care needs. As you receive care from us, you have certain rights, as well as responsibilities, during your stay. These patient rights and responsibilities are explained below. If you need help understanding them, or would like more information, please talk with a member of your health care team.

It is important for you, along with a trusted friend or family member of your choice, to be involved in your care. We encourage you and your support persons to join us as active members of your care team, so we can provide safe, quality care. It is important for you to speak openly with your health care providers and play a part in your treatment choices. Please promote your own safety by staying well informed and involved in your care. If concerns come up about your care or treatment, or if you feel your needs are not being met, please talk with a member of your health care team. We are here to help!

Patient Rights

Decisions and Information

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Have a person of your choice and your doctor told promptly of your admission to the hospital.
• Receive information that you can understand in a clearly and completely. 
• Be informed about your health condition, treatment options and outcomes, both expected and unexpected.
• Be involved in planning your care while you are in the hospital and after you leave. 
• Participate in decisions about your care. 
• Give permission for loved ones of your choice to participate in decisions about your care. 
• Request, accept or refuse treatments as allowed by hospital policy and the law. 
• Have an interpreter help you understand important information about your care. 
• Receive health care without discrimination. 
• Receive information before agreeing or refusing to take part in a research study.

Advanced Directive

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Create an Advanced Directive that states your wishes for health care decisions when you cannot speak for yourself.
• Have the health care team follow your Advanced Directive to the extent allowed by hospital policy and the law.
• Request a consult from the Ethics Committee to assist you in making hard decisions about your care.

Safety

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Receive quality care in a safe setting.
• Be free from all forms of abuse, neglect, and harassment.

Providers of Care

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Know the names and duties of the health care team members caring for you.

Privacy (Confidentiality)

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Personal privacy including private discussions about your condition or treatment.
• Have your medical records kept private and only shared with your health care team and those who can legally read them. 
• Request and review your medical records. 
• Refuse to see or talk with anyone not directly involved in your care.

Pain Management

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Have your pain addressed and be involved in decisions about how to manage your pain.

Billing

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Receive information about your health care costs and bills.
• Receive information when your health care benefits have been canceled.

Restraints and Seclusion

As a patient, you have the right to:

•  Be free from restraints or seclusion unless medically required to keep you or others safe.
• Safe use of restraints or seclusion by trained staff when needed. 
• Be free from any type of restraint or seclusion put in place as a means of intimidation, punishment, convenience, or revenge by staff.

Visitors

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Designate those who you wish and do not wish to visit you, and you can change your mind at any time. If you cannot speak for yourself, a support person or your legal representative may decide for you.
• Visitors may include anyone that you prefer or designate as a support person, including but not limited to, a spouse, other family members, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner) or friends. We will not place restrictions or limitations on your visitors on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Consistent with your preferences, all visitors will enjoy full and equal visitation privileges. 
• In balancing all aspects of care for all patients, it may be necessary to limit or restrict your visitors. We will strive to explain the reason(s) to you if these restrictions are needed, which might include (but are not limited to) situations such as: when you or other patients are undergoing care or have specific medical concerns; when there is a risk of infection or contagious disease; for safety concerns related to other patients, visitors or those working in the facility; to establish hours for visitation for specific patient care units, including limits on the number of visitors or on the ages of child visitors.

Concerns

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Voice concerns about the care you receive. Please share your concerns with your doctor or nurse. You may also submit your concerns in writing.
• If you have a concern and are unable to resolve it with your doctor or nurse, please call Patient Safety at 314.996.8501. 
• You can also share your concerns with the following groups:

Patient Responsibilities

Speaking Up

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Ask questions if you do not understand information given to you.
• Help your health care team plan the care you will need after you leave the hospital.
• Choose a person to speak for you in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself.
• Speak up if you feel at risk for harm.

Pain Management

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Work with your doctor and nurse to develop a plan to manage your pain.

Hospital Rules

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Respect the privacy and dignity of other patients and staff members./li>
• Respect hospital property and follow hospital rules.
• Help keep the hospital a safe place, free of drugs, alcohol, and weapons.
• Avoid smoking, as hospital buildings and grounds are tobacco-free.

Information

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Provide a correct and complete medical history.
• Provide correct and complete information about your Advanced Directive.
• Provide correct and complete information to assure that your bills can be paid when due.

Following Instructions

As a patient, you are responsible for::

The patient and family are responsible for following the care, service or treatment plan developed. They should express any concerns they have about their ability to follow and comply with the proposed care plan or course of treatment. Every effort is made to adapt the plan to the patient’s specific needs and limitations. When such adaptations to the treatment plan are not recommended, the patient and family are responsible for understanding the consequences of the treatment alternatives and not following the proposed course of care.

Accepting Consequences

The patient and family are responsible for the outcomes if they do not follow their care, service, or treatment plan.

Following Rules and Regulations

The patient and family are responsible for following the hospital’s rules and regulations concerning patient care and conduct.

Showing Respect and Consideration

Patients and families are responsible for being considerate of other patients, helping control noise and disturbances, following smoking policies and respecting other’s property. This includes showing consideration to hospital staff and property.

Meeting Financial Commitments

The patient and family are responsible for promptly meeting any financial obligation agreed to with the hospital.