Patient's Rights, Responsibilities and Privacy Notice

Your Rights Are Honored

As a patient, family member or guardian of a patient, we would like you to know that we are committed to delivering quality medical care that is effective and considerate. This document is a statement of our policy. We want you to know the rights you have under federal and Pennsylvania law as soon as possible in your hospital stay so that you may take an active role in your health care and can help us meet your needs.

As a patient, you have the right to receive care without discrimination due to age, sex, race color religion, sexual orientation, income, education, national origin, marital status, culture, language, disability, gender identity, physical disability or who will pay your bill. The physically disabled will have reasonable and equal access to the facilities, services, and programs of this hospital.

Patients will receive services and care that are medically suggested and within the hospital's services, its stated mission and required by law and regulation.

Your Rights

• A proper assessment and management of pain, including the right to request or reject any or all options to relieve pain.
   
• Receive care in a safe setting.
   
• Be free of all forms of abuse or harassment.
   
• Receive care free from restraints or seclusion unless necessary to provide medical, surgical or behavioral health care.
   
• Decide to take part or not take part in research or clinical trials for your condition, or donor programs, that your doctor may suggest. Your participation in such programs is voluntary. You or your legal representative must give written permission before you participate. 
  A decision not to take part in such programs will not affect your right to receive care.
   

You have the right to:

• Refuse any drugs, treatment, care or procedure offered by the hospital. You will be told of the medical consequences of your refusal. There may be times when care must be provided based on the law.  You are responsible for your actions if you refuse care or do not follow care instructions.
   
• Request a consultation with another health care provider at your own expense.
   
• Receive a prompt and safe transfer to the care of others when Warren General is not able to meet your need or request for care or service. You have the right to know why a transfer might be required, as well as learning about other options for care. Warren General cannot transfer you to another hospital unless that hospital has agreed to accept you.
   
• Receive instructions on follow-up care and participate in decisions about your plan of care after you are out of the hospital.

You Have The Right To Raise a Complaint or Grievance

Being a good patient does not mean being a silent one. Tell hospital staff about your concerns or complaints regarding your care.  This will not affect your future care.

Concerns, Complaints, and Grievances during your hospital visit

Sometimes, a patient or family member may have a concern or complaint that can be quickly addressed during the hospital visit. We encourage you to contact the manager of the department or a member of your healthcare team so we can quickly address the concern.

Sometimes a more serious matter cannot be resolved quickly and while you are in the hospital. You may want to seek review of the quality of your care, coverage decisions and concerns about your discharge.

You may submit a complaint or grievance to the hospital in writing, by phone or in person.  You may expect a timely response from the hospital in terms that you can understand. Alternatively, you may wish to submit your complaint or grievance to the PA Department of Health at the address and phone number below.

To share your concerns with the hospital, please contact the hospital's Patient Relations Department at:

Patient Relations Warren General Hospital 
Two Crescent Park West
PO Box 68
Warren PA 16365
(814) 723-4973 extension 2087

You may submit your complaint or grievance to the Department of Health at:

Pennsylvania Department of Health 
Acute & Ambulatory Care Services 
Health & Welfare Building, Room 532 
625 Forster Street
Harrisburg PA 17180-0090
(800) 254-5164

Your Right to Receive Visitors

Warren General Hospital has an open visitation policy for most hospital units. This means that your family and friends may visit you at any time and may stay for as long as you wish them to stay. General visiting hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. After 8:00 p.m., visitors must check in at the Emergency Care Center registration desk and receive an identification badge.

You have the right to:

• Decide if you want visitors while you are here. The hospital may need to limit visitors to better care for you or other patients.
   
• Choose the people who can visit you. These people do not need to be legally related to you. Tell your nursing team if you do not want certain visitors or if you do not want to receive visitors at certain times of the day.
   
• Designate a support person who may decide who can visit you if you become incapacitated.
   

We have special visiting hours on the following units:

• Detoxification Services - Vsitors must make an appointment with our staff. At that appointment, visitors will be given more information about the times of day and how often they may visit the patient, based upon the patient's needs.
   
• Maternal Child Health - The new mother makes the decision about who may visit and when.
   
• Pediatrics - Parents may visit at any time. Visiting hours for all others are 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and consent of the parent(s) is required.
   
• Psychiatric Services - Visiting hours are 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Alternate hours are available only with the approval of the psychiatrist or the nurse manager.
   
• Surgical Services - The patient may receive up to two visitors during pre-operative preparation and post-operative recovery.

Important Information for our Visitors

We ask that visitors follow these rules:

• Sometimes we require visitors to wear a mask or a gown before entering a patient room. These infection control precautions protect the patient, the visitor, and others.
   
• Visitors who are disruptive, violent, or too loud will be asked to leave.
   
• Visitation may be temporarily restricted when the patient's roommate needs rest or privacy.
   

Your Responsibilities as a Patient

The hospital desires to create a pleasant and safe environment during stay. Certain hospital rules are necessary to protect you and other patients. We expect that you, your family, or caregiver will:

• Provide accurate information about past illnesses, hospitalization, medication, advance healthcare directives, and other matters relating to your health.
   
• Report any condition that puts you at risk (for example, allergies).
   
• Cooperate with all hospital staff and ask questions if you do not understand the instructions we give you or the procedures we describe.
   
• Be considerate of other patients, their families and visitors. Respect our visitation policies.
   
• Obey our no smoking policy, and do not consume alcoholic beverages.
   
• Tell us which of your family members or caregivers our healthcare team is authorized to discuss your medical care in the event you are unable to properly communicate with your healthcare team.
   
• During your hospital stay, you will only take medications that have been prescribed by your physician and administered by our healthcare team.
   
• Refrain from any illegal activity on hospital property. The hospital will report such activity to the police.
   

Notice of Privacy Practices

Your protected health care information is used or may be disclosed for purposes of treatment, payment, and operations to:

• Report a defective device or problematic event regarding a biological product (food or medication).
  • Example:  The FDA requires reporting of defective equipment)
     
• Send you appointment reminders, treatment alternatives, or information regarding other health-related benefits and services.
   
• Visitors, callers, clergy, and room deliveries, if you agree to be in our hospital directory and these people ask for you by name.
   
• Other situations where Warren General Hospital may use or disclose your protected health information include organ and tissue donations, workers compensation, coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors.

You have the right to:

• Receive a copy of this Privacy Notice.
   
• Request a restriction of the use of your health care information unless the restriction conflicts with providing you health care or in the event of an emergency. The Hospital will review each restriction request, but reserves the right to deny any restriction request received.
   
• Make reasonable requests to receive communications about your health care at an alternate address or by means other than by mail.
   
• Make a written request to review and/or photocopy your healthcare information (Copies may be subject to reasonable charges).
   
• Request changes to your healthcare information.  These requests must be made in writing.
   
• Know who has received your health care information for purposes other than treatment, payment, and operations of the hospital, and for what purpose, with some exceptions as defined by law.
   

If you believe your rights to privacy have been violated, you may file a complaint with our privacy officer or notify the Department of Health and Human Services. All complaints will be investigated. No action will be taken against you for filing a complaint with the hospital. 

You may mail a complaint to:

Attn: Privacy Officer
Warren General Hospital
Two Crescent Park West, PO Box 68
Warren PA16365

Normally, we will require your signed authorization before disclosing your medical information outside the hospital, unless it is required by law. You may revoke your permission to release confidential information at any time. The hospital abides by the terms of this notice. The hospital may make changes to the Privacy Notice. Changes will be effective for all protected health information kept by the hospital. The revised Privacy Notice will be available at the point of service.

Notice Effective:  May 18, 2012