Patient Rights and Responsibilities
At Gifford Medical Center, we view health care as a partnership between you and your caregivers. We respect your rights, values and dignity. We also ask that you recognize the responsibilities that come with being a patient, both for your own well-being as well as for that of your fellow patients and caregivers. Please read and exercise these rights and responsibilities as outlined here. Should you have any questions, please contact our Patient Relations Coordinator at 728–2433.
Rights related to the people caring for you in the hospital.
You have a right to
• know the name and profession of every person who takes care of you, and who is in charge of your care
• have one doctor (your “attending physician”) who is responsible for coordinating your hospital care, and to know the doctor’s name
• know the professional relationships among the people caring for you
• know whether the people caring for you or the care they are providing
is connected in some way to another health care institution
• know whether the people caring for you are doing so as part of their role in an educational or training program
• refuse to participate in clinical training of students
• know how many patients can be on the unit where you are hospitalized, and how many registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and licensed nursing assistants provide direct care to patients on each shift
Rights related to your care and treatment in the hospital
You have a right to
• care that is always considerate, respectful and that recognizes your personal dignity
• professional assessment and management of pain
• be transferred to another facility only if is medically safe
• be transferred to another facility only after a full explanation of the
reasons for the transfer and any other options
• not be transferred until it is certain that the other facility can accept you
• a plan that continues to meet your health care needs, whether you move to different units in the hospital or are discharged
• be given written information about who is eligible for hospice services, and where and how to receive them
• know what health care you will need after you leave the hospital
Rights to personal privacy, dignity, and confidentiality
You have a right to
• privacy
• strict confidentiality of all information and records about your medical care. Only people who are directly providing or overseeing your care, and those monitoring or researching the quality or effectiveness of your care can see your records. Anybody else must have your written permission
• decide whether anyone not directly involved with your care should be present
• have a person of your own sex present during parts of a physical examination, treatment, or procedure performed by a health care professional of the opposite sex
• not be undressed longer than is necessary for a medical procedure
• wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items if they do not interfere with your care
Rights related to needs or questions you have while in the hospital
You have a right to
• have your parent or guardian stay with you 24 hours a day when possible if you are a child
• have your immediate family member, guardian, agent, or reciprocal
beneficiary stay with you 24 hours a day if you are terminally ill
• an interpreter if you have difficulty understanding or discussing your care or treatment due to language differences or hearing impairment
• know what hospital rules and regulations apply to you while you are in the hospital
• receive an itemized, detailed, and understandable explanation of hospital charges whether or not you are paying the bill directly
• expect the hospital to respond reasonably to your requests for services
if it is able
• be moved to another room or place if unreasonable actions by another person are disturbing you, if a move is physically possible
Rights related to your health care decisions
You have a right to
• complete and current information about your condition from your
doctor, in a way you can understand it, including diagnoses, treatment, and prognosis
• have information about your condition given to immediate family
members, a reciprocal beneficiary, or a guardian, only when you give permission, are incompetent or unable to understand, or when it is not medically advisable to give you the information directly
• get all of the information you need from your doctor to be able to give informed consent, before you give permission to have any procedure or treatment, unless it is an emergency. You have a right to know at least:
• the specific procedures and treatments that will happen
• their medically significant risks
• medically significant options and alternatives for care and treatment
• how long you might feel the effects of procedures and treatments
• the name of the person(s) responsible for providing the procedures and treatments
• refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law
• be informed of what can happen medically if you do refuse treatment.
If you do refuse treatment, the hospital will not be responsible
• be informed if the hospital plans any research or experimentation
affecting your care or treatment
• refuse to participate in any research or experimentation affecting your care or treatment
Rights related to compliments, concerns and grievances
Compliments, concerns, recommendations, and complaints unresolved after you have discussed them with your physician, should be given to Gifford’s Patient Relations Coordinator at (802) 728–2433. Our Patient Relations Coordinator will work to resolve the issue to your satisfaction. Sharing your concerns will not compromise your access to or quality of care, treatment and services.
In the event of a grievance, Gifford Medical Center’s grievance procedure will be followed. You may also make a complaint about the hospital to Vermont state agencies. You can contact them whether or not you have complained to the hospital first.
If you have a complaint about the hospital:
The Division of Licensing and Protection of the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living investigates hospital complaints under federal law, and also works with the Vermont Department of Health to investigate hospital complaints for the state. To file a complaint with the Division of Licensing and Protection, call (800) 564-1612 (toll-free in Vermont) or (802) 241-2345 or write to:
103 South Main Street, Ladd Hall, Waterbury, Vermont 05671-2306.
If you prefer to contact the Board of Health or Health Department directly:Board of Health and Vermont Department of Health, P.O. Box 70, Burlington, Vermont 05402-0070. Telephone: (802) 657-4220. Toll-free (in Vermont): (800) 745-7371
If you have a complaint about a physician:
The Vermont Board of Medical Practice investigates complaints against physicians (MD), physician assistants (PA), podiatrists and anesthesiologist assistants. To file a complaint with the Board of Medical Practice: Phone: (800) 745-7371 (toll-free in Vermont) or (802) 657-4220
Download forms: http://healthvermont.gov/hc/med_board/complaint.aspx
Mailing address: Vermont Board of Medical Practice, Vermont Department of Health, P.O. Box 70, Burlington, Vermont 05402-0070
This (article) is Copyright© 2001 by NHVSHIP. It may be freely redistributed in part or in its entirety provided that this copyright notice is not removed. It may not be sold for profit or used in commercial documents without the written permission of the copyright holder. This article is provided “as is” without an express or implied warranty. While all information in this Article is believed to be correct at the time of writing, this article is for educational purposes only and does not purport to provide legal advice. If you require legal advice, you should consult with an attorney.