Quality & Safety

Patient Rights:

• Individuals shall be afforded impartial access to treatment or accommodations that are available and medically indicated, regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or source of payment.
• The patient has the right to considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of his personal dignity and worth.
• The patient has the right, within the law, to personal and informational privacy, as manifested by the right to:

• Refuse to talk with or see anyone not officially connected with the hospital, including visitors, persons officially connected with the hospital but who are not directly involved in his care.
• Wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items, as long as they do not jeopardize safety or interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.
• Expect that any discussion or consultation involving his/her case will be conducted discreetly and that individuals not involved in direct care will not be present without permission of the patient.
•   Have his/her medical record read only by individuals directly involved in treatment or monitoring of quality, and by other individuals only on written authorization by the patient or that of his/her legally authorized representative.
• Expect that all communications and other records pertaining to his care, including the source of payment for treatment, be treated as confidential.
• Expect that information given to concerned family members or significant other legally qualified person, be delivered in privacy and with due consideration of confidentiality.
• Request transfer to another available room if another patient or visitors in that room are unreasonably disturbing to said patient.
• Be placed in protective privacy when considered necessary for personal safety.
• The patient has the right to expect reasonable safety in so far as the hospital practices and environment are concerned. Winn Parish Medical Center safety and security measures include adequate exterior lighting and the use of employee identification badges that are to be conspicuously displayed.
• The patient has the right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service to him, and to know which physician or other practitioner is primarily responsible for his care. This includes the patient’s right to know of the existence of any professional relationship to any health care or educational institution involved in his case. Participation by patients in research programs, or in the gathering of data for research purposes, shall be voluntary with a signed informed consent.
• The patient has the right to obtain from the practitioner responsible for coordinating his care, complete and current information concerning his diagnosis (to the degree known), treatment, pain management, and any known prognosis. This information should be communicated in terms the patient can reasonably be expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information shall be made available to a legally authorized individual.

• The patient has the right to access, request amendment to and receive an accounting of disclosures regarding his/her own health information as permitted by law.
• The patient has the right to receive information in a manner he/she understands. This includes communication between the hospital and the patient, as well as communication between the patient and others outside the hospital.

• Written information provided to the patient is appropriate to the age, understanding, and, as appropriate to the population served, the language of the patient.
• The hospital facilitates the provision of interpretation (including translation services) for those patients with vision, hearing, speech, language and cognitive impairments as necessary.
• The patient has the right to informed consent.

• The patient has the right to reasonably informed participation in decisions involving his/her health care. To the degree possible, this shall be based on a clear, concise explanation of his/her 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 shall not be subjected to any procedure without his/her legally authorized representative. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, the patient shall be so informed.
• The patient has the right to know who is responsible for authorizing and performing the procedures or treatment.
• The patient shall be informed if the clinician proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation or other research/educational projects affecting his/her care or treatment, and the patient shall sign an informed consent if participation is desired and maintains the right to refuse to participate or withdraw from any such activity at any time. Any refusal of participation will not compromise care.
• If a patient is unconscious or is determined to be mentally incompetent and no consent can be obtained from an appropriate family member, legal action may be taken to obtain a court order for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In life-threatening emergencies were the patient is incompetent, or unconscious appropriate treatment may be administered without consent.
• Patients have the right to refuse care, treatment and services in accordance with law and regulation. When the patient is not legally responsible, the surrogate decision maker, as allowed by law, has the right to refuse care, treatment, and services on the patients’ behalf.
• The patient has the right to formulate an Advance Directive and have hospital and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comprised with these directives (to the extent provided by state law and regulation).

• Adults are given written information about their rights to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment, including forgoing or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment or withholding resuscitation services.
• The existence or lack of an advance directive does not determine an individual’s access to care, treatment or services.
• The patient may review and revise advance directives at any time.
• The hospital will provide the patient with help, when requested, in formulating advance directives.
• The hospital will honor the patients advance directive and his/her wishes concerning organ donations within the limits of the law and the hospitals capabilities.
• The patient, and when appropriate, their families, have the right to be informed about the outcome of care, treatment, and services, including unanticipated outcomes.
• The patient has the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.

• The patient and families, when appropriate, will receive education about their role in managing pain and the potential limitations and side effects of pain treatments.
• The patient has the right to be free from mental, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• The patient has the right to access protection and advocacy services.

• The hospital maintains a list of available resources and provides the list to patients when requested and/or as appropriate.
• The patient has the right to expect that, within its capacity and policies, a hospital will make reasonable response to the request of a patient for appropriate and medically indicated care and services. The hospital must provide evaluation, service, and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically appropriate and legally permissible, or when a patient has so requested, a patient may be transferred to another facility. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer. The patient must also have the benefit of complete information and explanation concerning the need for, risk, benefits and alternatives to such a transfer.
• The patient has the right to ask and be informed of the existence of business relationships among the hospital, educational institutions, other healthcare providers, or payors that may influence the patient’s treatment and care.
• The patient has the right to consent to or decline to participate in proposed research studies or human experimentation affecting care and treatment or requiring direct patient involvement, and to have those studies fully explained prior to consent. A patient who declines to participate in research or experimentation is entitled to the most effective care that the hospital can otherwise provide.
• The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed by physicians and other caregivers of available and realistic patient care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
• The patient has the right to file a complaint regarding services and is entitled to information regarding the hospitals mechanism for the initiation, review and resolution of such complaints.
• The patient has the right to remain free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.
• The patient has the right to have his/her physician and family number or representative of his/her choice notified promptly of his/her admission to the hospital.
• The patient has the right to pastoral care and other spiritual services within the capability of the hospital.
• The patient has the right to consent for recording or filming made for purposes other than the identification, diagnosis, or treatment.

• Patients may request cessation of filming or recording and have the right to rescind consent up until 24 hours before the recording or film is used.
• The patient has the right to participate in the development and implementation of their care plan.
• The patient has the right to exclude any or all family member for participating in care decisions.

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Winn Parish Medical Center identifies the responsibilities of the patients and their families and educates them about their responsibilities, particular in regard to facilitating the safe delivery of care.

• Patients have the responsibility for:
• Providing information. Patients and families, as appropriate, must provide, to the best of their knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalization, medications, and other matters relating to their health. Patients and their families must report perceived risks in their care and unexpected changes in their condition. They can help the hospital understand their environment by providing feedback about service needs and expectations.
• Asking questions. Patients and families, as appropriate, must ask questions when they do not understand their care, treatment, and service or what they are expected to do.
• Following instructions. Patients and their families must follow the care, treatment, and service plan developed. They should express any concerns about their ability to follow the proposed care plan or course of care, treatment, and services. The hospital makes every effort to adapt the plan to the specific need and limitations of the patients. When such adaptations to the care, treatment, and service plan are not recommended, patients and their families are informed of the consequences of the care, treatment, and service alternatives and not following the proposed course. Patients and families are responsible for assisting care givers in facilitating the safe delivery of care to the best of their ability.
• Accepting consequences. Patients and their families are responsible for the outcomes if they do not follow the care, treatment, and service plan.
• Following rules and regulations. Patients and their families must follow the hospital’s rules and regulations.
• Showing respect and consideration. Patients and their families must be considerate of the hospital’s staff and property, as well as other patients and their property.
• Meeting financial commitments. Patients and their families should promptly meet any financial obligation agreed to with the hospital.

FALL PREVENTION GUIDELINES FOR PATIENT & FAMILY

Accidental falls may occur in the hospital.  These accidents are as distressing to hospital personnel as they are to the patient.  Our healthcare team of nurses, doctors, physical therapists, and assistants are here to assist you in a safe and speedy recovery.  Your participation and cooperation with this program will help you to prevent unnecessary injury.

WHY FALLS HAPPEN…

Falls may occur in the hospital because:

1. Medications such as tranquilizers, sleeping tablets, pain relievers; blood pressure pills or diuretics may make you dizzy and disoriented.
2. Your illness, enemas, laxative, long periods without food, or tests your physician has ordered may leave you weak and unsteady.
3. The hospital may seem foreign and unfamiliar to you, especially when you wake up at nights.
4. Some falls, such as those associated with illness or therapy, cannot be avoided.  However, by following the safety guidelines, you, your family, and friends can help reduce your risk of falling.

SAFETY GUIDELINE OF PREVENTING FALLS

1. When you need assistance, use your call light by your bed or in the bathroom and wait for the nurse/assistant to arrive to help you.
2. Remain lying or seated while waiting for assistance.  Please be patient.  Someone will answer your call as promptly as possible.
3. Ask the nurse for help if you feel dizzy or weak getting out of bed.  Remember you are more likely to faint or feel dizzy after sitting or lying for a long time.  If you must get up without waiting for help, sit in bed awhile before standing.  Then rise carefully and slowly begin to walk.
4. Walk slowly and carefully when out of the bed.  Do not lean or support yourself on rolling objects such as I.V. poles or you bedside table.
5. It is recommended you wear rubber-soled or crepe-soled slippers or shoes whenever you walk in the hospital.  If you do not presently have any, check with your nurse.
6. Always follow your physician’s orders and the caregiver’s instructions regarding whether you must stay in bed or require assistance to go to the bathroom.
7. Do not tamper with side rails or protective devices that may be in use.  Side rails and protective devices are reminders to stay in bed and are designed to ensure your safety.  If these items need adjustment, ask your nurse.

 A SPECIAL NOTE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

Because hospital staff members cannot remain constantly at a patient’s side you may be asked to make arrangements for a family member, or sitter to stay with your patient.

Whenever possible, ask the nursing staff if there are specific times (for example: at sundown, 6-9PM) when your presence would be beneficial to the patient’s comfort or piece of mind.