Rights & Responsibilities

You Have the Right to the Best Care

Respect and Dignity

• considerate, respectful care in a safe setting free from abuse or harassment, with recognition of your personal dignity
• care which respects your spiritual, psychosocial and cultural beliefs
• assurance that restraints and seclusion of any form will not be used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff
• respect for your privacy and confidentiality concerning your medical care and all information concerning your hospitalization
• file a complaint or grievance if your concerns are not resolved
• contact the operator to call a patient advocate if you request one

Information

• complete and understandable information from your physician concerning your diagnosis, treatment, procedure, outcome and complications
• examine and receive an explanation of your bill, regardless of source of payment
• know what rules and regulations of CHRISTUS Health System apply to your conduct as a patient
• access to the information in your medical records within the limits of the law
• be informed of your rights and responsibilities in advance of receiving or discontinuing patient care
• be informed, by introduction or by their wearing a name tag, of the names and functions of all physicians and other health care professionals providing direct care to you

Treatment

• participate in the development and implementation of a plan of care
• refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the medical consequences of that action as well as the right to access the health system’s ethics committee for consultation on any treatment decisions
• have an advance directive, such as a living will or durable power of attorney for health care, to express choices about your care or name someone to act on your behalf
• all reasonable efforts for treatment and services within the hospital’s capability
• transfer to another facility upon physician approval, complete information to the patient and acceptance by the receiving hospital
• be advised if CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System and/or its medical staff proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting your care or treatment
• be informed by your physician, or the physician’s delegate, of your continuing health care requirements following discharge

Communication

• have a family member or chosen representative and your personal physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital
• unrestricted access to visitors, mail, telephone calls or other forms of communication unless these privileges are restricted for therapeutic reasons by a physician in consultation with family members
• receive, as soon as possible, the services of a translator or interpreter to help you communicate with health care personnel

Pain Management

• information about pain and pain relief measures
• a concerned staff committed to pain prevention and management
• health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain
• health professionals who believe your reports of pain