Patients' Rights
Northwest Medical Center respects the rights of the patient, recognizes that each patient is an individual with unique health care needs, and because of the importance of respecting each patient’s personal dignity, provides considerate, respectful care focused on the patient’s individual needs.
Northwest Medical Center affirms the patient’s right to make decisions regarding his/her medical care, including the decision to discontinue treatment, to the extent permitted by laws.
Northwest Medical Center assists the patient with his/her responsibilities in the exercise of those rights.
RIGHTS
Access to care: The right to receive the best care medically indicated, regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, age or ability to pay. The right to be informed in advance of furnishing or discontinuation of care when possible.
Respect and Dignity: The right to considerate, respectful care at all times and circumstances, with recognition of your personal dignity including psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural beliefs. The care of the dying patient will include optimal emphasis on comfort and dignity by:
- treating primary and secondary symptoms that respond to treatment as desired by the patient or surrogate decision maker
- Acknowledgement of the psychosocial and spiritual concerns of the patient and the family concerning the dying and expression of grief by the patient and family.
Privacy and Confidentiality: The right to personal and informational privacy during your treatment and care, including the right to exclude any and all family members from participating in health care. To have a family member of your choice notified promptly of your admission, unless you request this information to remain confidential. The right to have your physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital. You have the right to expect privacy of your medical records.
You also have the right to wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items, as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.
You have the right to be interviewed and examined in surroundings designed to assure reasonable visual and auditory privacy. This includes the right to have a person of one’s own sex present during certain parts of a physical examination, treatment, or procedures performed by a health professional of the opposite sex and the right not to remain disrobed any longer than is required for accomplishing the medical purpose for with the patient was asked to disrobe. You have the right to expect that any discussion or consultation involving his/her case will be conducted discreetly and that individuals not directly involved in his/her care will not be present without his/her permission.
Personal Safety: The right to expect reasonable safety, free from abuse or harassment, as the hospital practices and environment are concerned. You have the right to be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary. You have the right to access protective services.
Identity: You have the right to know the names and duties of persons concerned with your care.
Information: You have the right to request complete and current information about your condition and treatment, in terms you understand, including unanticipated outcomes of care. You have the right to access information in your medical record within a reasonable timeframe.
Communication: You have the right to access people outside the hospital by means of visitors and by verbal and written communication. You have the right to have an interpreter if needed if you do not speak or understand the predominant language at no cost to you or your family.
Consent: You have the right to be involved, whenever possible, in decisions about your care including the right to refuse treatment, and to leave the hospital even if your doctors advise against it. To the degree possible, this should be based on 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 voluntary, competent, and understanding consent or the consent of his/her legally authorized representative. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, the patient shall be so informed. You have the right to participate in the development and implementation of the care plan.
You have the right to participate or not participate in investigative studies without compromising access to care.
Living Will Declaration and Advance Directive: You have the right to be given an opportunity to develop an Advance Directive which may include information regarding withholding resuscitative services and foregoing or withdrawing life sustaining treatment, and have the terms of your advance directive complied with by the health care facility and caregivers to the extent permitted by law. You have the right to designate a decision maker.
Consultation: You have the right to consult with a specialist and/or another physician.
Continuity of Care: You have the right to receive information about your care needs after discharge, to be given information about resources and to receive assistance in making necessary arrangement. You have the right to receive a complete explanation of the need for transfer to another facility and the alternatives to such a transfer.
Hospital Charges: You have the right to request and receive an explanation of your bills for service received in this hospital.
Hospital Rules and Regulations: You have the right to be informed of the hospital rules and regulations applicable to your conduct as a patient.
Pain Management: You have the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.
Resolution of Complaints: You have the right to a mechanism for resolving conflicts that arise concerning your care by informing the physician, nursing supervisor, quality resource manager, or administration of the concern. The state agency may be contacted directly at: Alabama Department of Public Health – Division of Healthcare Facilities, 201 Monroe Street, Suite 600, Montgomery, AL 36104 – Attention Complaint Department or by dialing the Hotline Number at 1-800-356-9596. Patients/families may contact Hospital Administration at 205-487-7737 for patient care and safety concerns or may contact the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations at 1-800-994-6610 or by emailing
complaint@jcaho.org
RESPONSIBILITIES
Provision of Information: You are responsible for giving complete and accurate information about your health and medical history, including information about any unexpected changes.
Compliance with Instructions: You are responsible for following instructions given by your caregiver. You are responsible for telling us if you do not understand the instructions, or if you cannot follow them. If you refuse treatment or fail to follow instructions, you will be responsible for the outcome.
Hospital Charges: You are responsible for making certain you understand your health care bills and for making arrangements to meet financial obligations. A patient account representative is available to assist you in financial matters.
Respect and Consideration: You are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors. You are responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.
If you have any questions or if you desire more information about these rights and responsibilities, please contact Administration at 487-7737. Northwest Medical Center has established the Ethics Committee as an internal mechanism to address ethical issues. The Ethics Committee serves in a consultative capacity to patients and their families. Patients or families facing ethical issues may contact hospital staff, administration, or medical staff for referral of issues to the Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee may be accessed by contacting Social Services at 487-7798.