Patient Rights

As a patient at Pikeville Medical Center, you possess the following rights:

• to be viewed as an individual with unique healthcare needs which will be responded to in a considerate and positive manner respective of your personal values, beliefs and dignity.
  
  
• to an individualized plan of care with consideration of the psychosocial, cultural, spiritual and personal variables that influence the perceptions of illness embraced by you and your family or significant others.
  
  
• to be consulted regarding your health care, to participate in ethical questions that arise in the course of your care and to accept or refuse treatment (to the extent permitted by law) after being informed of the expected benefits, potential discomforts, risks, alternative therapies and procedures to be followed. Refusal of treatment does not compromise your access to hospital services.
  
  
• to know the identity and professional status of those responsible for your care. This includes the association with any other healthcare or educational institutions involved in your care.
  
  
• to security, personal privacy and confidentiality of information, within the limits of the law.
  
  
• to designate representation if you are a minor, unable to communicate your wishes regarding treatment, medically incapable of understanding the proposed treatment or procedure, or determined to be legally incompetent.
  
  
• to optimal comfort measures provided with dignity, including, but not limited to medication administration, spiritual counseling and nursing care.
  
  
• to receive appropriate information about and give informed consent prior to being involved/enrolled in any clinical research investigations or clinical trials.
  
  
• to be cared for in an environment and manner free from mental, physical, sexual and verbal abuse, neglect or exploitation.
  

**Each patient will receive a copy of patient rights at the time of admission. Continuous monitoring will be conducted to assure that no patient right is violated. Advance directives are encouraged upon admission.

Patient Responsibilities

• The patient's participation in decision making of treatment includes his/her responsibility to provide accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and health-related matters. Patients and their families must also report any perceived risks in their care as well as any unexpected changes in his/her condition.
  
  
• The patient is responsible for his/her actions if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow the care, treatment and service plan, following instructions and abiding by hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
  
  
• The patient is responsible for being respectful of the hospital's and staff property. The patient has the responsibility for being considerate of other patients and their property and for assisting in control of smoking, visitors and noise.
  
  
• The patient is responsible for assuring that financial obligations of his/her health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
  
  
• The parents and/or guardian of an infant, child or adolescent patient have the responsibilities (as listed above) on behalf of the patient.
  
  
• The patient is responsible to notify the hospital upon admission if they have a Living Will/Advance Directive.
  
  
• The patient and family is responsible for asking questions when they do not understand their care, treatment and service and what they are expected to do.
  

**If you have any questions about your care or about your rights and responsibilities as a patient at our hospital, please feel free to ask any of the professionals who are caring for you.