All patients admitted to the hospital will be given a copy of the Patient Handbook which contains their rights and responsibilities. This will be given by the nurse doing the nursing assessment. Patients receiving care in outpatient areas will have access to pamphlets describing their rights and responsibilities.

A list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of pertinent state advocacy groups are available through Case Management if a patient wishes to file a complaint.

Upon employment, each employee shall be given a copy of Patient Rights and Responsibilities. The policy as stated below will be posted in a public place in Bay Regional Medical Center and incorporated in the Patient Handbook.

A.     

Patients of Bay Regional Medical Center have the following rights:

1. A patient will not be denied appropriate care on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, marital status, sexual preference, or source of payment.
   
2. A patient is entitled to inspect, or receive for a reasonable fee, a copy of your medical record upon request in accordance with the medical records access act, 2004 P.A. 47,MCL 333.26261 to 332.6271. Except as otherwise permitted or required under the health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996, Public Law 104-191, or regulations promulgated under that act, 45 CFR parts 160 and 164, a third party shall not be given a copy of the patient's medical record without your prior authorization .
   
3. A patient is entitled to inspect, or receive for a reasonable fee, a copy of your medical record upon request in accordance with the medical records access act, 2004 P.A. 47,MCL 333.26261 to 332.6271. Except as otherwise permitted or required under the health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996, Public Law 104-191, or regulations promulgated under that act, 45 CFR parts 160 and 164, a third party shall not be given a copy of the patient's medical record without your prior authorization .
   
4. A patient is entitled to privacy, to the extent feasible, in treatment and in caring for personal needs with consideration, respect, and full recognition of his or her dignity and individuality.
   
5. Patients are given the opportunity to request a transfer to a different room if another patient or a visitor in the room is unreasonably disturbing him/her and if another room equally suitable for his/her care needs is available.
   
6. A patient is entitled to receive adequate and appropriate care, and to receive, from the appropriate individual facility, information about his or her medical condition; outcomes of care, including unanticipated outcomes; proposed course of treatment; and prospects for recovery in terms that the patient can understand, unless medically contraindicated as documented by the attending physician in the medical record.
   
7. A patient (18 years of age or older) has the right to establish a "Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care" and designate a "patient advocate" to make medical treatment decisions for him/her in the event that the patient is unable to participate in medical treatment decisions.
   
8. A patient is entitled to refuse treatment to the extent provided by law and to be informed of the consequences of that refusal. When a refusal of treatment prevents a health facility or its staff from providing appropriate care according to ethical and professional standards, the relationship with the patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice.
   
9. A patient is entitled to exercise his or her rights as a patient and as a citizen, and to this end, may present grievances or recommend changes in policies and services on behalf of himself or herself or others to the facility staff, to governmental officials, or to another person of his or her choice within or outside the facility, free from restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal. A patient is entitled to information about the facility's policies and procedures for initiation, review, and resolution of patient complaints.
   
10. A patient is entitled to receive information concerning any experimental procedure proposed as part of his or her care, and shall have the right to refuse to participate in the experiment without jeopardizing his or her continuing care.
    
11. A patient is entitled to receive and examine an explanation of his or her bill, regardless of the source of payment, and to receive, upon request, information relating to financial assistance available through the facility.
    
12. A patient is entitled to know who is responsible for and who is providing his or her direct care, is entitled to receive information concerning his or her continuing health needs and alternatives for meeting those needs, and to be involved in his or her discharge planning, if appropriate.
    
13. A patient is entitled to associate and have private communications and consultations with his or her physician, attorney, or any other person of his or her choice and to send and receive personal mail unopened on the same day it is received at the facility, unless medically contraindicated as documented by the attending physician in the medical record. A patient's civil and religious liberties, including the right to independent personal decisions and the right to knowledge of available choices, shall not be infringed, and the facility shall encourage and assist in the fullest possible exercise of these rights. A patient may meet with and participate in the activities of social, religious, and community groups at his or her discretion, unless medically contraindicated as documented by the attending physician in the medical record.
    
14. A patient is entitled to be free from mental and physical abuse and from physical and chemical restraints, except those restraints authorized in writing by a physician for a specified and limited time, or as are necessitated by an emergency to protect the patient from injury to self or others, in which case the restraint may only be applied by a qualified professional who shall set forth in writing the circumstances requiring the use of restraints, and who shall promptly report the action to the attending physician. In case of a chemical restraint, a physician shall be consulted within 24 hours after the commencement of the restraint.
    
15. A patient is entitled to be free from performing services for the facility that are not included for therapeutic purposes in the plan of care.
    
16. A patient is entitled to information about the facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
    
17. A patient has the right to have his or her pain assessed and appropriately managed, and to receive education related to his or her pain and pain control measures. A patient can expect that his or her requests for pain relief will receive rapid response, that his or her reports of pain will be taken seriously, and that the staff will use state-of-the-art pain management techniques.
    
18. A patient is entitled to have access to protective services in this community. Protective services in Bay County include the Family Independence Agency and The Women’s Center. These organizations will be contacted by asking a nurse or a social worker/case manager to help, or can be called by the patient at one of the numbers below:

Department of Human Services (formerly FIA) -- (989) 895-2100
Children and Adult Services -- (989) 895-2147

The Women’s Center
For victims of domestic violence and sexual assault
Toll free: 1-800-834-2098
or call: (989) 686-4551

ETHICS STATEMENT
The Ethics Advisory Group can be convened at any time to deal with urgent patient care issues.  Patients, families, nursing staff or physicians may request an Ethics Advisory Review by contacting the nursing supervisor, Risk Management or Chairman of the Ethics Advisory Group.

B.    Patients of Bay Regional Medical Center have the following responsibilities:

1. A patient is responsible for following the health facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
   
2. A patient is responsible for providing a complete and accurate medical history.
   
3. A patient is responsible for informing health care providers if he/she has a "Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care" and if a "patient advocate" has been appointed.
   
4. A patient is responsible for making it known whether he or she clearly comprehends a contemplated course of action and the things he or she is expected to do.
   
5. A patient is responsible for following the recommendations and advice prescribed in a course of treatment by the physician. He or she is responsible for the outcomes if he or she does not follow the care, service, or treatment plan.
   
6. A patient is responsible for providing information about unexpected complications that arise in an expected course of treatment, and report any perceived risk in his or her care.
   
7. A patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and health facility personnel and property.
   
8. A patient is responsible for providing the health facility with accurate and timely information concerning his or her sources of payment and ability to meet financial obligations.

If you feel that any of your rights as a patient have been denied, contact: Michigan Department of Community Health Bureau of Health Systems Division of Operations, Complaint Investigation Unit P.O. Box 30664, Lansing, Michigan 48909 1-800-822-6006 bhsinfo@michigan.gov

To register a complaint regarding services provided at Bay Regional Medical Center, contact the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations toll free at 1-800-994-6610 or email complaint@jointcommission.org