Your Rights As A Patient
At Texas Health facilities (or "Facility"), we believe that the protection and support of the basic human rights of freedom of expression, decision and action are important to the healing and well-being of our patients. Therefore, we strive to treat patients with respect and with full recognition of human dignity. Decisions regarding health care treatment will not be based on race, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, or sources of payment. As a patient of a Texas Health Facility:
You have the right to a reasonable response to your request and need for treatment or service, within the Facility's capacity, its stated mission, and applicable laws and regulations.
You have the right to be informed about which physicians, nurses and other health care professionals are responsible for your care.
You have the right to the information necessary for you to make informed decisions, in consultation with your physician, about your medical care including information about your diagnosis, the proposed care and your prognosis in terms and a manner that you can understand before the start of your care. You also have the right to take part in developing and carrying out your plan of care.
You have the right to consent to or refuse medical care, to the extent permitted by law, and to be told of the risks of not having the treatment and other treatments which may be available.
You have the right to reasonable access to care. Although the Facility respects your right to refuse treatments offered to you, the Facility does not recognize an unlimited right to receive treatments that are medically ineffective or non-beneficial.
You have the right to care that is considerate and respectful of your personal values and beliefs. The Facility strives to be considerate of the ethnic, cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of each patient and family. The Facility acknowledges that care of the dying patient includes care with dignity and respect, management of pain and consideration for the patient's and family's expression of grief.
You have the right to have a family member or representative of your choice and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the Facility.
You have the right to have your family take part in your care decisions with your permission.
You have the right, to the extent permitted by law, to have your legal guardian, next of kin, or a surrogate decision maker appointed to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event you become unable to understand a proposed treatment or procedure, are unable to express your wishes regarding your care, or you are a minor. The person appointed has the right, to the extent permitted by law, to exercise your rights as a patient on your behalf.
You and your appointed representative have the right to take part in ethical questions that arise during your care.
You have the right to communicate with family, friends and others while you are a patient in the Facility unless restrictions are needed for therapeutic effectiveness. You also have the right to receive visitors of your choosing including a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), family members, and friends. This right is subject to any clinically necessary or reasonable restrictions imposed by the Facility or your doctor. You also have the right at any time to refuse to have visitors.
You and your legal representative have the right to access the information contained in your medical record in a timely manner subject to state and federal law.
You may request an explanation of your hospital bill, even if you will not be paying for your care.
You have the right to issue advance directives and to have doctors at the Facility and Facility staff follow your directives in accordance with state and federal law.
You have the right to personal privacy and for your medical information to be kept confidential within the limits of the law.
You have the right to receive care in a safe setting.
You have the right to be free from abuse or harassment.
You have the right to be free from restraints that are not medically necessary; restraints include physical restraints and medicines.
You have the right to be free from seclusion and restraints for behavior management except in emergencies as needed for your safety when less restrictive means may have been ineffective.
You have the right to consent or refuse to take part in any human research or other educational project affecting your care. You also have the right to be given information about the expected benefits and risks of any research you choose to take part in and any alternative treatment that might benefit you. Refusing to take part in the research or project will in no way affect your care.
You have the right to have your pain assessed and managed properly and to receive information about pain and pain relief measures.
You have the right to obtain information concerning the relationship of the Facility to other health care Facilities as they relate to your care.
You have the right to submit a complaint to the Facility regarding your care or regarding any belief you have that you are being discharged too soon. Your care will not be affected by submitting a complaint. The steps for doing so are at the end of this statement.
You have a right to request and/or be provided language assistance i.e., interpreter services, if you have a language barrier or hearing impairment. This will be provided at no cost to you to help you actively participate in your care.
Problem Resolution
Federal law gives every Facility patient the right to be informed of how to submit a complaint to the Facility relating to his/her care or relating to the belief that he/she is being discharged from the Facility prematurely. Each patient has the right to be informed of how the complaint will be considered, including the response and resolution process developed by the Facility. The complaint resolution process is part of the Facility's confidential Quality Improvement Program.
An issue can be addressed most promptly by speaking with your nurse or another health care professional involved in your care. However, if you feel an issue is not being addressed appropriately, or if you need additional assistance, please dial "0" (if you are at the Facility) or call the Facility's Main Number and ask for an administrator.
If you feel that your issue is not being resolved or addressed satisfactorily by the Facility, you may contact:
Texas Department of State Health Services Health Facility Licensing and Compliance Division
Complaint Hotline (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST) 888-973-0022 or 800-735-2989 (hearing/speech impaired)
