Patient and Visitor Guide
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
We serve together in Trinity Health, in the spirit of the Gospel, to heal body, mind and spirit, to improve the health of our communities and to steward the resources entrusted to us.
During your stay with us, our goal is to offer as much support as possible by providing information and open channels of communication. Your comments, observations, complaints or compliments enable us to evaluate our employees and services. As a patient, you have certain rights and a few responsibilities. By understanding these rights and responsibilities, you can contribute to your care in a positive way.
Dignity, respect, comfort and safety
- SJMO Oakland’s (SJMO) staff honors your right to be treated with dignity and respect at all times. You have the right to feel secure and comfortable that you are receiving proper care.
- You have the right to be given consideration and respect for your psychosocial, spiritual, religious, and cultural beliefs and values. SJMO will provide service to all people without discriminating by race, national origin, age, creed or handicap.
- You have the right to keep any personal items in the room as space permits, unless they infringe on other patients’ rights or medical recommendations. You have the right to place valuables inSJMO’s safe.
- You have the right to manage your personal financial affairs.
- You have the right to be free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
- If someone else caused your illness or injuries, you have the right to be safe and free from harm. Please contact a SJMO social worker for help.
- You have the right to receive reasonable response to any reasonable request you make for services.
- You have a right to be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary for your personal safety or the safety of our staff & visitors.
Know your care providers
- You have the right to know the name and profession of each SJMO staff member who is caring for you.
- You have the right to know the name of the physician who has primary responsibility for coordinating your care and the names and professions of other health care providers who may care for you.
Participate in medical decisions
- You have the right to participate in your medical care by having medical information explained in language you can understand.
- You have the right to discuss your illness or injury; the risks, benefits and alternatives of your medical treatment; and prospects for recovery with your physicians and other care providers.
- You have the right to agree to receive the recommended treatment or to refuse treatment up to discharging yourself against medical advice.
- You should not be subjected to any medical procedure without your voluntary, informed consent, or that of a legally authorized representative.
- You have the right to know what medication is being given to you. Medications will be administered at times based upon hospital standards and your doctor’s orders. These medications may differ from the ones you take at home. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
- You have the right to have an advance medical firective (i.e. durable power of attorney for health care or a living will) to ensure there will be reasonable informed participation in decisions involving your health care, should you lose your decision-making capacity. SJMO Oakland will honor the intent of your advanced directive to the extent permitted by law and SJMO policies. Please contact a chaplain or patient representative if you have any questions regarding advance medical directives.
Participate in research or experimentation
SJMO supports clinical research
in order that you may have access to the latest medicines and treatment.
You have the right to decide whether or not to participate in human experimentation
or other research and educational projects affecting your care or treatment.
Your refusal will not affect the medical treatment to which you are entitled. SJMO has established an institutional review board (IRB) to review the organization’s ethical conduct of research.
Assistance during discharge
You have the right to be informed of your
future health care needs following your discharge from the hospital.
You have the right to receive assistance from a SJMO Clinical
Resource Coordinator, if necessary, to ensure that you receive appropriate
care after you leave the hospital.
Assistance in removing communication barriers
You have the right to have
access to a foreign language interpreter, a sign language interpreter,
or telecommunications devices for the deaf to facilitate accurate
communication between yourself and your health care providers.
Appropriate, comfortable care
- You have the right to receive the desired treatment of symptoms, including the highest level of pain relief that can be provided safely. In the event of a terminal illness, you have the right to optimal comfort, dignity and supportive care. We are committed to using the necessary resources to provide quality pain management for our patients.
- You have the right to obtain additional medical opinions at your own expense.
Confidentiality and access of records
- You have the right to expect confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to your care. You may approve or refuse the release of these records to anyone outside of SJMO except in the case of your transfer to another health care facility or as might be required by law or third-party payment contracts.
- You have the right to access your medical record information within the limitations of the law.
Refuse communication and visitors
- You have the right to determine whether you want to communicate with any person not officially connected with SJMO and persons officially connected with the hospital but not directly involved in your care. You also have the right to refuse to see any visitors.
- You have the right to have the hospital notify any family member or your physician of your hospitalization.
Privacy
- You have the right to privacy when discussing personal medical information during examinations.
- You have the right not to remain disrobed any longer than is necessary to accomplish the medical procedure. You also have the right to have a person of your own sex present during physical examinations, treatment, or procedures performed by a care provider when appropriate.
- You have the right to privacy during personal hygiene care, except when assistance is necessary for your personal safety and well-being. In this case, every effort will be made to protect your privacy as much as possible.
About your bill
If you have concerns about your insurance coverage or
how you intend to pay your bill, please let us know by calling a financial
counselor or social worker. You may be eligible for financial assistance
through government or private sources, depending on your illness or the
nature of your condition. Financial counseling is available by calling
248-858-6196.
Report problems and make recommendations about your care
You are entitled
to voice your complaints and concerns and expect to have them resolved
in a reasonable amount of time.
You may voice your concerns or complaints to your doctor or any SJMO staff member. If they are not resolved to your satisfaction, you may contact a patient representative, file a formal grievance, or contact the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services at (517) 373-9196.
SJMO Oakland is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). We believe in creating a culture that embraces quality, patient safety and service satisfaction. Anyone believing that he or she has information about patient safety, quality or customer service concerns should contact Quality Management at SJMO Oakland at 248-858-3158. All questions or concerns are taken seriously and will be investigated. If you feel your concern has not been taken seriously, you then have the option to share the concern with JCAHO via email at complaint@jcaho.org or fax at (630) 792-5636.
Assistance from an ethics committee
You have the right to contact SJMO’s Ethics Committee to address any concerns that arise during
your care. Please have the hospital operator, or any staff member page
#5324.
Your Responsibilities are to:
- Be considerate of other patients, staff and hospital property. Be attentive to how the sound of your radio, TV and visitors may affect others.
- Provide a complete and accurate medical history. Details such as these are important in your doctor’s ability to identify your illness or injury and properly prescribe treatment.
- Tell us if you don’t understand anything you are being asked to do or not do. Ask questions if we haven’t fully explained any aspect of your care.
- Tell your nurse or doctor if you notice any change in how you feel. They will inform you if it is a normal part of your treatment.
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