Your Rights

Meadville Medical Center provides medical care without regard to gender, race, color, religion, sexual preference, income, education, nationality, ancestry, or who will pay your bill.  As our patient , you have the right to safe, respectful, and dignified care at all times.  You will receive services and care that are medically suggested and within the hospital's services, its stated mission, and required law and regulation.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
It is the policy of Meadville Medical Center and its subsidiaries to comply with the provisions of the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,  to the end that no person shall, on the grounds of age, sex,  race, color, religious creed, ancestry, disability/handicap, national origin, ability to pay or because a patient is covered by a program such as Medicaid or Medicare, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in the provisions of any care or service.  This non-discrimination policy applies to patients, visitors, physicians and staff.

 Patient Rights

• The Patient has a right to express concerns or ask questions through a Patient Representative. In most cases, by voicing concerns directly to hospital staff, issues can be resolved quickly and effectively without the need for a formal review. If the staff member is unable to resolve the concern, the patient is encouraged to contact Guest Services at (814) 333-5580. If the Patient Representative in Guest Services cannot resolve the concern, it will be referred to a Grievance Committee, which will conduct an investigation. If the Grievance Committee cannot reach a satisfactory outcome, the patient or legal representative can contact an outside agency such as the State Department of Health, Division of Acute and Ambulatory Care, Room 532, Health and Welfare Building, 625 Forester Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Telephone 1-800-254-5164.
• When the patient is unable to be informed of his/her rights and responsibilities or to give informed consent, as in the case of a neonate, child, adolescent, or legally incompetent individual, the parent, guardian, and/or legally authorized representative will be so informed and will be responsible to exercise these rights and responsibilities on the patient's behalf.
• A patient has the right to considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances by competent personnel with recognition of the patient's personal dignity.
• A patient has the right to have the patient's own physician and family members notified of the patient's admission to the hospital and/or a significant change in condition.
• A patient has the right to be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
• A patient has the right to express that he or she feels pain, have that expression accepted, have the pain assessed systemically and thoroughly, have the pain managed according to the most currently accepted treatment plan, receive prompt response to unrelieved pain, and be informed and involved in all pain management decisions.
• A patient has the right to be given the name of his/her attending physician, the names of all other physicians directly participating in his/her care, and the names and functions of other healthcare workers having direct contact with the patient. This includes the patient's right to know of the existence of any professional relationship among individuals who are treating him/her, as well as the relationship to any other health care or educational institutions involved in his/her care. Participation by patients in clinical training programs or in the gathering of data for research purposes should be voluntary.
• A patient has the right to every consideration of his/her personal privacy concerning his/her own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation examination, and treatment are considered confidential and should be conducted discreetly. A patient has the right to expect that individuals not directly involved in his care will not be present without the patient's permission.
• A patient has the right to have all records pertaining to his/her medical care, including source of payment, treated as confidential except as otherwise provided by law or third-party contractual arrangements.
• The patient has the right to refuse to talk with or see anyone not officially connected with the hospital, including visitors, or persons officially connected with the hospital but not directly involved in his/her care.
• The patient has 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.
• The patient has 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. The patient has the right not to remain disrobed any longer than is required for accomplishing the medical purpose for which the patient was asked to disrobe.
• The patient has the right to have his/her medical record read only by individuals directly involved in his treatment or in the monitoring of its quality. The patient also has the right to be assured that other individuals can only read his medical record on his/her written authorization or that of his legally authorized representative.
• A patient has the right to request a transfer to another 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.
• A patient has the right to be placed in protective privacy when considered necessary for personal safety.
• The patient has a right to be free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
• The patient has the right to know what hospital rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct as a patient. Patients are entitled to information about the hospital's mechanism for the initiation, review, and resolution of patient complaints and can receive this information by calling Guest Relations/Patient Representative Services at (814) 333-5580.
• The patient has the right to expect that emergency procedures will be implemented without unnecessary delay.
• The patient has the right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed.
• The patient has the right to full information in layman's terms concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, including information about alternative treatments and possible complications. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information shall be given on his/her behalf to the patient's next of kin or other appropriate person.
• The patient has the right to reasonable informed participation in decisions involving his/her health care, including in ethical issues which may arise. To the degree possible, this should be based on a 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.
• Except for emergencies, the physician must obtain the necessary informed consent of the patient or his/her legally authorized representative prior to the start of any procedure or treatment.
• The patient has the right to know who is responsible for authorizing and performing the procedures or treatment.
• A patient or, in the event the patient is unable to give informed consent, a legally responsible party, has the right to be advised when a physician is considering the patient as a part of a medical care research program or donor program. The patient, or legally responsible party, must give informed consent prior to actual participation in such a program. A patient, or legally responsible party, may, at any time, refuse to continue in any such program to which he/she has previously given informed consent.
• A patient has the right to refuse any drugs, treatment, or procedure offered by the hospital, to the extent permitted by law, and a physician shall inform the patient of the medical consequences of the patient's refusal of any drugs, treatment, or procedure. When refusal of treatment by the patient or his/her legally authorized representative prevents the provision of appropriate care in accordance with professional standards, the relationship with the patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice.
• A patient has the right to assistance in obtaining consultation with another physician at the patient's request and own expense.
• A patient has the right to medical and nursing services without discrimination based upon race, age, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual preference, disability/handicap, national origin, how the patient's bills are paid.
• The patient who does not speak English should have access, where possible, to an interpreter. Deaf persons should have access to a qualified sign language interpreter.
• The patient has the right of access to people outside the hospital by means of visitors and by verbal and written communication.
• The hospital shall provide the patient, upon request, access to all information contained in the medical records - immediately to read, three days for copied records - unless access is specifically restricted by the attending physician for medical reasons or is prohibited by law.
• The patient has the right to expect good management techniques to be implemented within the hospital considering effective use of the time of the patient and to avoid the personal discomfort of the patient.
• The patient has the right to expect reasonable safety insofar as the hospital practices and environment are concerned.
• When medically permissible, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she or his/her next of kin or other legally responsible representative has received complete information and an explanation concerning the need for and alternatives to such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.
• Regardless of the source of payment for his/her care the patient has the right to examine and receive a detailed explanation of his/her total bill for services rendered in the hospital.
• The patient has the right to timely notice prior to termination of his/her eligibility for reimbursement by any third-party payor for the cost of his/her care. The patient has the right to full information and counseling on the availability-of known financial resources of his/her health care.
• A patient has the right to expect that the health care facility will provide a mechanism whereby he/she is informed upon discharge of his/her continuing health care requirements following discharge and the means for meeting them.
• A patient cannot be denied the right of access to an individual or agency who is authorized to act on his/her behalf to assert or protect the rights set out in this section.
• A patient has the right to be informed of his/her rights during the admissions process.
• A patient has the right to express his/her spiritual beliefs and cultural practices provided that they do not harm others or interfere with the planned course of medical therapy for the patient.
• A patient has the right to formulate an advance directive and to appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on his/her behalf to the extent permitted by law and to have hospital staff and practitioners comply with those directives. The patient may revoke or revise his/her advance directive at any time.
• A patient or his/her representative has the right to direct or collaborate with the attending physician in informed decisions about his/her health care , including the right to be informed of his/her health status, especially as it pertains to requesting, accepting, withdrawing, or refusing medical care and/or treatment including resuscitation efforts. If concerns regarding ethical issues of treatment arise, the patient or his/her designated representative may contact the Patient Representative (814 - 333- 5580) who will assist him/her in obtaining counsel, including referral to the Biomedical Ethics Committee as appropriate.
  

Patient Responsibilities
In providing care to patients, Meadville Medical Center expects behavior on the part of patients and their relatives and friends, which, considering the nature of their illness, is reasonable and responsible. The following principles represent the patient's responsibilities:

• The hospital expects the patient or his/her family will provide information about past illnesses, hospitalization, medication and other matters relating to your health history in order to effectively treat your illness.
• The hospital expects that you will cooperate with all hospital personnel and ask questions if directions and/or procedures are not clearly understood.
• You are expected to ask your doctor or nurse what to expect from your diagnosis.
• You are expected to discuss pain relief options with your doctors or nurses, work with your doctor and nurses to make a pain relief plan, ask for pain relief when pain first begins, help the staff measure your pain, report any pain that will not go away, and not worry about becoming dependent on pain medication.
• You are expected to be considerate of other patients and hospital personnel and to assist in the control of noise and the number of visitors in your room at any one time. You are also expected to be respectful of the property of other persons and the property of the health center. You are responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care, comfort, smoking, and weapons.
• In order to facilitate your care and the efforts of the hospital personnel, you are expected to help the physician, nurses, and allied medical personnel in their efforts to care for you by following their instructions and medical orders and by reporting unexpected changes in your condition to the responsible practitioner.
• It is understood that you are responsible for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow your health care practitioners' instructions. You are responsible for keeping appointments, and if unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the responsible practitioner or the hospital.
• Duly authorized members of your family are expected to be available to hospital personnel for review of your treatment in the event you are unable to properly communicate with the physicians or nurses.
• It is understood that you assume the financial responsibility of paying for all services rendered either through third-party payers (your insurance company) or being personally responsible for payment for any services which are not covered by your insurance policies.
• It is expected that you will not take drugs which have not been prescribed by your attending physician and administered by hospital staff; and that you will not complicate or endanger the healing process by consuming alcoholic beverages or toxic substances during your hospital stay.

Being a good patient does not mean being a silent one. If you have questions, problems, suggestions, or unmet needs, please let us know immediately. If you would like further explanation of the Patient's Rights and Responsibilities as they affect you, please call the Patient Representative at (814) 333-5580.