Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Mount Sinai Medical Center believes in the importance of patients and families taking an active part in their health care. That is why we are providing you with this list of Patient Rights and Responsibilities. By becoming familiar with these points, you will be prepared to participate in your care as a vital part of the health care team.

Federal and state laws require that your health care provider or health care facility recognize your rights while you are receiving medical care and that you respect the health care provider or health care facility’s right to expect certain behavior on the part of patients. You may request a copy of the full text of this law from your health care provider or health care facility.

Patient Rights

As a patient you have the right to:

Be treated with courtesy and respect for your cultural, psychosocial, spiritual and personal values, beliefs and preferences, as well as with appreciation of individual dignity, positive self image and protection of privacy and informational confidentiality within the law;
Receive the visitors that you designate, including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend, subject to reasonable or clinically necessary restrictions. You also have the right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time.
Have a family member or representative of your choice and your physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital;
A prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests;
Know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for your care;
Know what patient support services are available, including access to phone for private telephone conversations, interpreters, translators and resources for the disabled;
Impartial access to medical treatment or accommodation regardless of race, national origin, religion, physical handicaps or sources of payment;
Treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment;
Know what rules and regulations apply to your conduct;
Be given information concerning the diagnosis, prognosis, planned course of treatment, benefits, risks and alternatives;
Patient may request the hospital’s treating physician to consult with their primary care doctor and/or specialist when developing the patient’s plan of care;
Have your family involved in decision-making with permission from you or your surrogate;
Appropriate assessment and management of your pain and to be involved in decisions about managing pain;
Initiate or amend an advance health care directive and have hospital staff comply with those directives;
Participate in decisions about your care at the end of life with attention to your physical, psychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs;
Refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law;
Know if medical treatment is for a clinical trial and to give your informed consent or refusal to participate in experimental research;
Information about accessing protective services if you feel you are in physical danger, have been abused, harassed, neglected or exploited by anyone;
Be free from sexual, verbal, physical or mental abuse and corporal punishment and free from restraint when used as coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation;
Receive, upon request, prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care;
Receive, upon request, information and counseling on the availability of known financial resources for your care;
Know, upon request, in advance of treatment, whether the health care provider or facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate if you are eligible for Medicare;
Receive, upon request, a copy of reasonably clear and understandable itemized bill and to have the charges explained;
Have access to the Ethics Committee and the option to participate in the process to resolve ethical issues. The Ethics Committee can be reached by contacting the Nurse Manager or Nursing Supervisor;
Accommodations for the right to pastoral care and other spiritual services;
Expect reasonable safety insofar as the hospital practices and environment permit;
Consult with a specialist at your request and expense;
Express complaints or grievances through the hospital’s Patient Relations department by calling extension 5-2990 or 305-674-2990;
Express grievances regarding any violation of your rights, as stated in Florida Law. The toll free number to file a complaint with the Agency for Health Care Administration is (888) 419-3456 or you may mail your complaint to 2727 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, Fl 32308. If you believe the concerns have not been resolved, you may also contact The Joint Commission in writing at the Office of Quality Monitoring, One Renaissance Blvd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181; by fax at 630-792-5636; by e-mail at complaint@jointcommission.org; or by calling the 1-800-994-6610 toll free.

Patient Responsibilities

As a patient, you are responsible for:

Providing accurate and complete information about present physical complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to your health;
Reporting unexpected changes in your condition to your doctors and nurses;
Reporting your pain and working with the staff to manage your pain;
Asking questions if you do not understand your treatment or what is expected of you;
Following the treatment plan recommended by the hospital staff and/or physicians;
Your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow the health care provider’s instructions;
Thoughtful consideration of your wishes about end-of-life care and for communicating those wishes through advance directives;
Keeping appointments and, when you are unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the health care provider or health care facility;
Assuring that the financial obligations of your health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible;
Providing accurate insurance and payment information to the hospital and physicians at the time of registration or service;
Complying with the hospital’s rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct;
Being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise and the number of visitors;
Being respectful of the property of other persons and the hospital;
Safeguarding your belongings (valuables should be sent home or placed in the hospital safe).

References

Florida Statute 381.026 (“Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights & Responsibilities”) The Joint Commission, 42 CFR Part 482 (“Conditions of Participation for Hospitals”)

Mount Sinai Medical Center
4300 Alton Road
Miami Beach, FL 33140
305-674-2990
msmc.com