It is the responsibility of St. Helena Parish Hospital to assure that your rights for independence of expression, decision, action and concern for your personal dignity and human relations are preserved. Likewise, attention to your responsibilities to the Hospital as a patient is expected.

The list below of rights and responsibilities does not presume to be all inclusive, but is intended to show our concern for you and to emphasize the need for observance of these rights and responsibilities.

Access to Care: Individuals shall be accorded impartial access to treatment that is medically indicated, regardless of race, age color, creed, sex, national origin, political beliefs, disability, limited English proficiency, or sources of payment for care.

Respect and Dignity: The patient has the right to considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of his personal dignity including consideration of his psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural variables which effect the perceptions of illness. The care of the dying patient shall optimize the comfort and dignity of a patient through treatment of primary and secondary symptoms that respond to treatment as desired by the acknowledgment of the psychosocial and spiritual concerns of the patient and the family regarding dying and the expression of grief by the patient and family.

Privacy and Confidentiality: The patient has the right to every consideration of his privacy concerning his own medical care. The patient has the right to expect all communications and other records pertaining to his care, including the source of payment, to be treated as confidential. The patient has the right to have his medical record read only by individuals directly involved with his treatment or monitoring its quality and by any other individual only on his written authorization or that of his legally authorized representative. The patient has the right to refuse to talk with or see anyone not officially connected with the hospital, including visitors. The patient has the right to be place in protective privacy when considered necessary for personal safety.

Personal Safety: The patient has the right to expect reasonable safety insofar as hospital practices and environment are concerned.

Identity: The patient has the right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service to him.

Information: The patient has the right to obtain from his physician information concerning his diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis to the degree known and such information should be communicated in terms the patient can reasonably be expected to understand. He has the right to understand medical alternative to his treatment program. When it is not medically advisable to have such information to the patient, the information should be made available to a legally authorized individual.

Communication: The patient has the right of access to people outside the hospital by means of visitors and by verbal and written communication.

Advance Directives: The patient has the right to formulate advance directive concerning his care and/or appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on his behalf to the extent permitted by law.

Human Experimentation: The patient has the right to be advised if the hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting his care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate.

Ethical Issues: The patient or his designated representative has a right to participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise in the care of the patient. Cultural & Spiritual Beliefs: The patient has the right to exercise any legal cultural and spiritual beliefs which are not detrimental to his or her medical care. The care of a patient shall include the psychosocial, spiritual and cultural values that influence the perceptions of illness.

Consent and Refusal: The patient has the right to informed participation in decisions involving his health care. The patient should not be subjected to any procedure without his voluntary and competent consent. The patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of his actions.

Transfer and Continuity of Care: A patient may not be transferred to another facility unless he has received a complete explanation of the need for the transfer and the alternative to such a transfer and unless the transfer is acceptable to the other facility, The patient has the right to be informed by the practitioner responsible for his care, or any continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital.

Hospital Charges: The patient has the right to receive an itemized detailed explanation of his total bill for services rendered in the hospital.

Hospital Rules and Regulations: The patient should be informed of the hospital rules and regulations applicable to his conduct as a patient. Patients are entitled to information about the hospital's mechanism for the initiation, review and resolution of patient complaints. I have been informed that I may not bring any electrical appliance into my room at St. Helena Parish Hospital, I have been informed that it is the policy of St. Helena Parish Hospital that side rails must remain up at all times when patients are in bed.

Personal Valuables: Inpatient/Outpatients/ER Patients must declare all valuables and list them on the Declaration of Valuables Form given to them by the Nursing Staff. The patient can decide whether he/she would like to keep valuables on their person, or in room, or may give to a family member to bring home. If patient decides he/she wants their valuables to be locked up, they will be placed in a valuables bag and witnessed by two hospital staff employees and placed in a secure location. Upon discharge the patient or family member will sign a Certificate of Receipt for their valuables.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted in the front of the Hospital Facility for employees or guests. Smoking is only permitted in the Nursing Home Patio and the Hospital Gazebo area.

Responsibilities of Patients

Provision of lnformation: The patient is responsible for providing accurate and complete information about matters relating to his health. He has the responsibility to report unexpected changes in his condition to the responsible practitioner. Compliance with Instructions: The patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by his physician. He is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

Hospital Charges: The patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

Hospital Rules and Regulations: The patient is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

Respect and Consideration: The patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors. The patient is responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.

General Duty Nursing: The hospital provides only general duty nursing care, under this system nurses are called to the bedside of the patient by a signal system. if the patient is in such condition as to need continuous or special duty nursing care it is agreed that such must be arranged by the patient, or his legal representative, or his physicians, and the hospital shall in no way he responsible for failure to provide the same and is hereby released from any and all liability arising from the fact that said patient is not provided with such additional care.

Pediatric Patients Rights: Parent/family shall have the responsibility for continuing their parenting role to the extent of their ability, being available when possible to participate in decision making, and providing staff with knowledge of parents/family whereabouts. There has to be a familiar adult family member, or an adult friend staying with your child at all times, if possible, unless unable and arrangements will be made for another adult to stay. No patient under the age of 14 will be admitted in a room with an adult. The pediatric patient will be admitted in close proximity to the nurse's station if available.

How to File a Complaint

Any and all complaints made by the patient or family members will be investigated and referred to administration. Complaints should be directed to the Nursing Supervisor of the patient's specific unit or Patient Advocate. The Nursing Supervisor will act as intermediary to the patient, family and hospital administration. If the Nursing Supervisor is unavailable, comments may be directed to the Charge Nurse on duty.