Rights for Patients Receiving Services
As a patient receiving any services of Bath Community Hospital, you have these rights:
- to be treated with courtesy, consideration, and respect;
- to be cared for by individuals who are properly trained and competent to perform their duties;
- to have information about your medical condition, treatment and financial records remain confidential as provided by law;
- to approve or refuse the release of personal and clinical records to individuals outside the facility, except when transferred to another health care facility or record release is required by law;
- to be informed of your rights upon admission and throughout your stay;
- to an environment that is safe, preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image;
- to a dignified existence, self-determination and communication with and access to persons and services inside and outside of the facility;
- to be fully informed in language that you can understand of your total health status, including but not limited to your medical condition;
- to refuse treatment and to refuse to participate in experimental treatment;
- to formulate an Advance Directive;
- to choose a personal attending physician;
- to appropriate assessment and management of pain and other symptoms;
- to select medical and dental care providers and to communicate with your providers;
- to reach your highest practical functioning level and to receive services which promote wellness and improvement, not just maintenance;
- to make suggestions pertaining to your stay;
- to freedom from mental, physical, sexual and verbal abuse or neglect;
- to freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression;
- to participation by you or your family member in the care planning process;
- to make informed choices about care or services;
- to voice complaints and concerns about services and to have them reviewed and resolved, if possible, without fear of reprisal;
- to appropriate response and care for you spiritual and psychosocial needs;
- to receive a privacy notice which completely explains HIPAA regulations and requirements. (See HIPAA regulations and requirements enclosed)
- to be advised of the Virginia Sex Offender Registry, to receive help accessing the Registry, and to receive copies of desired information.
- to be informed of their visitation rights. This includes the right to receive the visitors designated by the patient, including but not limited to a spouse, a domestic partner (including same-sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend. Also, the patient has the right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time.
- Right to ask and be informed of estimation of treatment charges.
- You have the right to voice a complaint and recommend changes freely without fear of discrimination, reprisal, or unreasonable interruption of care.
To share a concern, you may reach Patient Advocacy by calling 540-839-7192.
If we are unable to address your needs, you may report the issue to:
Virginia Department of Health
Office of Licensure and Certification
1-800-955-1819
Additional Rights for Admitted Patients
As a patient who is admitted to the hospital, you have these additional rights:
- To be free of restraints unless they are used for your own well-being; to have restraints used only underwritten physician’s order to treat you for medical symptoms and to ensure your safety and the safety of others;
- to be given psychopharmacologic medication only as ordered by your physician, as part of a written plan of care for a specific medical symptom;
- to view most recent facility inspection results and any plan of correction submitted;
- to permit immediate visits by your personal physician and by representatives from state and federal regulatory agencies and the local ombudsman;
- to permit immediate visits by your relatives and friends at your consent;
- to permit the local ombudsman to review your clinical record if you grant permission.
- to allow family members, friends, or other individuals to be present with you for emotional support.
To protect your rights as a patient, this hospital is obligated to:
- inform you when you become entitled to Medicaid benefits, in writing, at the time of admission or during your stay, whenever changes occur that will affect your bill, and do not require that you give up your rights to Medicaid and provide information about how to apply for Medicaid;
- inform you of the items and services included in the state plan for which you cannot be charged;
- inform you of the items and services for which you can be charged and the amount of charges for those items and services;
- inform you before and after the time of admission and periodically throughout your stay of services available in this facility and of charges for those services, including any charges for services not covered under Medicare or by the facility’s per diem rate;
- inform you in advance about the care and treatment and or any changes in that care or treatment that may affect your well being;
- inform you in advance, unless you are adjudged incompetent or otherwise found to be incapacitated under the laws of the state, that you may participate in planning your care and treatment or changes in your care or treatment;
- inform you of reasons for restricted visit times to you and your family;
- inform you in advance of the reason for transfer or discharge from this facility. This facility will conform to the following;
- Timing: At least 30 days in advance, or as soon as possible if more immediate changes in your health require a more immediate transfer.
- Content: Reasons for transfer; date; location to which transfer is to be made; your right to appeal the transfer; the name, address and telephone numbers of the ombudsman as well as protection and advocacy programs for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled.
- Return to facility: The right to request that a bed be placed on hold, including written information about the facility’s bed hold policy.
- assist you in preparation and orientation to ensure a safe and orderly transfer from the facility;
- encourage you to appoint a family member to manage your financial affairs while receiving care at our facility;
- provide protection against Medicaid discrimination;
- establish and maintain identical policies and practices regarding transfer and discharge, and the provision of services required under Medicaid for all individuals, regardless of the source of payment;
- not require a third party to guarantee payment as a condition of admission or continued stay;
- not charge, solicit, accept or receive gifts, money, donations, or other consideration as a precondition for continued stay.
Additional Information for Medicare Patients
All issues, concerns, or complaints can be reported by contacting our Risk Manager. If we are unable to address your concerns, you may contact the following for assistance:
- Medicare Ombudsman: www.medicare.gov/ombudsman/resources.asp
- Visit www.medicare.gov on the web. Or, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
- Virginia Health Quality Center handles complaints about care, which was paid for by Medicare. Telephone: 800-545-3814.
- Virginia Department of Health Professions handles complaints against a specific licensed or certified health professional such as a facility administrator, doctor, nurse, pharmacist, social worker, certified nursing assistant (CNA), or other health professionals that must be licensed. Telephone: 800-533-1560.
Advance Directives
Living Will or Health Care Power of Attorney Resources
For applicable state laws and sample forms for creating a living will or healthcare power of attorney, you may contact one of the following.
- Caring Information Organization at 1-800-658-8898 for English or 1-877-658-8896 for other languages or www.caringinfo.org
- Virginia Department of Aging at 1-800-552-3402 or www.vda.virginia.gov/advmedir.asp