Every patient has the right to:

• Considerate and respectful care, based on his/her personal values and beliefs.
• Relevant, current, and understandable information concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
• Make decisions about his/her plan of care before and during the course of treatment.
• Receive information about any treatment or procedure in order to give informed consent or to refuse the treatment. Exceptions may occur in emergencies.
• To refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy, and to be informed of the medical consequences of this action. In case of such refusal, the patient will be informed of how the refusal could affect his/her condition.
• Have Advance Directives (such as living will or durable power of attorney for health care) concerning treatment or designation of a surrogate decision maker with the expectation that the hospital will honor the intent of that directive to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy.
• Hospital services without discrimination based upon his/her race, color, religion, national origin or source of payment.
• Upon request, to be given the name of his/her attending physician, the names of all other practitioners directly participating in his/her care, and the names and functions of other health care persons having direct contact with the patient.
• Privacy.
• Confidentiality of all communications and records pertaining to his/her care, except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards, when reporting is permitted or required by law. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital will emphasize the confidentiality of this information when it releases it to any other parties entitled to review information in these records.
• Review the records pertaining to his/her medical care and to have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by law.
• Reasonable response by the hospital, within its capacity and policies, to his/her requests for appropriate and medically indicated care and services.
• Consent to or refuse to take part in research affecting your care and to participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care.
• Reasonable continuity of care and to be informed of the time and location of follow-up appointments as well as the identity of persons providing your care and your treatment.
• Be informed of the hospital’s charges for services and available payment methods.
• Treatment in a safe environment.
• Treatment free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
• Appropriate assessment and management of pain.
• Report concerns regarding your care or treatment by notifying the Nurse Manager at extension 6650 or (785) 263-6650.
• Every patient has a right to be informed of his/her visitation rights, including any clinical restriction or limitation per hospital policy.

Patient Responsibilities

We ask each patient or responsible family member to kindly help us by:

• Providing complete information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, and medications.
• Asking for information or clarification about your health status or treatment when not fully understood.
• Making sure the hospital has a copy of your written Advance Directive, if you have one.
• Informing your physicians and other caregivers if you anticipate problems in following prescribed treatment.
• Making reasonable accommodations to the needs of the hospital, other patients, medical staff, and hospital employees.
• Reporting unexpected changes in your condition to your nurse or physician.
• Informing caregivers of specific needs with regard to personal values and beliefs.
• Providing necessary information for insurance claims and working with the hospital to make payment arrangements when necessary. To discuss a payment plan, call (785) 263-2100 and ask for Patient Accounts.

Patient Advocate/Resolution of Concerns

If you feel that your rights have been denied, violated, or you desire to lodge a complaint about any aspect of your care, you should:

• Speak first to the staff member or the supervisor of the area. If after speaking to the staff member or supervisor, you feel your concern is not taken care of, you may:
  • Call the Patient Advocate at (785) 263-6671.
  • Place your concern in writing, addressed to:

Patient Advocate
Memorial Hospital
511 NE 10th St.
Abilene, KS 67410

After receiving the complaint, the Patient Advocate will document it and make every effort to resolve the problem to the patient’s satisfaction. All patient complaints will enter the Patient and Guest Concern system as outlined in hospital policy. You have the right to contact Kansas Department of Health and Environment at any point if you do not wish to utilize hospital policy.

To contact KDHE:

Call: 
1-800-842-0078

E-mail:
healthfacilities@kdhe.state.ks.us

Mail:
Curtis State Office Building
1000 SW Jackson
Topeka, KS 66612-1365