Patient Rights

Patient Responsibilities

A Commitment to Our Young Patients

Patients Rights - Minor Patient

Patient Responsibilities - Minor Patient

Advance Directives

We want you and your family to be as comfortable with your stay at Dyersburg Regional Medical Center as possible and know that YOU are our number one concern.

Patient Rights

We commit to you, our patient:

• one level of quality of care throughout the hospital.
• to respect your needs and wishes, and strive to work cooperatively with you in providing services.
• considerate and respectful care, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, physical or mental disability or national origin.
• to work with you on personal values and beliefs that do not interfere with the well-being of others and to provide support on matters of personal comfort and dignity.
• to provide you with the names and credentials of the doctors responsible for your care and access to a second opinion, upon your request.
• to provide information to you about your medical treatment and answer any questions you may have regarding treatment, procedures, tests or surgery scheduled for you.
• support of informed decision making with your physician regarding proposed treatment, including that which may be experimental in nature. If you refuse treatment, your doctor should explain the medical risk to you. Your access to care and level of care will not be affected by your refusal to participate in any proposed clinical research.
• information about the safety reasons for restraining you, if necessary, either physically or with medication.
• information that will allow you to make your own healthcare decisions for the future (advance directives,such as Living Wills, Durable Power of Attorneys for Health Care and Proxies), and that our providing care to you will not be conditional on whether you have advance directives.
• to be respectfully considerate of the needs of patients at the end of life.
• access to our Ethical Advisory Committee, upon your request, should you wish help with ethical issues, ready availability of pastoral and spiritual support.
• easy and private telephone access.
• to be considerate of the needs of all patients.
• to provide appropriate and effective pain management and pain management education to those patients who are in need of it.
• privacy and confidentiality during your visit with your medical record. You will be allowed access to your medical record, as appropriate.
• an explanation to any questions regarding your hospital charges and our billing procedures, regardless of your insurance coverage or your ability to pay.
• an opportunity for you, your family, or a legally appointed representative to express any concerns about your care and the assurance that any expressed concerns will not interfere with present or future care. A patient representative is available to assist you. (Back To Top)

Patient Responsibilities:

Together, we can make your hospitalization more appropriate for your particular needs. You can help us, and yourself, by:

• giving your doctor and our staff complete and accurate information about your condition, including past illnesses and asking questions when you need more information from us.
• following your doctor's orders and instructions, and the hospital staff's instructions for your care and accepting responsibility for refusing treatment. Ask your doctor about the risks and consequences for refusal, including other available options, prior to making such decisions.
• discuss with your doctors and nurses if you have pain and they will help you with your pain management options.
• providing us with a current copy of your advance directive specifying your healthcare choices (such as Living Will, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or Proxy) to be placed in your medical record after periodically reviewing your advance directive with your physician, family and the person you have selected to represent you.
• sending home all personal values or placing them in a hospital safe. Also, when requested, taking off personal items such as dentures, glasses and hearing aids, as necessary for specified procedures. Ask your nurse for a denture cup and a personal article container to keep at your bedside.
• using hospital equipment and facilities carefully so that they remain in good condition for others to use.
• being considerate of hospital staff who are caring for you. A mutual spirit of respect and cooperation allows us to serve you better. Because we want to be considerate of all our patients, we ask that you:
  • respect other patients' needs for privacy and quiet. Consider them when using your telephone, radio, or television.
  • ask your family and other visitors to help you by observing visiting hours and limiting the number of visitors. Ask your nurse for visiting guidelines.
  • follow the no-smoking policy.
  • supply insurance information and pay your bill promptly so we can continue to serve you and the community effectively.

Our commitment to quality, patient-centered care is for every patient, including infants, children and adolescents whose parents or legal guardians will be expected to speak for them and be responsible for approving the care prescribed. Speak with your doctor, your nurse, or call for a patient representative if there are any opportunities for improved sensitivity to your needs. (Back To Top)

A COMMITMENT TO OUR YOUNG PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES:

We know that infants, children and adolescents have special needs. We will respect each child as an individual and work to meet their needs and those of their parents. (Back To Top)

Patient Rights:

We commit to you, our young patients:

• one level of quality of care throughout the hospital.
• support of family relationships, including parent, brother, sister, and significant other visits.
• care right for your age and developmental needs.
• support of social and educational needs.
• recognition of different ethnic and cultural needs.
• ready availability of pastoral and spiritual support.
• information about your care that you can understand.
• review of your medical record with your doctor.
• support that you decide with your doctor about your care, including accepting or refusing care as followed by law.
• information about any care plans that include research or education . You may choose to participate or not, and should decide with your doctor and family/legal guardian.
• information about needed care after you leave the hospital.
• respect for your privacy and safety of your medical records and information.
• easy and private telephone access.
• support for your feelings, beliefs, way of life, problems and concerns.
• information to parents or responsible parties about charges and payment plans. You are always our first concern.

Please talk to us if you are troubled or need help. You may call for a patient advocate to help you. By working together, we can better provide for children's health needs and comfort and help with family support. (Back To Top)

Patient Responsibilities:

We ask that children and/or parents:

• tell us everything you can about how the patient is feeling, past illnesses, and anything that deals with the patient's health.
• ask questions of us when you need more information.
• tell us if you are not happy with your care.
• help plan your care and do your part of the plan.
• tell us if you see changes in how you feel or anything that may have to do with your health.
• be considerate of other patients and family members.
• respect those giving care and work cooperatively with them.
• keep appointments or call to reschedule them when necessary.
• (parents/guardians) supply insurance information and pay bills promptly so we can continue to serve you and others well.

If the doctor believes any any time that the parent or guardian is not acting in the best interest of the child, and the child's health or well-being is in danger, we will work to the point necessary to protect the child. (Back To Top)

ADVANCE DIRECTIVES:

Living Wills

Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare

Organ Donation

Conclusion

Final Remarks

Your life is a valuable gift, and you deserve the best medical care possible. But medical care can't do everything. In some cases medical care can't do anything to cure a deadly illness or injury. In such cases, many people like you want to have certain medical treatments stopped. That way they can pass away with dignity, in comfort and with the support of their loved ones.This explains how to give instructions to your doctors to help you avoid aggressive medical treatment. We call these instructions advance directives. (Back To Top)

What rights do I have?

You have the right to make decisions about your medical care. You have to be informed about treatment and give consent to be treated. You can refuse or have taken away any medical treatment, with very limited exceptions. You can refuse treatment even if doing so makes your illness progress more quickly.

What is an advance directive?

Advance Directives are documents that express your wishes if you are very ill or unconscious. By completing an advance directive before you are very ill, you let your doctor know what you want. If you are very ill, it gives your doctor a better idea of what you want if you are going to pass away within a short time.

What do Federal laws say about advance directives?

The Federal Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990 describes your rights to accept and/or refuse treatments. The Federal Act requires all healthcare providers who accept Medicare or Medicaid to give you written information like this, ask you if you have advance directives, and write down your answers. If you have an advance directive, someone here must put a copy of it in your patient record. You will get a description of this facility's policies. You can also complain to the state Medicaid agency.

Why should I complete an advance directive?

Sometimes you might be too sick to talk with your doctors. When you are very sick, your doctors might not understand your wishes or believe you know what you are asking for. If you are not able to wake up, unable to speak, or unable to clearly describe what you want, you won't be able to explain anything. By writing down your wishes, you can avoid this problem and make sure everyone knows what you want when you are ill. Without an advance directive, your family or friends could have a hard time making decisions for you. Your doctors might not know who should make decisions for you without an advance directive. Signing an advance directive is a gift for your loved ones, and insures you get the treatment that is right for you.

What does Tennessee law say about advance directives?

In Tennessee, you have the right as a competent adult to die with dignity. You have the right to make choices about your medical care. In Tennessee, we have two kinds of advance directive. A LIVING WILL lets you write down your choices. A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTHCARE lets you assign a family member, friend, or other person to make decisions for you when you cannot. (Back To Top) Advance Directives

LIVING WILLS

What is a Living Will?

It is a legal form that allows you to state that you want your death to be a natural death. The form lets you say that you don't want to be kept alive in certain situations. Unlike a normal will, a Living Will says nothing about who gets your money when you pass away. It does allow you to avoid certain treatments and make decisions about your medical care.

What treatments can I refuse?

You can refuse many medical and surgical treatments. You cannot refuse normal food and water, but you can refuse food and water through tubes. You can refuse to avoid tube feeding and/or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If you want to, you can add other choices to the form. Talk with your doctor about other treatments you want to refuse. (Back To Top) Advance Directives

DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTHCARE

What is a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare?

A Durable Power of Attorney is a document used to give someone the right to make decisions for you. A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare lets you assign a person (called a healthcare agent,attorney-in-fact, or proxy) to make healthcare decisions for you. This person can be your next-of-kin, an adult child, a friend, or acquaintance. Make certain that he or she can be trusted to act according to your wishes. A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare doesn't allow someone to make financial decisions for you. Your agent should agree to serve in this role.

Why should I complete this document?

Without this form, doctors might know who to ask about making decisions for you. If members of your family could argue, you should assign a healthcare agent. You can assign an agent and an alternate agent to serve if you main agent cannot or will not. However, assigning a healthcare agent is useless unless he or she knows what you want. So have a talk with your agent and your doctor, discussing possible courses of action.

What powers do I give my healthcare agent?

A healthcare agent can agree to refuse, or take away any kind of treatment. He or she can arrange your funeral and authorize an autopsy. You can limit these powers by discussing what you want with your agent. (Back To Top) Advance Directives

ORGAN DONATION

Can I use these forms to be an organ donor?

Yes. The Living Will lets you decide in advance to become and organ and tissue donor. Indicate your choice in the section on organ donation provided on the form. Make sure your family understands your decision. This is important because without a clear expression of your decision, your gift of life could be lost. You can also indicate that you don't want to be a donor.

How does donation work?

Donation can only occur after every effort to save your life is made. A doctor who isn't associated with the transplant team will declare you legally dead. An organ donor must be brain dead. Donation will never cost you anything, and your body will be kept on artificial support for a few hours until the tissues and organs you want to donate are recovered.

Can my healthcare agent donate my organs and tissues?

Yes, you can tell your healthcare agent that you want to be an organ donor. It is not necessary to write this on the Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare form, but if you want to, you may do so. (Back To Top) Advance Directives

CONCLUSION

Do I have to complete these forms?

No, no one can make you complete these forms. You cannot be refused care if you sign or don't sign these forms.

Why should I complete these forms?

Advance directives are a gift to you and your family. You don't lose anything by completing them, and gain control over your healthcare. As the two kinds of advance directive do different things, most experts think that you should complete both. A Living Will only covers a few situations. A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare is more flexible. However, if for some reason your doctor cannot find your healthcare agent, your Living Will still gives your doctor an idea of what you want.

What else should I know about advance directives?

• you have to be at least eighteen (18) years old to sign one.
• two witnesses must see you sign either form. These people shouldn't be family members, healthcare workers, or people who will benefit from your estate.
• Date the document when you sign it. You must have your Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare notarized. Talk to your bank or your healthcare provider about finding a notary.
• If you healthcare provider is your spouse, and you divorce your spouse, he or she won't remain your healthcare proxy. You'll need to fill out a new Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare.

How can I make sure that people know about my advance directives?

The simplest way is to make copies. Give these copies to your doctor, your family, and your friends. Bring a copy whenever you go into the hospital. (Back To Top) Advance Directives

FINAL REMARKS

HMOs, PPOs, or insurance companies cannot use an advance directive to change or cancel your medical coverage. You cannot be treated differently by doctors, hospitals, or nursing homes because you have an advance directive.Should a doctor or other provider object to the content of your advance directive, he or she may tell you or your next of kin. If you want to be transferred to another doctor or healthcare provider who will follow your advance directive, your doctor will transfer you.We hope you know more about advance directives. If you have any further questions, you should talk to your doctor, nurse, or the chaplain. These people can help you. (Back To Top) Advance Directives