Patient Rights & Responsibilities

We want to encourage you, as a patient at UAB Hospital, to communicate openly with your health care team, participate in your treatment choices, and promote your own safety by being well informed and actively involved in your care. Because we want you to think of yourself as a partner in your care, we want you to know your rights as well as your responsibilities during your stay at our hospital. We invite you and your family to join us as active members of your care team.

All patients at UAB Hospital shall have the right to:

1. To receive considerate, respectful, and compassionate care regardless of your age, gender, race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disabilities.
2. To receive care in a safe environment free from all forms of abuse, neglect, or harassment.
3. To be called by your proper name and to be told the names of the doctors, nurses, and other health care teammembers involved in your care.
4. To have a family member or representative of your choice and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital, if you so choose.
5. To be told by your doctor about your diagnosis and possible prognosis, the benefits and risks of treatment, and expected outcome of treatment, including unanticipated outcomes. You have the right to give written informedconsent before any nonemergency procedure begins.
6. To have your pain assessed and reassessed and to be involved in decisions about managing your pain.
7. To be free from restraints and seclusion in any form that is not medically required.
8. To expect full consideration of your privacy and confidentiality in care discussions, examinations, andtreatments. You may ask for a chaperone during any type of examination.
9. To access protective and advocacy services in cases of abuse or neglect. The hospital will provide a list ofprotective and advocacy resources.
10. To participate in decisions about your care, treatment, and services provided, including the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law. If you leave the hospital against the advice of your doctor, the hospital and doctors will not be responsible for any medical consequences that may occur.
11. To agree or refuse to take part in medical research studies. You may at any time withdraw from a study.
12. To sign language or foreign-language interpreter services. We will provide an interpreter as needed.
13. To make an advance directive, appointing someone to make health care decisions for you if you areunable. If you do not have an advance directive, we can provide you with information and help tocomplete one.
14. To be involved in your discharge plan. You can expect to be told in a timely manner of the need for planning your discharge or transfer to another facility or level of care. Before your discharge, you can expect to receive information about follow-up care that you may need.
15. To receive detailed information about your hospital and physician charges.
16. To expect that all communications and records about your care are confidential, unless disclosure is allowed by law. You have the right to see or get a copy of your medical records and have the information explained if needed. You may add information to your medical record by contacting the Medical
    Records Department. Upon request, you have the right to receive a list of to whom your personal health information was disclosed.
17. To participate in ethical decisions that arise in the course of your care. Members of the ethics committee are on call 24 hours/day.
18. To voice your concerns about the care you receive. If you have a problem or complaint, you may talk with your doctor, nurse manager or a department manager.

If unresolved, you may:

• Contact Patient Relations by dialing *55 on any in-house telephone or calling 934-2273.
• Notify hospital administration of any unresolved grievances by sending a written complaint to Chief Executive Office, MEB 300, 619 19th St. So., Birmingham, AL 35249.
• File a complaint with:

1. The Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Facilities, Complaint Unit, P.O.Box 303017, Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3017 (Complaint Unit phone number is 1-800-356-9596).
2. The Joint Commission (TJC) by calling 1-800-994-6610.
3. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by calling 1-800-633-4227.
    

Patient’s Responsibilities

1. You are expected to provide complete and accurate information, including your full name, address, home telephone number, date of birth, Social Security number, insurance carrier, and employer, when it is required.
2. You should provide the hospital or your doctor with a copy of your advance directive if you have one.
3. You are expected to provide complete and accurate information about your health and medical history, including present condition, past illnesses, hospital stays, medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and any other matters that pertain to your health, including perceived safety risks.
4. You are expected to ask questions when you do not understand information or instructions. If you believe you can’t follow through with your treatment plan, you are responsible for telling your doctor. You are responsible for outcomes if you do not follow the care, treatment, and services plan.
5. You are expected to actively participate in your pain management plan and to keep your doctors and nurses informed of the effectiveness of your treatment.
6. Please leave valuables at home and only bring necessary items for your hospital stay.
7. You are expected to treat all hospital staff, other patients, and visitors with courtesy and respect; abide by all hospital rules and safety regulations; and be mindful of noise levels, privacy, and number of visitors.
8. You are expected to provide complete and accurate information about your health insurance coverage and to pay your bills in a timely manner.
9. You are expected to keep appointments and be on time for appointments, or to call your health care provider if you cannot keep your appointments.