Each patient, regardless of race, creed, religion, sex or national origin
has the right to:
1. Considerate and respectful care and to receive care in a safe environment,
free from abuse or harassment.
2. Understandable information concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
from physicians and other direct caregivers and to know the identities
of those providing care. You also have the right to know the financial
implications of treatment, insofar as they know, and to an explanation
of charges and bills.
3. Appropriate assessment and management of pain and to be free of pain
to the extent that is medically possible.
4. Make decisions about the plan of care prior to and during the course
of treatment and 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.
5. Have an
advance directive (such as a living will or durable power of attorney for health care) concerning
treatment or designating a surrogate decision maker.
6. Every consideration of privacy. Case discussion, consultation, examination,
and treatment should be conducted as to protect each patient's privacy.
7. Have a family member or representative of their choice and their own
physician notified of their admission.
8. Expect that all communications and records pertaining to their care
will be treated as confidential by the hospital, except in cases such
as suspected abuse, commitment hearing, and public health hazards when
reporting is permitted or required by law.
9. Review the
records pertaining to their medical care and to have the information explained
or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by law.
10. Be free from restraints or seclusion imposed as a means of coercion,
discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
11. Access an internal grievance process by contacting the Patient Advocate
at 307.688.1530. If the patient feels the grievance has not been resolved
to his or her satisfaction, the patient may contact:
Wyoming Department of Health Office of Healthcare Licensing & Surveys
400 Quest Building
6101 N. Yellowstone Road
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 777-7123 or wdh-ohls@health.wyo.gov
or visit
health.wyo.gov/aging/hls/
12. Expect that, within its capacity and policies, the hospital will make
reasonable response to the request of a patient and/or parent/guardian
for appropriate and medically indicated care and services. When medically
appropriate and legally permissible, a patient may be transferred to another
facility. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must
first have accepted the patient for transfer.
13. Ask and be informed of the existence of business relationships among
the hospital, educational institutions, other health care providers, or
payers that may influence the patient's treatment and care.
14. Consent to or decline to participate in proposed research studies or
human experimentation.
15. Expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed
by physicians and other caregivers of available and realistic patient
care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
16. Be informed of hospital policies and practices that relate to patient
care, treatment and responsibilities. The patient and/or parent/guardian
has the right to be informed of available resources for resolving disputes,
grievances, and conflicts, such as ethics committees, patient advocates,
or other mechanisms available in the institution.
17. Request reasonable accommodation for special needs such as interpretive
services or hearing amplified telephones.
18. Access pastoral care and
spiritual services.
19. Be informed of his or her rights and responsibilities in writing.
Note: These rights can be exercised on the patient's behalf by a designated
surrogate or proxy decision maker if the patient lacks decision making
ability, is legally incompetent, or is a minor.