Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Emory University Hospital Midtown has adopted this statement of patient rights in the belief that the observance of these rights will contribute to more effective patient care. The following is a summary of your patient rights.
You have a right to:
- Participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care
- Make informed decisions regarding your care
- Know who is responsible for coordinating your care
- Receive considerate and respectful care
- Expect your care to be given with regard to your safety and in a safe setting
- Expect care to be given in an environment free from all forms of abuse or harassment
- Receive appropriate assessment and management of pain
- Ask for and receive complete and understandable information about your condition and care
- Request and/or refuse treatment
- Have access to treatment facilities that are available and medically indicated
- Request auxiliary aids when necessary for effective communication
- Receive respect for your cultural and spiritual beliefs
- Formulate advance directives and expect hospital staff will honor these directives
- Have a family member or representative of your choice notified promptly of your admission to the hospital
- Have your attending physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital
- Have a right to personal privacy
- Receive private and confidential care
- Receive an explanation of your bill
- Request information contained in your medical record and expect to receive it within a reasonable time frame
- Expect confidentiality of information in yourmedical record will bemaintained
- Voice concerns to hospital or medical staff without fear of reprisal or discrimination
- Use the hospital’s grievance process as well as or instead of filing a complaint with the State agency*
- Request assistance for concerns and receive a response from appropriate hospital representatives
- Ask for and receive guidance from the hospital ethics committee
- Be free from any restraint or seclusion that is not clinically necessary or necessary in an emergency situation
You have a responsibility to:
- Provide complete and accurate health, medical and insurance information, including an advance directive if you have one
- Show consideration for others around you, including other patients and staff
- Ask questions when you are in doubt
- Communicate changes in your health and/or condition to your caregivers
- Follow your caregivers’ instructions or discuss with them any obstacles you may have in complying with your prescribed treatment plan
- Accept responsibility for refusing treatment or not following your treatment plan
- Be aware that your right to be involved in your plan of care does not include receiving medically unnecessary treatment
- Meet financial obligations associated with the healthcare services received
- Follow all hospital rules affecting patient conduct and care
*Georgia Department of Human Resources, Atlanta, Georgia, 404-657-5550.
If you have a concern about the quality of care, service or safety you or your family member experienced at our hospital facilities, we encourage you report your concerns to department leadership directly or call our Patient Administrative Liaison at 404-778-3539. Should we be unable to resolve your concerns, we encourage you to contact the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) through its toll-free patient line, 1-800-994-6610, or by e-mail at complaint@jcaho.org.
It is the policy of Emory University Hospital Midtown that a photograph of the patient be included in the medical record. This photograph is used for identification of the patient and will not be removed from the medical record or used for any other purpose.
