Covenant Care’s Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
Federal and State laws require that your healthcare provider or healthcare facility recognize your rights while you are receiving medical care, and that you respect the health care provider’s or health care facility’s right to expect certain behavior on the part of patients. You may request a copy of the full text of these laws from us. The following is a summary of your rights and responsibilities. As your provider, we have an obligation to protect your rights and explain those rights to you in a way you can understand before treatment begins or during the initial evaluation visit and on an ongoing basis, as needed. Your family or your guardian may exercise these rights for you in the event that you are not competent or able to exercise them for yourself.
Decision Making:
As a Patient, You have the Right to:
- Be cared for by a team of professionals who will provide quality, comprehensive services as needed and appropriate for you and your family (including extended and alternative family).
- Receive and access services consistently and in a timely manner in accordance with the organization’s stated operational policy. This may include the provision of an interpreter if you do not speak English.
- Be provided verbal and written notice of these rights and responsibilities in a language you understand.
- Have impartial access to appropriate and compassionate care and accommodations, regardless of diagnosis, race, national origin, age, gender, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, place of residence within the geographical area served by Covenant Care under State Licenses, source of payment or the ability to pay for the services rendered, as identified within Covenant’s Plan of Care for you.
- Be free from any mental, physical abuse, and exploitation of any kind by the agency staff.
- Receive a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
- Be involved in developing your Plan of Care, including any changes made.
- Choose your attending physician and have this individual involved in your medical care.
- Be appropriately informed regarding your health status, diagnosis, planned course of treatment, including benefits and risks, alternatives, and prognosis in order to participate in the planning of your care.
- Accept or refuse those treatments or services as appropriate to your personal wishes, except as otherwise provided by law.
- Be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of individual dignity for your person, family, caregivers and property, as well as protection of your need for individual privacy.
- Have your cultural customs and preferences respected at all times.
- Receive prompt, effective pain management and symptom control.
- Have your family and other caregivers, if available, educated in effective ways of caring for you.
- Receive education, instructions and requirements for continuing care when services of the agency are discontinued.
- Receive treatment for any emergency medical condition that failure to treat would decrease your quality of life.
- Receive the agency’s policy on advance directives including a description of an individual’s rights under the State Law (whether statutory or as recognized by the Courts of the State) and how such rights are implemented by the agency.
- Have healthcare providers comply with advance directives in accordance with State Law requirements.
- Receive services without regard to whether or not any advance directive has been executed.
- To be notified in advance of treatment options, transfers, when and why care will be discontinued.
- Voice grievances concerning patient care, treatments, violation of rights as stated in Alabama and Florida Law, or respect for person or privacy without being subject to discrimination or reprisal, and have any such complaints investigated by the agency in accordance with our grievance procedures.
Privacy:
As a Patient, You have the Right to:
- Expect confidentiality with your clinical record, including social and financial information. Patient information or records will be released only with written consent from you or your agent, or as required by law.
Financial Information:
As a Patient, You have the Right to:
- Be informed in advance of services or of any fees or charges for which you may be responsible. Prior to treatment, you have the right to be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for your care. You have the right to use any insurance or entitlement program for which you may be eligible.
- Receive a copy of a clear and understandable itemized bill and have the charges explained to you upon request.
- If you are eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare, to know that agency is certified for Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare reimbursement under those respective benefit programs.
Your Responsibility:
As a Patient, You have the Responsibility to:
- Participate in developing your Plan of Care and updating it as your condition or needs change.
- Follow the treatment plan recommended by your physician, Covenant Care and other healthcare providers, as mutually agreed.
- Report any unexpected changes in your condition to agency.
- Report to agency whether you understand a proposed course of action and what is expected of you.
- Keep appointments and, when unable to do so for any reason, notify the appropriate healthcare provider and agency.
- Know your alternatives if you refuse treatment or do not follow a healthcare provider or agency’s instructions.
- Provide agency, to the best of your knowledge, with accurate and complete health information about present complaints and past medical history.
- Patients are responsible for promptly notifying agency if admitted or readmitted to the hospital.
- Remain under the care of a physician licensed in the state in which care occurs while you are receiving services.
- Assist the agency staff in developing and maintaining a safe environment in which your care can be provided.
- Fulfill the financial obligations of your health care as promptly as possible, if applicable.
- Follow all agency rules and regulations.