Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Thank you for choosing Augusta Health for your health care needs. We believe that patients have a fundamental right to considerate care that safeguards their personal dignity and respects their cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual values.

You have the right to:

1. Know the names of the physicians, nurse and other staff members who take care of you.
2. Be involved in the planning of your care and treatment, including pain management, in collaboration with your physician and treatment team. 
3. Have the information necessary to enable you to make treatment decisions that reflect your wishes.  
4. Accept medical care or to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of such refusal. 
5. Have all records concerning your care or illness treated confidentially.  You have the right to access information contained in your clinical records, upon oral or written request, within a reasonable time period and in accordance with federal HIPAA policies and procedures.
6. Personal privacy.
7. Participate or refuse to participate in any experimentation or research projects related to your care or treatment.
8. Receive prompt and reasonable responses to your requests for service.
9. Considerate, safe and respectful care; to be free from abuse or harassment.
10. Have impartial access to care regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, culture, ethnicity, gender identity, expressions, religion, language or source of payment.
11. Request a consultation or second opinion from another physician.
12. Receive Beneficiary Notices related to non-coverage and the right to appeal premature discharge as well as the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON).  
13. Review your hospital bill and receive an explanation of charges. 
14. Execute an Advance Directive; appoint an individual to make healthcare decisions on your behalf to the extent permitted by law; specify your wishes regarding tissue and organ donation; and have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the inpatient hospital setting comply with your wishes in accordance with applicable law.  Advance Directives that pertain to the withholding or withdrawing of life supporting medical treatment are not applicable to hospital outpatient settings with the exception of Durable(EMS) DNR orders that will be honored if a properly executed order is provided to staff.  In AH owned physician practices, Advance Directives are addressed on an individual basis. 
15. Participate in the consideration of ethical issues that may arise in your care and treatment.   
16. Accommodation of requested pastoral and/or spiritual services as long as the request does not interfere with the rights of other patients or with hospital safety considerations.
17. Have your legal guardian, next of kin, or legally authorized person exercise your rights, to the extent permitted by law, if you are a minor; have been deemed incompetent in accordance with the law; are found by your physician to be medically incapable of understanding the proposed care or treatment; are unable to communicate your wishes regarding treatment. 
18. Have a family member or person of your choice and your family physician promptly notified of your admission, as well as to exclude any or all family members from participating in your care decisions.
19. Maintain communication with family and friends, i.e. send and receive mail and phone calls.
20. Have access to protective services.
21. Maintain your legal rights as a citizen, i.e. voting in elections, as provided by state and federal law.
22. To choose who may visit you during your inpatient stay, regardless of whether the visitor is a family member, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same sex domestic partner), or other type of visitor, as well as the right to withdraw such consent to visitation at any time.  (All visitors chosen by the patient shall enjoy “full and equal” visitation privileges consistent with the wishes of the patient.  The Hospital shall retain the right to limit visitors based on medically appropriate circumstances, safety and security situations, and/or infection control policies.)  
23. To submit a written or verbal grievance pertaining to your care or treatment.  Your grievances may be directed to your nurse, physician, Department Director or to Patient Relations.  A Patient Relations email is available at patientrelations@augustahealth.com.  A Patient Relations phone line is available Monday through Friday from 8:00-4:30 PM at 540-932-4742.  Voicemail is available during non-business hours, along with Instructions for reaching the Nursing Supervisor on duty.  You may also register a grievance with: The Virginia Department of Health, Complaint Intake, Office of Licensure and Certification, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 401, Henrico, VA 23233-1463, by phone at (800) 955-1819, by fax at (804) 527-4503, or by email at OLC-Complaints@vdh.virginia.gov.

You have the responsibility of/for:

Providing accurate and complete information about your illness and medical history including present complaints, past illnesses and hospitalizations, medications, and other matters related to your health. 

1. Knowing and following hospital rules and regulations; i.e. no tobacco use.
2. Following your physician’s prescribed plan of treatment, care and services. 
3. Notifying your physician or nurse if you do not understand your diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis. 
4. Any consequences and other adverse outcomes if you refuse treatments or do not follow the physician’s prescribed treatment plan. 
5. Letting the nurse and your family know if you feel you are receiving too many outside visitors.
6. Being considerate of other patient’s rights, privacy, and property, and in assisting with noise control and the number of visitors you receive.  
7. Fulfilling your financial obligations associated with your health care.
8. Advising your nurse or physician of any concern, dissatisfaction, or safety issues you may have in regard to your care while in the hospital. 
9. Safeguarding any valuables or personal belongings retained by you at the bedside, including eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, cell phones, clothing, etc.
10. Cooperating with your Health Care Team to maintain your and your family’s safety, i.e. calling for assistance when needed or as instructed.
11. Being knowledgeable of your medical insurance benefits plan and your obligations regarding deductibles, co-payments, pre-authorization requirements, etc.

Last Revised: August 6, 2021