Rights & Responsibilities

Uintah Basin Healthcare has adopted the following Statement of Patient Rights, in accordance with all State and Federal regulatory requirements. All facility staff, medical staff, and contracted agency staff performing patient care activities shall observe these patient rights.

The Statement of Patient Rights shall include, but is not limited to, your right to:

Become informed of your rights as a patient in advance of, or when discontinuing, the provision of care. You may appoint a representative to receive this information should he/she so desire.
Exercise these rights without discrimination due to age, sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, income, education, national origin, ancestry, marital status, culture, language, disability, or source of payment for care.
Considerate, dignified, and respectful care, free from all forms of abuse, neglect, harassment, and/or exploitation.
Have your cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, and personal values, beliefs, and preferences respected. To assure these preferences are identified and communicated to staff, a discussion of these issues will be included during the initial nursing admission assessment.
Access protective and advocacy services or have these services accessed on your behalf.
Appropriate assessment and management of pain.
Remain free from restraint and seclusion of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
Knowledge of the name of the physician who has primary responsibility for coordinating your care, and the names and professional relationships of other physicians and healthcare providers who will see you.
Receive information from your physician about your illness, health status, diagnosis, course of treatment, outcomes of care (including unanticipated outcomes), and your prospects for recovery in terms that you or your representative can understand.
Receive information about any proposed treatment or procedure in order to participate in the development of the plan of care, give informed consent, participate in planning for care after discharge, or refuse the course of treatment.

* Except in emergencies, this information shall include a description of the procedure or treatment, the medically significant risks involved in the treatment, alternate courses of treatment or non-treatment and the risks involved in each, and the name of the person who will carry out the procedure or treatment.

Obtain information on disclosure of protected health information, in accordance with federal, state, and local law.
Formulate advance directives regarding your healthcare, and to have facility staff and practitioners who provide care in the facility comply with these directives (to the extent provided by state laws and regulations).
Have a family member, friend, or other individual be present for emotional support throughout the course of stay.
Full consideration of privacy concerning your medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. You have the right to be advised as to the reason for the presence of any individual involved in your healthcare.
Confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to your care and your stay in the facility. Your written permission will be obtained before your medical records can be made available to anyone not directly concerned with your care.
Receive information in a manner that you understand. Communications will be effective and provided in a manner that facilitates understanding by you or your representative. Written information will be appropriate to your age, understanding, and primary language. Communications specific to the vision, speech, hearing cognitive and language-impaired patient will be appropriate to the impairment.
Access information contained in your medical record within a reasonable time frame (usually within 48 hours of the request).
Reasonable responses to any reasonable request you may make for service.
Leave the facility even against the advice of your physician.
Reasonable continuity of care.
Be advised of the facility grievance process, should you wish to communicate a concern regarding the quality of care. Notification of the grievance process includes: whom to contact to file a grievance, and that you will be provided with a written notice of the grievance determination that contains the name of the facility contact person, the steps taken on your behalf to investigate the grievance, the results of the grievance, and the grievance completion date.
Be advised if facility/personal physician proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting your care or treatment. You have the right to refuse to participate in such research projects. Refusal to participate or discontinuation of participation will not compromise your right to access care, treatment, or services.
Full support and respect of all patient rights should you choose to participate in research, investigation, and/or clinical trials. This includes your right to a full informed consent process as it relates to the research, investigation, and/or clinical trial. All information provided to subjects will be contained in the medical record or research file, along with consent form(s).
Be informed by your physician or a delegate of your physician, of the continuing healthcare requirements following your discharge from the facility.
Examine and receive an explanation of your bill regardless of the source of payment.
Know which facility rules and policies apply to your conduct while a patient.
Have all patient’s rights apply to the person who may have legal responsibility to make decisions regarding medical care on your behalf.

Patient Responsibilities

The care a patient receives depends partially on the patient. Therefore, in addition to these rights, you have certain responsibilities as well. These responsibilities are presented to you in the spirit of mutual trust and respect.

You have the responsibility to provide accurate and complete information concerning your present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to your health.
You are responsible for reporting perceived risks in your care and unexpected changes in your condition to the responsible practitioner.
You and your family members are responsible for asking questions about your condition, treatments, procedures, Clinical Laboratory, and other diagnostic test results.
You and your family members are responsible for asking questions when you do not understand what you have been told about your care or what you are expected to do.
You and your family members are responsible for immediately reporting any concerns or errors you may observe.
You are responsible for following the treatment plan established by your physician, including the instructions of nurses and other health professionals as they carry out the physician’s order.
You are responsible for keeping appointments and for notifying the facility or physician when you are unable to do so.
You are responsible for your actions should you refuse treatment or not follow your physician’s orders.

You are responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of your facility care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

You are responsible for following facility policies and procedures.
You are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and facility staff.
You are responsible for being respectful of your personal property and that of other persons in the facility.