Patient Rights & Responsibilities

San Antonio Community Hospital has adopted Patient Rights & Responsibilities in accordance with Section 70707 of the California Administrative Code and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Conditions of Participation.

Patient Rights

A patient shall have the right to:

1. Exercise these rights without regard to sex, economic status, educational background, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation or marital status, or the source of payment for care.
2. Considerate and respectful care.
3. Knowledge of the name of the physician who has primary responsibility for coordinating the care and the names and professional relationship of other physicians and non-physicians who will see the patient.
4. Receive information about the illness, the course of treatment and prospects for recovery in terms that the patient can understand.
5. Receive as much information about any proposed treatment or procedure as the patient may need in order to give informed consent for treatment. Except in emergencies, this information shall include a description of the procedure or treatment, the medically significant risks involved in this treatment, alternate courses of treatment or non-treatment and the risk involved in each, and to know the name of the person who will carry out the procedure or treatment.
6. Participate actively in decisions regarding medical care. To the extent permitted by law, this includes the right to refuse treatment. In case of such refusal, the patient is entitled to be informed of the medical consequence of this action.
7. Full consideration of privacy concerning the medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. The patient has the right to be advised as to the reason for the presence of any individual.
8. Confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to the care and the stay in the hospital, and access to information contained in the records.
9. Reasonable responses to any reasonable requests made for services.
10. Leave the hospital even against the advice of physicians.
11. Reasonable continuity of care and to know in advance the time, location of appointments, as well as the identity of the person providing the care.
12. Be advised if the hospital/personal physician proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.
13. Be informed of continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital.
14. Examine and receive an explanation of the bill regardless of source of payment.
15. Know which hospital rules and policies apply to the patient's conduct while a patient.
16. Have all patients' rights apply to the person who may have legal responsibility to make decisions regarding medical care on behalf of the patient.
17. Designate visitors of his or her choosing, if the patient has decision-making capacity, whether or not the visitor is related by blood or marriage, unless:
    • No visitors are allowed.
    • The facility reasonably determines that the presence of a particular visitor would endanger the health or safety of a patient, a member of the health facility staff, or other visitor to the health facility, or wo uld significantly disrupt the operations of the facility.
    • The patient has indicated to the health facility staff that the patient no longer wants this person to visit.
18. Have the patient's wishes considered for purposes of determining who may visit if the patient lacks decision-making capacity and to have the method of that consideration disclosed in the hospital on visitation. At a minimum, the hospital shall include any persons living in the household.
19. This section may not be construed to prohibit a health facility from otherwise establishing reasonable restrictions upon visitation, including restrictions upon the hours of visitation and number of visitors.
20. Participate in discussion of ethical issues that might arise in his or her care. The bioethics committee is available to consult with the patient, the family or designated agent to provide education and assistance.
21. Submit an advance directive on admission or at any time during the hospital stay to provide information if unable to make healthcare decisions. If the patient loses his or her decision—making capacity, the advance directive will advise health care providers of the patient's surrogate decision maker, if designated, and health care wishes.
22. Have access to an interpreter when he or she does not speak or understand the predominant language of the community. If the patient has a hearing impairment, the patient has a right to interpreter service and a special telecommunication for the deaf phone.
23. Notification of his or her rights, in advance of furnishing or discontinuing care.
24. Participation in the development and implementation of his or her plan of care including the patient's right to pain management.
25. Personal privacy, to receive care in a safe setting, and to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
26. Freedom from restraint

Patient Responsibilities

A patient shall have the responsibility to:

1. Provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to your health.
2. Report unexpected changes in your condition to the responsible practitioner.
3. Report whether you clearly comprehend a contemplated course of action and what is expected of you.
4. Follow the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for your care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and allied health personnel who care for you, implement the responsible practitioner's orders, and enforce the applicable hospital rules and regulations.
5. To be accountable for your action(s) if you refuse treatment or do not follow the practitioner's instructions.
6. Assure that the financial obligations of your health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
7. Follow hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
8. Be considerate of the rights of other patients and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors.
9. Be respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.
10. Provide your Advance Directive, if completed, to the staff for inclusion in your medical record. You are responsible for conveying information in the Advance Directive to your physician to facilitate collaboration in making your health care decisions.