Our Lady of Lourdes Health Patient Rights and Responsibilities

As a patient, you are entitled to certain rights regarding your care and treatment. Our Lady of Lourdes medical professionals provide care, treatment and services with compassion and respect that fosters dignity, autonomy, positive self-regard, civil rights and your involvement in care. With your approval, family members may become involved in care, treatment and service decisions.

As a patient, you or your legal guardians can expect:

1. To be informed of your rights and responsibilities before receiving care or discontinuing care.
2. To have your individuality, cultural, psychosocial, spiritual and personal dignity, values, beliefs, privacy and preferences respected.
3. Equal care, treatment and access at all times—regardless of race, age, religion, national origin, sex, sexual preferences, physical impairment, diagnosis, ability to pay or source of payment.
4. Pastoral and other spiritual services.
5. To have your own physician, family members or chosen representative promptly notified of hospital admission.
6. To make informed decisions regarding care and participate in the development and implementation of a care plan, treatment and services.
7. To receive information about your own health status in a timely matter.
8. To collaborate with hospital professionals to resolve dilemmas about care, treatment and services.
9. To remain informed about the outcomes of care, treatment and services, including those that are unlikely or unanticipated, but possible.
10. To sign an informed consent documenting a mutual understanding between the patient and physician about the care, treatment and services the patient receives.
11. To refuse care, treatment, services and recording or filming, in accordance with law and regulations.
12. To appropriate assessment and management of pain.
13. To give permission for a legal representative to become involved in care, treatment and service decisions, to the extent allowed by law.
14. To be informed of the names and functions of all physicians and other healthcare professionals providing direct care.
15. To receive effective communication that is age appropriate and addresses special needs such as vision, speech, hearing, language and cognitive impairments.
16. To prepare Advance Directives and to have hospital staff and practitioners follow those directives. Adults are given written information about the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment, forgo or withdraw life-sustaining treatment or withhold resuscitative services and name a decision maker if the patient can no longer understand proposed treatments or communicate.
17. To be informed about any continuing healthcare requirements after discharge and to receive assistance in arranging for required follow-up care after discharge.
18. To be free from any restraints that are medically unnecessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.
19. To be free from all forms of abuse and harassment. Any allegations or suspected cases of abuse, neglect or exploitation that occur in the hospital will be investigated.
20. To access information from your own clinical record and to require security, personal privacy and confidentiality of information.
21. To access, request amendment to, and receive an accounting of disclosures regarding your own health information as permitted under applicable law.
22. To examine and receive an explanation of the hospital bill regardless of source of payment.
23. To receive care in a safe setting that contributes to a positive image and to access protective services, such as guardianship and advocacy services. Call Our Lady of Lourdes Social Services at (337) 765-8892 for a list of patient advocacy services.
24. To accept or reject the participation in training programs or clinical research, including investigations of new drugs and medical devices, regardless of payment source.
25. To be informed if the hospital has authorized other healthcare institutions to participate in your treatment and consent as to whether to accept that treatment.
26. To be provided—except in emergencies—with a full explanation of the reason for transfer to another facility, provisions for continuing care and acceptance by the receiving institution.
27. To voice a complaint or grievance about the care received and to have the complaint or grievance reviewed, addressed and, when possible, resolved.

You have responsibilities to help Our Lady of Lourdes’ treatment team understand and address your needs and to follow—to the best of your ability—your treatment. You are an invaluable member of your healthcare team. By communicating your condition to healthcare professionals and participating fully in all therapies, you increase the chances of receiving the best outcome. As a patient, you have the following responsibilities:

Providing Information

• Tell your doctor and nurse about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalization and your medications—including over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen and dietary supplements like vitamins, diet pills and herbals.
• Report to your physician or nurse any perceived risks and unexpected changes in your condition.
• Let the nurse and your family know if you feel you are receiving too many visitors.
• Advise your nurse or physician of any dissatisfaction in regard to your care at the hospital.

Asking Questions

• Notify your physician or nurse if you do not understand your diagnosis or prognosis, care, treatment and service. Ask questions about any instructions you do not understand or what your medical team is expected to do.

Following Instructions

• Cooperate and follow the care, treatment and service plan developed or recommended by your physician, nurse or other healthcare professional. Express any concerns about your ability to follow the proposed care plan or course of care, treatment and services.

Accepting Consequences

• Realize you are responsible for the results of your actions if you refuse care or treatment or do not follow the treatment and service plan.

Following Rules and Regulations

• Know and follow hospital rules and regulations.

Showing Respect and Consideration

• Respect the rights and privacy of other hospitalized patients.
• Be considerate of hospital personnel and be careful with hospital property.
• Assist in the control of noise and follow the hospital's no smoking policy, visitor policy and other policies.

Meeting Financial Commitments

• Promptly meet any financial obligations agreed upon with the hospital.

You are encouraged to report any concerns or register complaints by either calling the Joint Commission's Office of Quality Monitoring at (800) 994-6610 or emailing complaint@jointcommission.org.