Your Rights & Responsibilities
Whenever possible, we will inform you of your rights before furnishing or discontinuing your care. These rights apply to your representative in the event you are unable to exercise them.
A hospital serves many purposes. Hospitals work to improve people’s health; treat people with injury and disease; educate doctors, health professionals, patients and community members; and improve understanding of health and disease. In carrying out these activities, Lexington Medical Center works to respect your values and dignity.
Lexington Medical Center may make reasonable, clinically necessary restrictions or limitations to visitation rights.
Patient Rights
- You have the right to considerate and respectful care in a safe, high-quality care setting.
- You have the right to know the names, titles and roles of your caregivers, including students, residents or other trainees.
- You have the right to receive compassionate care that respects your personal, spiritual, cultural and religious values and beliefs.
- You have the right to be free from restraints and seclusion in any form that are not medically necessary.
- You have the right to every consideration of privacy for all communications and records. You will receive a Notice of Privacy Practices that describes the ways that Lexington Medical Center uses, discloses and safeguards your medical information.
- You have the right to obtain relevant, current and understandable information concerning your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis from physicians and other direct caregivers.
- You have the right to discuss and request information related to specific procedures, treatments and associated risks, as well as medically reasonable alternatives and accompanying risks and benefits.
- You have the right to consent or refuse any care or treatment, as permitted by law. You are entitled to other appropriate care and services or evaluation to transfer to another hospital.
- You have the right to have your pain assessed and managed appropriately.
- You have the right to expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and be informed of available and realistic patient care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
- You have the right to have the hospital promptly notify a family member or representative of your admission.
- You have the right to designate visitors and visitation privileges in accordance with the hospital visitation policy.
- You have the right to have an advance directive or to designate a health care proxy with the expectation that hospital staff will honor the directive to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy. You may receive information or formulate an advance directive by contacting Guest Services at (803) 791-2342.
- You have the right to review your medical records and have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by law.
- You have the right to consent or decline to take part in clinical research. If you choose to decline, you will receive the most effective care the hospital provides.
- You have the right to know if this hospital has relationships with other health care facilities, educational institutions or other outside parties that may influence your treatment and care.
- You have the right to be informed of hospital policies and practices that relate to patient care, treatment and responsibilities.
- You have the right to review your bill and have the charges explained to you.
- You have the right to know the immediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices.
- You have the right to be informed of available resources for resolving disputes, complaints and grievances, such as ethics committees and patient representatives. You may file a formal complaint by calling the Action Line at (803) 791-2342, emailing ActionLine@lexhealth.org or reporting in person at the Guest Services office. Even if you do not use the hospital process, you may contact the S.C Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) at (803) 545-4370 or DNV Healthcare USA Inc. at DNVHealthcare.com.
Patient Responsibilities
- You are responsible for providing, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information on all matters relating to your health.
- You are responsible for asking questions when you do not understand your treatment or care plan.
- You are responsible for following the treatment plan upon which you mutually agreed and to express any concerns you may have about following or complying with the proposed care or treatment.
- You are responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of your health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
- You are responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
Based on “The Patient Care Partnership” with permission of the American Hospital Association, copyright 2003.
