Patient Rights + Responsibilities
Notice of Privacy Practices
Notice of Privacy Practices Effective on May 27, 2016
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND
DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
PLEASE REVIEW THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY
Myrtue Medical Center (hereinafter referred to as “MMC”) is
dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your identifiable health information.
In conducting our business, we will create records, both clinical and
financial, regarding you and the treatment and services we provide to
you. We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of health
information that identifies you. We also are required by law to provide
you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices concerning
your identifiable health information. By law, we must follow the terms
of the notice of privacy practices that we have in effect at the time.
This notice provides you with the following important information:
- How MMC may use and disclose your identifiable health information;
- Your privacy rights in your identifiable health information; and
- MMC’s obligations concerning the use and disclosure of your identifiable
health information.
The terms of this notice apply to all records containing your identifiable
health information that are created or retained by MMC. We reserve the
right to revise or amend our notice of privacy practices. Any revision
or amendment to this notice will be effective for all of your records
that MMC has created or maintained in the past, and for any of your records
we may create or maintain in the future. We will post a copy of our current
notice in each of our facilities in a prominent location, and you may
request a copy of our most current notice during any visit. We will also
keep posted on our current notice on MMC’s website, www.myrtuemedical.org.The effective date of our notice will be posted in the upper left-hand
corner of the notice.
WHO WILL FOLLOW THIS NOTICE
This notice describes the privacy practices of the entities that are part
of MMC, including:
- Any healthcare professional authorized to enter information into your health
records, including members of our medical staff;
- All departments, units and offices operated by MMC, including MMC;
- Any member of a volunteer group that assists you while you are patient of MMC;
- All employees, staff and other personnel of MMC; and
- All of the MMC hospitals and other affiliated entities.
All of these entities, individuals, sites and locations will follow the
terms of this notice. In addition, these entities, individuals, sites
and locations may share health information with each other for treatment,
payment or healthcare operations purposes as described in this notice.
Please realize that your personal doctor may use different notices or
policies regarding health information created in his or her office.
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION
The following categories describe different ways in which we may use and
disclose your identifiable health information. For each category of uses
or disclosures, we will explain what we mean and provide examples. Not
every use or disclosure in a category will be listed; however, all of
the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within
one of the categories.
Unless we are otherwise prohibited from doing so, we may use or disclose your information for the following purposes without
your authorization:
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Treatment. We may use health information about you to provide you with health treatment
or services. We may disclose health information about you to doctors,
nurses, technicians, medical students, or other personnel who are involved
in taking care of you at the MMC hospital or clinics. For example, a doctor
treating you for a broken leg may need to know if you have diabetes because
diabetes may slow the healing process. In addition, the doctor may need
to tell an MMC dietitian if you have diabetes so that appropriate meals
can be arranged. MMC may share health information about you with others
in order to coordinate the different things you need, such as prescriptions,
lab work, x-rays and follow-up care. To the extent permitted by law, we
also may disclose health information about you to people outside MMC who
may be involved in your healthcare (such as family members, home health
agencies and others who provide services that are part of your care).
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Payment. We may use and disclose health information about you so that the treatment
and services you receive from us may both be billed to and payment collected
from you, and/or an insurance company or a third party. For example, we
may need to give your health plan information about surgery you received
so your health plan will pay us or reimburse you for the surgery. We also
may tell your health plan about a treatment you are going to receive to
obtain prior approval or to determine whether your plan will cover the
treatment. We also may disclose your health information to other healthcare
providers and health plans for the payment activities of those providers
and plans. For example, we may provide your information to a physician
who is not on our medical staff so that the physician may bill you or
your insurer for the services you received from that physician. Alternatively,
you may pay for a service yourself and instruct that we not provide information
to your health plan.
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Health Care Operations. MMC may use and disclose health information about you for administrative
and operational purposes. These uses and disclosures are necessary for
our operations, and to make sure that all of our patients receive quality
care. For example, we may use your health information to review our treatment
and services and to evaluate our performance in caring for you. This may
include sharing your information with organizations that affiliate with
MMC. We may combine health information about some or all of our patients
to decide what additional services we should offer, what services may
not be needed, and whether certain new treatments are effective. We may
also disclose information to doctors, nurses, technicians, students in
the medical field, and our personnel for review and learning purposes.
We may also combine the health information we have with health information
from other healthcare providers to compare how we are doing and see where
we can make improvements in the care and services we offer. We may remove
information that identifies you from this set of health information so
others may use it to study healthcare and healthcare delivery without
learning who the specific patients are. We also may disclose your health
information to certain other individuals and organizations, including
physicians, hospitals and health plans, to assist with certain healthcare
operations activities of these individuals and organizations. Except for
those individuals and organizations described in the section of this Notice
entitled “Who Will Follow This Notice,” these individuals
and organizations either have or had in the past a relationship with you.
The information we disclose about you will relate to this relationship.
For example, we may disclose your health information to a hospital that
is not affiliated with MMC if that hospital has treated you in the past,
the information we disclose relates to that relationship, and the hospital
intends to use your information for its quality assurance and improvement
activities. Similarly, we may share your health information with your
health plan for quality assurance and improvement purposes. These are
but some of the various permissible uses and disclosures MMC may engage
in as part of routine healthcare operations.
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Business Associates. We may provide health information to entities that provide services for
MMC. We require these business associates to protect the health information
we provide to them. For example, we may disclose name, phone number, address,
zip code, age, gender, payer, dates, types, locations and providers of
service to companies that conduct patient satisfaction surveys on our
behalf. These companies measure patient satisfaction through phone surveys
following doctor appointments, outpatient procedures and inpatient hospital stays.
All business associates maintain Business Associates Agreements with MMC
that require these companies and all of their staff to maintain full security
and confidentiality of all information shared.
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Appointment Reminders. We may use and disclose your limited health information to contact you
as a reminder that you have an appointment for treatment or medical care.
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Treatment Options. We may use and disclose your health information to tell you about or
recommend possible treatment options or alternatives that may be of interest to you.
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Health-Related Benefits and Services. We may use and disclose your health information to tell you about health-related
benefits or services that may be of interest to you.
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Fundraising Activities. We are required to inform you that if you receive fundraising information
from MMC, you can request to be removed from further communications. However,
it is not the practice of MMC to use your health information for fundraising efforts.
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Hospital/Facility Directory. We may include certain limited information about you in our patient directory
while you are receiving treatment at an MMC hospital or facility. This
information may include your name, location in the facility and your religious
affiliation. The directory information, except for your religious affiliation,
may be released to people who ask for you by name. If you do not want
your information included in MMC’s directory, upon your admission
you should inform the personnel registering you. You may also tell your
MMC caregiver who will assist in communicating your wishes to the appropriate
registration personnel. NOTE: MMC will strive to comply with requests
for restrictions to disclosure of this general information. Although no
guarantees can be made, MMC will make every effort to comply with your
requests for restrictions to disclosure of this general information.
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Release of Information to Family/Friends. We may disclose your health information to a family member, personal
representative or friend that is helping you pay for your healthcare,
or who assists in taking care of you. We may disclose your location or
general condition to a family member or friend if they ask for you by
name. In addition, we may disclose health information about you to an
entity assisting in a disaster relief effort so that your family can be
notified about your condition, status and location. If you have specific
objections or instructions regarding these communications, you may discuss
them with your MMC caregivers.
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As Required By Law. We will use and disclose your health information when we are required
to do so by federal, state or local law.
USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION IN CERTAIN SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES
The following categories describe circumstances in which we may use or
disclose your identifiable health information:
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Public Health Risks. We may disclose health information about you for state and federal public
health activities. These activities generally include the following:
- To report, prevent or control disease, injury or disability;
- To report births and deaths;
- To report child abuse or neglect;
- To report reactions to medications or problems with products;
- To notify people of recalls of products they may be using;
- To notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at
risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition;
- To send proof of immunization to a school whose state law requires the
information for school entry;
- To notify the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient
has been the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
We will only make these disclosures if you agree or when we are otherwise
required or authorized by law to do so.
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Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose your health information to government health oversight
agencies for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities
include, for example, investigations, inspections, audits, surveys; licensure
and disciplinary actions; civil, administrative and criminal procedures
or actions; or other activities necessary for the government to monitor
government programs, compliance with civil rights laws and the healthcare
system in general.
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Judicial and Administrative Proceedings. If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose health
information about you in response to a court or administrative order.
We also may disclose your health information in response to a subpoena,
discovery request, or other lawful process by another party involved in
the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the
request or to obtain an order from a court protecting the information
requested.
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Law Enforcement. We may release health information if asked to do so by a local, state
or federal law enforcement official:
- In response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process;
- To identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person;
- About the victim of a crime in certain limited circumstances, if we are
unable to obtain the person's agreement;
- About a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct;
- Information we believe is evidence of criminal conduct occurring on our
premises; and
- In emergency circumstances to report a crime; including the location or
victim(s) of the crime, or the description, identity or location of the
person who committed the crime.
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Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors. We may release health information to a coroner or medical examiner. This
may be necessary, for example, to identify a deceased person or determine
the cause of death. We may also release health information about our patients
to funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.
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Deceased Individuals. We may release your health information to a family member, personal representative,
or other person(s) responsible for your care or payment of your care prior
to your death, unless you have specifically stated otherwise. We may also
release your health information to any individual(s) responsible for carrying
out the duties of executor(s) of your estate. We are required to apply
these safeguards to protect your health information for up to fifty (50)
years following your death.
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Organ, Eye, or Tissue Donation. We may release health information to organizations that handle organ
procurement or organ, eye, or tissue transplantation or to an organ donation
bank, as necessary to facilitate organ or tissue donation and transplantation.
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Research. We may use and disclose health information about you for research purposes
in certain circumstances. For example, a research project may involve
comparing the health of all patients who received one medication to those
who received another, for the same condition. All research projects are
subject to a special approval process. This process evaluates a proposed
research project and its use of health information, trying to balance
the research needs with patients' need for privacy of their health information.
Before we use or disclose health information for research, the project
will have been approved through this research approval process, however,
we may disclose health information about you to people preparing to conduct
a research project, for example, to help them look for patients with specific
health needs, so long as the health information they review does not leave
our premises. We may disclose health information about you to a researcher
if an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board approves the researcher’s
access to your health information without your authorization.
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Serious Threats to Health or Safety. We may use and disclose health information about you when necessary to
prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety
of the public or another person. Any disclosure, however, would only be
to someone able to help prevent the threat and/or to any specifically
identified victims of the threat.
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Military and Veterans. If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release health information
about you as required by military command authorities. We may also release
health information about foreign military personnel to the appropriate
foreign military authority.
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National Security and Intelligence Activities. We may disclose your health information to federal officials for intelligence
and national security activities authorized by law. We may also disclose
your health information to federal officials in order to protect the President,
other officials or foreign heads of state, or to conduct investigations.
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Inmates. If you are an inmate of a correctional institution or under the custody
of a law enforcement official, we may disclose your health information
to the correctional institution, its agents, or the law enforcement official.
Disclosure for these purposes would be necessary: (1) for the institution
to provide healthcare services to you; (2) to protect your health and
safety or the health and safety of others; or (3) for the safety and security
of the correctional institution.
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Workers’ Compensation. We may release health information about you as authorized by law for
workers’ compensation or similar programs that provide benefits
for work-related injuries or illness.
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Marketing. MMC will obtain your written authorization prior to using or disclosing
your health information for marketing purposes, however, marketing materials
can be provided to you in a face-to-face encounter without obtaining your
written authorization. MMC may also communicate with you about products
or services relating to your treatment, case management or care coordination,
or alternative treatment, therapies, providers or care settings without
your written authorization. MMC will disclose to you if we receive payment
from or on behalf of a third party whose products or services are being
described to you.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION
You have the following rights regarding the identifiable health information
we maintain about you and in most cases MMC has a form that may be completed
to exercise the following rights:
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Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that we communicate with you about health
matters in a certain way. For example, you may ask that we contact you
at work or by U.S. Mail. To request that we contact you in a certain way
or at a certain location, you must make your request in writing to the
Administrator of the facility at which you are receiving care or to the
MMC Privacy Officer, 1213 Garfield Ave, Harlan, IA 51537. We will not
ask you the reason for your request, and we will accommodate any reasonable requests.
Your written request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted.
You must provide us with a mailing address where you can receive correspondence
and other communications from us related to payment for the services you
have received from us. Please realize we reserve the right to contact
you by other means and at other locations if you fail to respond to any
communication from us that requires a response. We will notify you in
accordance with your original request prior to attempting to contact you
by other means or at another location.
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Requesting Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction in our use or disclosure
of your health information for treatment, payment or healthcare operations
purposes. You also have the right to request that we limit our disclosure
of your health information to individuals involved in your care or the
payment for your care, such as family members and friends. We will strive
to comply with your request unless your information is needed to provide
emergency treatment to you. In general, MMC is not required to agree to
your request.
MMC agrees to honor any request we receive to not share certain health
information with your health plan for payment or health care operations
purposes related to a service(s) that you have paid for out-of-pocket
and in full. Such restriction will only apply to records that relate solely
to the service for which you have paid in full. If we later receive an
Authorization from you, dated after the original date of your requested
restriction, which authorizes us to disclose all of your records to your
health plan, we will assume you have withdrawn your original request for
restriction.
NOTE: You are responsible to request a restriction to this information
with each individual entity or department involved in the related service(s).
To formally request a restriction to your health plan, you must make your
request in writing to the Administrator of the facility at which you are
receiving care or the MMC Privacy Officer. In your request, you must describe
in a clear and concise fashion: (1) what information you want to limit;
(2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure or both; and (3) to
whom you want the limits to apply, for example, disclosures to your spouse.
MMC does not have the authority to bind anyone else to any restrictions
to which MMC may agree.
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Inspection and Copies. You have the right to inspect and copy your health information that may
be used to make decisions about your care, including your medical records
and billing records, not including psychotherapy notes. MMC will respond
to your request within 30 days, unless required by law to respond earlier.
If we maintain the health information electronically in one or more designated
record sets and you ask for an electronic copy, we will provide the information
to you in the form and format you request, if it is readily producible.
If we cannot readily produce the record in the form and format you request,
we will produce it in another readable electronic format we both agree
to. We may charge a cost-based fee for producing copies or, if you request
one, a summary. If you direct us to transmit your health information to
another person, we will do so, provided your signed, written direction
clearly designates the recipient and location for delivery.
To formally inspect or obtain a copy of health information that is maintained
by or on behalf of MMC and that may be used to make decisions about you,
you must submit your request in writing to the medical record custodian
of the facility at which you received care or the MMC Privacy Officer.
MMC may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, or other supplies
associated with your request.
We may deny your request to inspect and copy your health information under
certain limited circumstances. For example, you may not be provided with
your health information if it is determined that providing such information
could cause harm to you or another person.
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Amendment. If you feel that health information MMC has about you is incorrect or
incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right
to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for MMC.
To formally request an amendment of health information that is maintained
by or on behalf of MMC about you, your request must be made in writing
and submitted to the medical record custodian of the facility at which
you received care, or the MMC Privacy Officer. In addition, you must provide
a reason that supports your request.
MMC may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does
not include a reason to support the request. In addition, MMC may deny
your request if you ask to amend information that:
- Is accurate and complete;
- Was not created by MMC, unless the person or entity that created the information
is no longer available to make the amendment;
- Is not part of the health information kept by or for MMC; or
- Is not part of the information which you would be permitted to inspect and copy.
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Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of
your health information. An accounting of disclosures is a list of certain
disclosures MMC has made of your identifiable health information. To request
an accounting of disclosures made by MMC, you must submit your request
in writing to the medical record custodian of the facility at which you
received care, or the MMC Privacy Officer. Your request must state a time
period that may not be longer than six years and may not include dates
before April 14, 2003. Your request should indicate in what form you want
the list (for example, on paper, or electronically). The first list you
request within a 12-month period will be free. For additional lists, you
may be charged for the costs of providing the list. You will be notified
of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request
at that time before any costs are incurred.
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Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice. You may ask
us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. To obtain a paper copy
of this notice, contact the MMC Privacy Officer. Even if you have agreed
to receive this notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper
copy of this notice. You also may obtain a copy of this notice at the
following website:
www.myrtuemedical.org.
RIGHT TO FILE A COMPLAINT
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a verbal
complaint with the MMC Privacy Officer. Privacy Officer... (712) 755-4285.
You may file a written complaint with Myrtue Medical Center, Attn: Privacy
Officer at 1213 Garfield Ave, Harlan, Iowa 51537. You may also submit
a complaint to the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health &
Human Services. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.
RIGHT TO PROVIDE AN AUTHORIZATION FOR OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES
We will obtain your written authorization for uses and disclosures that
are not identified by this notice or permitted by applicable law. Any
authorization you provide to us regarding the use and disclosure of your
health information may be revoked at any time in writing. After you revoke
your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose your identifiable
health information for the reasons described in the authorization. Please
note we are required to retain records of your health care. If you have
any questions about this notice, please contact the MMC Privacy Officer
@ (712) 755-4285.
Patient Informational Rights
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Access to Care: Patients shall be accorded impartial access to services or accommodations
that are available and medically indicated, regardless of race, creed,
sex, age, national origin, disability, source of payment for care, diagnosis,
or communication barriers.
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Respect and Dignity: Patients have the right to considerate, respectful care at all times and
under all circumstances, with the recognition of personal dignity. Since
we have a strong commitment to respect the religious beliefs of all patients,
we will address any concerns regarding care decisions. In all appropriate
settings, pastoral counseling will be offered. Patients shall be free
from mental, chemical, physical abuse. Chemical and physical restraints
are used to protect the patient from injury to self or others only as
authorized by their physician. The patient shall be assured of reasonable
safety within the hospital. The individual dignity and privacy of each
patient will be respected. Personal mail sent and received by the patient
is unopened. The patient will have reasonable access to a telephone for
confidential calls.
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Privacy and Confidentiality: Patients have the right, within the law, to personal and informational
privacy, including the right to:
- Refuse to talk with or see anyone not directly involved in care;
- Wear appropriate personal clothing, religious or other symbolic items,
as long as they do not interfere with medical procedures or treatment;
- Be interviewed and examined in surroundings designed to assure reasonable privacy;
- Have the medical record read only by individuals directly involved in treatment
or the monitoring of its quality, and by others only with written authorization
by the patient or a legally authorized representative;
- Compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding
confidentiality of medical records and patient information;
- Be moved if another patient or visitor is unreasonably disturbing;
- Be placed in protective privacy when considered necessary for personal
safety; and
- Communicate privately with persons of their own choice and participate
in activities of social and religious groups at their own discretion.
If married, they will be assured of privacy for visits with their spouse.
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Personal Safety: Patients have a right to expect reasonable safety in the hospital/clinic
practices or other health care settings; to be free from mental, physical,
verbal, psychological, sexual, and emotional abuse or harassment or unnecessary
restraints or seclusion; and to have access to protective services.
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Identity/Participation: Patients will have the right to choose and know the identity of the medical
practitioner primarily responsible for the patient’s care and the
identity and professional status of those providing care. The facility
will assist the patient in finding an alternate medical practitioner when
requested to do so. The patient will have the right to participate in
the development and implementation of his or her care plan.
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Consent: Patients have the right to reasonably informed participation in decisions
involving their health care, including information regarding organ-tissue
donation procedures. Appropriate consent must be obtained for all treatments
and for their voluntary participation in research programs. Patients and/or
their legally authorized representatives will be informed by the physician
about the risks, benefits, and alternatives to procedures, as well as
those considered experimental.
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Information: Patients and their family, if appropriate, have the right to obtain complete
and current information concerning diagnosis and treatment from the attending
physician and to participate in care decisions. The patient shall be informed
regarding the risks and benefits of the treatment and the available alternatives.
When it is not advisable or possible to give such information to the patient,
the information will be made available to the patient’s legal representative.
Clinical decisions will be based upon identified health care needs and
shall not be compromised in response to financial considerations. The
grievance process may be utilized to address any issues of denial of care.
Any marketing materials provided will accurately reflect the services
available and the current level of licensure and accreditation. Patients
have the right to have their own physician promptly notified of their
admission. Patients have the right to have a family member or representative
of their choice promptly notified of their admission. The patient has
the right to access information contained in their clinical records within
a reasonable time frame. The hospital shall seek to meet requests for
medical record information as quickly as the record keeping system permits
within federal guidelines. Records shall be supplied at a cost not to
exceed the community standard.
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Communication: Patients have the right of access to people outside the hospital/clinic
by means of personal visit, oral and written communication, unless their
physician determines that this will hinder treatment. When the hospital/clinic
determines that qualified interpreters and/or communication
equipment are necessary for effective communication, it will be provided
at no charge to the patient.
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Consultation: Patients have the right to consult with a specialist at their request and
at their own expense.
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Refusal of Treatment: Patients may refuse, consent to, or limit treatment to the extent permitted
by law. When refusal of treatment prevents the provision of appropriate
care in accordance with ethical and professional standards, the relationship
with the patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice. Myrtue Medical
Center will address conflicts that may arise among patients, families,
hospital/clinic staff and physicians concerning care decisions, including
the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. No hospital/clinic
will discriminate against a patient based upon the patient’s decision
to execute a living will or other advance directive to withhold care.
Patients shall have the right to complete an advance directive or designate
a representative to make health care decisions.
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Transfer and Continuity of Care: Patients will not be transferred to another facility without a complete
explanation of the need for transfer, the risks and alternatives to transfer,
and the acceptance of the patient by the other facility. Patients have
the right to be informed by the responsible health care provider of any
continuing health requirements following discharge from a hospital/ clinic/service.
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Billing Practices: Patients will be billed only for services provided. Patients have the right
to request and receive an itemized explanation of the entire bill, regardless
of the source of payment. Patients also have the right to timely notice
prior to termination of eligibility for reimbursement for the cost of
care by any third party payer.
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Hospital/Clinic Rules/Regulations/Grievance Procedure: Patients will be informed of the hospital/clinic rules and regulations.
Myrtue Medical Center has an established mechanism for patients and family
to express their concerns and access the hospital’s grievance policy.
Patients receiving any service can ask for assistance in this process
by asking for the nursing supervisor.
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Skilled Patient Care Grievance Procedure: Patients receiving any service can ask for assistance in this process
by asking for the nursing supervisor. Patients can contact the State Ombudsman
at 1-800-532-3213 or at
State Department of Elder Affairs
200 10th Street, Third Floor
Des Moines, Iowa 50309.
Patient Responsibilities
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Provision of Information: Patients have the responsibility to provide, to the best of their knowledge,
accurate and complete information about their present complaints, prior
illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, changes in condition, and other
matters relating to their health.
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Compliance with Instructions: Patients are responsible for complying with applicable hospital/clinic
rules and regulations, for following the treatment plan recommended by
their approved and licensed independent practitioner, and for cooperating
with health personnel as they carry out the coordinated plan of care ordered.
Patients are also responsible for keeping appointments and notifying the
practitioner, hospital, or clinic when unable to do so.
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Refusal of Treatment: Patients are responsible for providing copies of their living will or other
advance directives to their health care practitioners. Patients are responsible
for their actions if they refuse treatment or refuse to follow the practitioner’s
instructions.
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Health Care Charges: Patients are responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of
their health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
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Respect and Consideration: Patients are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other
patients and hospital/clinic personnel, and for assisting in the control
of noise and the number of hospital visitors. Patients are also expected
to respect the property of others and of the hospital/clinic.
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Personal Property: Patients are responsible for any property/valuables kept in their possession.
The patient or guardian is expected to manage his/her own financial affairs.
When the patient is not capable of understanding these rights, or when
the patient is a minor child, all applicable patient rights and responsibilities
pass to the next of kin, guardian, or authorized responsible person by law.