Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Your Rights as a Patient

While you are a patient at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, you have the right to:

• Communicate with people inside and outside of the hospital. If you do not speak or understand English, you have the right to have access to an interpreter. If you have a hearing impairment, you should have access to a Telecommunication Device for the Deaf or an interpreter. If necessary, any restrictions on communication will be fully explained to you, and will be determined with your participation. Any restrictions will be evaluated on a regular basis for therapeutic effectiveness.
• Receive considerate care that respects your personal value and belief system.
• Expect that the hospital will give you necessary health services to the best of its ability.
  • You will be promptly transferred to another facility if we cannot meet your requests or needs for treatment.
  • You will receive a complete explanation about the need for transfer to another facility and of the alternatives to such a transfer.
• Informed participation in decisions regarding your care.
  • Know the names and professional status of individuals providing service to you and to know which physician or other practitioner is primarily responsible for your care.
  • Receive complete and current information from your physician regarding your diagnosis, recommended treatment and prognosis in language which is reasonable and understandable.
  • Accept or decline treatment to the extent permitted by law after having received clear, concise information from your physician and to be informed of the consequences of refusing treatment. You should not be subjected to any non-emergency procedure without voluntary, competent and understanding consent on your part or the part of your legally authorized representative.
  • Consult with a specialist at your expense and request.
  • Receive information about Advance Directives and/or a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, have an Advance Directive and/or appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on your behalf in the event you become incapable of understanding a proposed treatment or procedure, or are unable to communicate your wishes, to the extent permitted by law. If you do not feel the hospital is complying with state regulations regarding informing patients about Advance Directives, you have the right to file a complaint with the State Licensing and Certification Office in San Jose at (800) 554-0348.
• Receive care that respects your psychosocial, spiritual and cultural values.
  • Wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or symbolic items as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.
  • Be interviewed or examined in surroundings designated to assure a reasonable visual and auditory privacy.
  • Request a transfer to another room if another patient or visitor in the room is unreasonably disturbing you.
  • Exercise your cultural and spiritual beliefs as long as they do not interfere with the well-being of others or your planned course of medical therapy.
• Receive personal and informational privacy.
  • Have communication about your hospitalization limited to only those involved in your direct care, if you so choose.
  • Expect any discussion or consultation about your hospitalization to be conducted discreetly without individuals not directly related to your care present.
  • Have access, within the limits of the law, to the information contained in your medical record (or provide your legally authorized representative with access) and to have your medical record read only by those directly involved in your treatment or monitoring of its quality, except as otherwise permitted by law. Others may view your medical record only with your written authorization or that of your legally authorized representative.
  • Expect all communications and records pertaining to your care to be treated as confidential.
• Be informed of any human experimentation or other research/educational projects affecting your care or treatment.
• Communicate any complaints or concerns that arise in the provision of your care, without the threat of discrimination or reprisal.
  • A grievance or complaint can be communicated verbally, by phone or in writing to a staff member, nurse manager or to Patient Relations at (831) 755-0709. Your complaint will be investigated and the appropriate person(s) will respond to you in a timely manner. If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your complaint, you may request a list of consumer advocacy agencies that can assist you further with your concerns.
• Participate in any ethical issues that arise in the provision of your care.
  • Receive information on ethical issues related to your health care.
  • Consult with, or have your legally authorized representative consult with, members of the hospital BioEthics Committee when indicated by asking your nurse or physician, or calling the Medical Staff Services Office at extension 1221 or (831) 755-0707.
• Receive a satisfactory explanation of your statement of charges, regardless of your source of payment.
• Be placed in protective privacy when considered necessary for your personal safety.
• Receive reasonable continuity of care.

Patient Responsibilities

You also have certain responsibilities while you are a patient at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, including:

• Providing, to the best of your knowledge, an accurate and complete description of your present condition and past medical history, including past illnesses, medications and hospitalizations.
• Making an effort to understand your health care needs and asking your physician or other members of the health care team for information relating to your treatment.
• Reporting any changes in your condition to your physician and indicating whether you understand a suggested course of action.
• Informing those who treat you whether or not you think you can and want to permit or decline specific treatment.
• Taking responsibility for your well-being if you do not follow the practitioner's instructions or refuse treatment.
• Following the hospital's policies which affect patient care and conduct.
• Abiding by local, state and federal laws.
• Keeping appointments and cooperating with your physicians and others caring for you.
• Meeting your financial commitment to Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, which has supplied resources to meet your health care needs, as soon as possible.
• Being considerate of other persons and upholding the rights of all patients as observed by Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital.