Patient Bill of Rights
The Board of Trustees, Medical Staff and each employee at Lake Charles
Memorial Hospital is committed to assure you excellent care. Because it
is our policy to respect your individuality and your dignity, it has long
been our sincere intention to provide you with the considerations listed
below. We believe they are rightful expectations on your part.
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You or your representative have the right to express concerns regarding
your hospital stay and have them addressed quickly and respectfully. If
the staff is unable to resolve your concerns, you are encouraged to contact
our Patient Representative at
494.3030 or the Administrator on Call at
494.3000 so that an investigation can be conducted. If you wish to contact an outside
agency, you may do so by contacting the Department of Health and Hospitals
(DHH), Health Standards Section, PO Box 3767, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 or call
225.342.0138, or The Hospital Complaint Hotline
225.342.6429.
The Joint Commission (TJC) accredits Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. You
may address your concerns with TJC by calling their toll free complaint
hot line,
800.994.6610 or by visiting their website at
www.jointcommission.org. Additionally Medicare Beneficiaries may contact your Quality Improvement
Organization (QIO): KEPRO, at Rock Run Center, Suite 100, 5700 Lombardo
Center Dr., Seven Hills, OH 44131 or call (844.430.9504, fax
844.878.7921).
- You or your designated representative shall whenever possible, be informed
of the patient’s right and responsibilities in advance of furnishing
or discontinuing patient care.
- You have the right to have a family member, chosen representative and/or
your own physician notified promptly of admission to the hospital.
- You have the right to receive treatment and medical services without discrimination
based on race, age, religion, national origin, sex, sexual preferences,
gender identity, or expression, disability, diagnosis, ability to pay
or source of payment.
- You have the right to be treated with consideration, respect and recognition
of your individuality, including the need for privacy in treatment.
- You have the right to be informed of the names and functions of all physicians
and other health care professionals who are providing direct care to you.
These people shall identify themselves by introduction and/or by wearing
a name tag.
- You have the right to receive, as soon as possible, the services of a translator
or interpreter to facilitate communication between you and the hospital’s
health care personnel.
- You have the right to participate in the development and implementation
of your plan of care.
- You or your representative, (as allowed by state law), have the right to
make informed decisions regarding your care.
- The patient’s rights include being informed of his/her health status,
being involved in care planning and treatment, and being able to request
or refuse treatment. This right must not be construed as a mechanism to
demand the provision of treatment or services deemed medically unnecessary
or inappropriate.
- You have the right to be included in experimental research only when you
give informed, written consent to such participation, or when a guardian
provided such consent for an incompetent patient in accordance with appropriate
laws and regulations. The patients may refuse to participate in experimental
research, including the investigation of new drugs and medical devices.
- You have the right to be informed if the hospital has authorized other
health care and /or educational institutions to participate in your treatment.
You shall also have a right to know the identity and function of these
institutions, and may refuse to allow their participation in your treatment.
- You have the right to formulate advance directives and have hospital staff
and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives.
- You have the right to be informed by the attending physician and other
providers of health care services about any continuing health care requirements
after your discharge from the hospital. You also have the right to receive
assistance from the physician and appropriate hospital staff in arranging
for required follow-up care after discharge.
- You have the right to have your medical records, including all computerized
medical information, kept confidential.
- You have the right to access information contained in your medical records
within a reasonable time frame.
- You have the right to be free from restraints of any form that are not
medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience
or retaliation by staff.
- You have the right to be free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
- You have the right to receive care in a safe setting.
- You have the right to examine and receive an explanation of you hospital
bill regardless of source of payment, and may receive upon request, information
relating to financial assistance available through the hospital.
- You have the right to be informed in writing about the hospital’s
policies and procedures for initiation, review and resolution of patient
complaints, including the address and telephone number of where complaints
may be filed with the department.
- You have the right to be informed of your responsibility to comply with
hospital rules, cooperate your own treatment, provide a complete and accurate
medical history, be respectful of other patients, staff and property,
and provide required information regarding payment of charges.
- Except for emergencies, you may be transferred to another facility only
with a full explanation of the reason for transfer, provisions for continuing
care and acceptance by the receiving institution.
Patient Responsibilities
While you are a patient at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, in order to
facilitate your care you have responsibilities to do the following:
- Provide staff with available documents relating to your health, such as
advance directives, care decisions and living wills.
- Provide, to the best of your knowledge, an accurate and complete description
of your present condition and past medical history.
- Make an effort to understand your health care needs, and to ask your physician
or other members of the health care team for information relating to your
treatment. Ask questions if information is not clearly understood.
- Ask your doctor or nurse what you can expect regarding pain and pain management.
- Help your doctor or nurse assess your pain and develop a plan for pain relief.
- Report any changes in your condition to your physician and to indicate
whether you understand a suggested course of action.
- Inform those who treat you whether you want to permit or decline a specific
treatment.
- You are expected to be considerate of other patients and hospital personnel
and to assist in the control of noise and the number of visitors in your
room at any one time. You are also expected to be respectful of the property
of other persons and the property of the hospital. You are responsible
for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care, comfort,
smoking and weapons.
- You will not take drugs which have not been prescribed by your attending
physician and administered by hospital staff; and that you will not complicate
or endanger the healing process by consuming alcoholic beverages or toxic
substances during your hospital stay.
- Abide by local, state and federal laws.
Lake Charles Memorial Hospital is interested in your well-being. If you
have any questions, ethical concerns, suggestions, or unmet needs, you
have the right to discuss this with your doctor, nurse, administrative
supervisor, or the administrator on call. You may contact any of these
individuals by calling the hospital operator
494.3000. You may also write a letter to the President, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital,
1701 Oak Park Boulevard, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 70601. All correspondence
will receive prompt and personal attention.