Princeton Baptist > For Patients and Visitors > Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Baptist Health System does not discriminate in patient admissions, room assignment, patient services, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, disability or age. If assistance or communication aids for impaired hearing, vision, speech, or manual skills are needed, Baptist Health will make reasonable accommodations.

Baptist Health System is in furtherance of our nation's commitment to end discrimination, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issues pursuant to the Acts, Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations Part 80, 84, and 91, and all other nondiscriminatory acts protecting the rights of the disabled and other individuals or group.

As a recipient of federal financial assistance, BHS does not exclude from participation, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, or disability in admission to, participation in, or receipt of services and benefits of any of its programs and activities or in employment therein, whether carried out by BHS directly or through a contractor or any other entity with whom BHS arranges to carry out its programs and activities. BHS does not discriminate in patient admissions, room assignments, patient services, or hiring on the basis of race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, or disability.

A Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

As a natural outgrowth of our organizational values and Mission, the Board of Trustees, the medical staff and the employees of Baptist Health System jointly respect, protect, and promote the following rights and responsibilities of patients.

The staff and physicians of Baptist Health System want to enhance your health, dignity and wholeness. Because of our Mission, we hereby adopt this Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.

You Have the Right To:

1. Be treated with respect, kindness, personal privacy and dignity.

2. Nondiscrimination. The effectiveness and safety of care, treatment and services for your health condition does not depend on your race, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, language, ethnicity, country of origin, culture, age, socioeconomic status, physical or mental disability, or source of payment.

3. Communication and education during your medical care, treatment, and services in a manner that meets your oral and written communication needs.

4. Make choices about your own care, treatment and services including the right to request care, treatment and services or the right to refuse care, treatment and services in accordance with law and regulation and without coercion, discrimination or retaliation.

5. Be informed about the outcomes of care, treatment and services that have been provided, including unanticipated outcomes.

6. Have your cultural, psychosocial, religious, spiritual, and personal values, beliefs and preferences respected.

7. Expect we will assess and address your pain concern.

8. Have your family or your caregiver notified of your admission to the hospital at your request.

9. Have your personal physician notified of your admission to the hospital.

10. Make an advance directive, including a living will and/or power of attorney for health care.

11. Have a designee (parent, legal guardian, person with medical power of attorney) exercise your rights when you are incapable of doing so without coercion, discrimination or retaliation.

12. Privacy, confidentiality and security of your medical records and details about your care.

13. Be free from mental, physical, sexual and verbal abuse and neglect. If restraints are necessary, you have the right to have them applied safely.

14. Be informed of protective and community services.

15. Be told of business ties between the hospital and your other caregivers.

16. Know that the hospital will give you the best care it can. You may be asked to move to another hospital or place of treatment. If so, you will be told your choices and what could happen with those choices.

17. Say yes or no to being a part of research.

18. Be told about how to continue your care upon your discharge from the hospital.

19. Be told of the hospital rules which include no smoking.

20. Receive a copy of your bill.

21. Know the name of and professional status of any person providing your care/services.

22. Know the reasons for any proposed change in the professional staff responsible for your care.

23. Know the reasons for your transfer either within or outside the hospital.

24. Be informed of the source of the hospital's reimbursement for your services, and of any limitations which may be placed upon your care.

25. Effective communication, including qualified interpreter or translation services and auxiliary aids for vision, speech, hearing, or cognitive impairment provided by your healthcare facility, at no cost to you, in a manner that meets your needs in accordance with law and regulation and as reasonably available.

26. Informed consent.

27. Specify language preference for discussing your healthcare information.

28. Have a family member, friend, or other individual with you for emotional support during the course of the hospital stay unless this individual's presence infringes on other's rights, safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated.

29.Be told of how and to whom you may voice a complaint including the hospital Patient Representative; Alabama Department of Public Health Hotline at 1-800-356-9596; or Alabama Department of Public Health, Complaint Department, Suite 600 RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, Montgomery, AL 36104; or Alabama Quality Assurance Foundation at 1-800-760-4550 or Alabama Quality Assurance Foundation, Two Perimeter Parkway South, Suite 200, Birmingham, AL 35243; or The Joint Commission at 1-800-994-6610 or One Renaissance Blvd, Oakbrook, IL 60181.

You Are Responsible For:

1. Giving the hospital a copy of your advance directive, if you have one.

2. Letting the hospital know about any medicines you are taking at home, your present medical problems, and any medical information that could help make it easier for the doctors and hospital staff to provide care, treatment and services for you. You should tell your doctors or nurses about any changes to your medical problems while you are in the hospital. This includes telling your doctors or nurses if you are in pain.

3. Asking questions and letting your physician or hospital staff know when you or your family do not understand what you have been told about your medical condition, your treatment or what you should do to care for yourself.

4. Following instructions, including your plan of care as developed by your health care team. Your plan of care includes the effect of lifestyle on your health. You are also responsible for accepting the consequences of not getting treatment or not following the instructions of your caregivers.

5. Knowing and following hospital rules, policies, and regulations in place to support quality care for all patients and a safe environment for all individuals in the hospital, as outlined in the hospital Patient and Visitor Information Guide. This includes, but is not limited to, the hospital's no smoking guidelines.

6. Showing respect for other patients, visitors, and the hospital staff by using polite and courteous language and conduct. This includes treating hospital belongings and property with respect.

7. Paying your hospital bill. This includes giving the hospital correct information about your insurance or your way for paying your bill.

These rights and responsibilities can and should be exercised on the patient's behalf by a parent, guardian, designee or proxy decision-maker if the patient lacks decision-making capacity, is legally incompetent, or is a minor in accordance with the law.