Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Rights

• The hospital will reasonably respond to requests and needs for treatment or service within its capacity, stated mission, and applicable laws and regulations. No patient will be denied appropriate hospital care based on race, religion, cultural variables, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, newborn status, disability, or source of payment.

• Patients will be treated with respect and awareness of their individuality and personal needs, including the need for privacy, effective pain management, and psychosocial, spiritual and cultural differences.

• The patient's medical record, including all computerized medical information, is kept confidential according to the requirements of state and federal laws. The patient, or any person authorized by law, will have access to the patient's medical record.

• Each patient may know who has overall responsibility for his/her care.

• Each patient, or any person authorized by law, will receive information about the patient's illness, course of treatment and prognosis for recovery in terms the patient can understand from the appropriate person at Froedtert.

• Patients have the opportunity to make healthcare and ethical decisions in collaboration with their health team members. They may also assign representatives to be involved in their care.

• Except in emergencies, consent for treatment will be obtained from patients, or those legally authorized to act for them, before participating in research, and before any diagnostic and/or surgical procedures are performed.

•  Any patient may refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and will be informed of the medical consequences of the refusal.

• Except in emergencies, the patient may not be transferred to another facility without being given a full explanation for the transfer, without coverage for continuing care and without acceptance by the receiving institution.

• Patients may look at their hospital bills and receive an explanation as needed. Each patient may receive, upon request, information relating to financial assistance available through Froedtert.

• Froedtert has a Patient Relations Department (414-805-2882) for patient concerns. Complaints may also be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Bureau of Quality Assurance, P.O. Box 2969, Madison, WI 53701. Telephone: 608-266-8481

• Patients have the right to designate their visitors, and people involved in their care.

• Each patient may make an advance directive and appoint an authorized representative to make healthcare decisions on their behalf as permitted by Wisconsin law and Froedtert's Advance Directives policy.

Patient Responsibilities

• Communicating to caregivers whether or not the plan of care and related expectations are understood.

• Following the care plan recommended by their physicians, and the instructions of nurses and other caregivers, or, upon refusal to do so, accepting the consequences of the refusal.

• Promptly reporting any unexpected changes in condition to the designated healthcare providers.

• Patients, or their legally authorized representatives, are responsible for observing Froedtert policies, rules and regulations, including rules on visitors, noise control and smoking. All are expected to be respectful of other patients, visitors, staff and property.

• Patients, or their legally authorized representatives, are expected to cooperate with Froedtert when making appropriate arrangements for payment of hospital charges for care and treatment, including providing all required information and signing all necessary documents.