PATIENT RIGHTS

It is your right as a patient of Jackson Park Hospital to:

• Receive care without regard to your race, color, national origin, age, gender, ability or lifestyle.
   
• Request and receive care which promotes and respects your individual cultural, spiritual and social values.
   
• Be treated with dignity and respect by all Jackson Park Hospital staff.
   
• Receive care which supports your privacy, safety, comfort and which promotes optimal management of pain.
   
• Expect that we will communicate with you in a language and/or manner that you can understand.
   
• Expect an environment that preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image.
   
• Request and receive medically appropriate treatment and service within the mission and capacity of Jackson Park Hospital.
   
• Be informed of the nature of your illness and treatment options, including potential risks, benefits, alternatives and costs and to participate fully in your health care decisions.
   
• Request and receive information regarding the charges for any treatment and to receive an explanation of your bill upon request.
   
• Be assured that medical and personal information will be handled in a confidential manner.
   
• Raise ethical issues concerning your care with your care providers and/or the Ethics Committee and to participate in the resolution of those issues.
   
• Receive appropriate assessment and management of pain.  Patients have the right to expect a quick response to reports of pain.
   
• Accept or refuse recommended tests or treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences if you refuse tests or treatments.
   
• Transfer to the facility of your choice if accepted.
   
• Expect that efforts will be made to provide your continuous, coordinated, appropriate care during and after your hospitalization.
   
• Formulate advance directives, such as a living will or health care power of attorney and to expect that your advance directives will be followed when applicable.
   
• Expect that appropriate surrogate decision-making will be sought in case you lack decision making ability and have no advance directive.
   
• Receive information about and access to appropriate protective and advocacy services.
   
• Have unrestricted access to visitors and communications by mail and telephone unless you have been informed that there are sound medical or institutional reasons to restrict such access.
   
• Be informed of any proposed research or experimental treatment that may be considered in your care and to consent or refuse to participate.
   
• Receive prompt and courteous response to your complaints concerning the quality of care or service.