Patient Responsibilities

The care patients receive depends partially on the patient. Therefore, in addition to these rights, patients have certain responsibilities. These responsibilities are presented to patients in the spirit of mutual trust and respect. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• The patient is responsible for providing, to the best of his or her knowledge, accurate and complete information concerning present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters relating to his or her health.
• The patient and family are responsible for reporting perceived risks in their care and unexpected changes in the patient’s condition.
• The patient and family help the hospital improve its understanding of the patient’s environment by providing feedback about service needs and expectations.
• Patients are responsible for asking questions when they do not understand what they have been told about their care or what they are expected to do.
• The patient and family are responsible for following the care, service or treatment plan developed. They should express any concerns they have about their ability to follow and comply with the proposed care plan or course of treatment.
• Every effort is made to adapt the plan to the patient’s specific needs and limitations. If adaptations to the treatment plan that are not recommended are pursued by the patient—the patient and family are responsible for understanding the consequences of the treatment alternatives and for not following the proposed course.
• The patient and family are responsible for the outcomes if they do not follow the care, service or treatment plan.
• The patient and family are responsible for following the hospital’s rules and regulations concerning patient care and conduct.
• Patients and families are responsible for being considerate of the hospital’s personnel and property.
• The patient and family are responsible for promptly meeting any financial obligation agreed to with the hospital.
• The patient is expected to comply with the hospital procedures when requesting copies of or access to medical information and when requesting to amend or supplement medical information.