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Patient Rights & Responsibilities

At St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, our plan for providing quality of care to our patients in all areas and at all levels includes a focus on patient safety.

We encourage recognition and acknowledgment of risks to our patients and employees and we act on those risks by putting in place processes of care to reduce risk and errors.

St. Joseph has been recognized as a Distinguished Hospital for Patient Safety. We direct our efforts daily in the pursuit of performing as a high-reliability organization while maintaining respect and compassion for each person's dignity, the diversity of life and individual preference.

We have been following key priorities for action over time and show excellent performance in reducing neonatal mortality and birth trauma, falls with injury, hospital-acquired press ulcers, and serious safety events. Many standardized bundles of care are in place to ensure that every patient receives the same quality of care provided by our health care team every time.

You have the right to report any concern you have about the safety or quality of care we provide directly to our accrediting agency The Joint Commission. But as we keep our eye on patient safety every day, we hope that will never be necessary. As a high-reliability organization, we want to deliver what we intend to do and that is to Heal Without Harm.

PATIENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Your rights while receiving care at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center are based on our philosophy which affirms the rights of each person; recognizes each individual's unique needs; and respects each person's personal dignity.

The following are general patient rights and responsibilities. Please ask if you have questions or request further information.

You have the right to:

  • Be treated with compassion, respect, dignity, and concern for you as an individual.
  • Have your culture, religious beliefs and values respected and given consideration with regard to medical treatment whenever possible.
  • Expect treatment that meets high standards of care, is up-to-date with current medical practice and is safe and appropriate to your needs including an environment that preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image.
  • Have personal privacy during the course of your care.
  • Effective communication.
  • Be treated in an environment that prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. 


You have the right to:

  • Know the name and role of those individuals providing your care.
  • Be part of decisions about your care; informed about your diagnosis and health condition.
  • Be advised of options for treatment.
  • Be advised of the probable outcome of your treatment.
  • Be involved in planning your care and treatment.
  • Be given the opportunity to request or refuse treatment.
  • Be informed of unanticipated outcomes. 
  • Be involved in your discharge planning.


You have the right to:

  • Play an important part in managing your pain, to have the opportunity to describe your pain, and to expect that those caring for you will be responsive and skilled in pain prevention and relief.
  • Request a second opinion if you have concerns or are in doubt about decisions for your treatment.
  • Prepare Advance Directives with regard to treatment decisions, be given information about the outcome of your decisions and have your Directives followed.
  • Appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable.
  • Have a family member or someone of your choice be notified promptly of your admission to the hospital, and have your own provider notified as well.
  • Have access to communication with others via visitors or electronic device(s) according to hospital policy.
  • Receive visitors, including someone of your choice for emotional support, and to limit visitors (with your knowledge, we may request visitor limitation during times of personal care/discussions and to promote safety, rest, and healing). 
  • Have access, by written request, to any medical information contained in your medical record.
  • Have all medical information about your care held in strictest confidence and available only to those directly involved in your care.
  • Be given help with special needs such as guardianship, advocacy,  or protective services to provide an environment free of abuse, harassment, neglect, or exploitation.
  • Be free from any form of restraint including physical or chemical (drug) that restricts normal movement or inhibits mental function (such restraints may be used only when ordered by a provider to prevent harm or injury to yourself or others, or when necessary to support medical healing).
  • Participate or to refuse if asked to be part of a research activity. If you choose to be part of a research activity, you have the right to know its benefits, risk or discomfort, what part of the project is research, and any costs to you.
  • To consent prior to any recording or filming.
     

You have the right to:

  • Tell the hospital if you have complaints about your care without hesitation or fear of reprisal. These may be reported to:
     
    • Your caregiver or the manager or director of the unit where you are being treated. After hours, you may contact the Nursing Supervisor at 208.799.6607.

    • If you have been discharged , then you can contact the Director of the Department by calling 208.743.2511 and selecting the appropriate department. If unable to identify the appropriate department leader, please call the Patient Advocate at 208.799.5304.

    • Contact the state agency directly to file a complaint with the hospital.  Call the Idaho Bureau of Facility Standards at 208.334.6626; and/or you can

    • Contact The Joint Commission at jointcommission.org, using the “Report a Patient Safety Concern” link in the “Connect with Us” box or my mail to The Office of Quality & Patient Safety (OQPS), The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Blvd, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181.

 

Know Your Responsibilities:

As a patient, it is your responsibility to follow instructions, policies, rules and regulations in place to support quality care for patients and a safe environment for all individuals in the hospital or clinic.

  • Be accurate and complete, as much as possible, in giving your medical history.
  • Provide identification as requested.
  • Notify your caregivers if your health changes.
  • Ask questions and take part in your health care decisions.
  • Let us know if you don't understand any part of your treatment.
  • Treat staff, providers and other patients with respect.
  • Use civil language and conduct in your interactions.
  • Respect hospital property and equipment.
  • Regard other patients' medical information as confidential.
  • Examine your hospital bill, ask questions and pay your bill promptly.
  • If there is a hardship, let us know so we may help you.
  • Tell your caregivers if they have not fulfilled their commitment to your care or showed concern and respect for you.