Patient Bill of Rights

The staff of Warren Hospital wants to make your hospital stay as pleasant as possible. We believe in and will respect all your rights, including those listed here. Your admitting physician has the primary responsibility for your medical and emotional care and, together with the hospital staff, is dedicated to your well-being.

These patient rights and responsibilities are endorsed by the Warren Hospital medical staff, administration and Board of Trustees:

• You are entitled to personal, considerate care.
• You are entitled to know from your physician your diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis, in a language you understand. Warren Hospital maintains a list of foreign language translators if needed, and has access to AT&T Language Line Services.
• No diagnostic or therapeutic procedure will be performed on you without proper verbal or written consent except in emergencies. Such information includes specific procedures and/or treatment, risks involved and duration of incapacitation.
• You have the right to be informed of your physician's professional position and of the hospital's policies and procedures regarding life-saving procedures, use of withdrawal of life support mechanisms and composition and function of the hospital prognosis and ethics committees.
• You have the right to expect and receive appropriate assessment, management, and treatment of pain.
• Your personal privacy will be respected. Case decisions, consultations, examinations and treatment are considered confidential and will be conducted discreetly.
• Your medical records are only for the purpose of your care. No information from your record will be released or shared without your permission except as provided by law or third party contractual arrangements.
• You have the right to make reasonable requests and expect timely response in matters concerning your well-being. Warren Hospital will be guided by its policies and procedures in the best interests of all concerned and will ensure that your request is not in conflict with your doctor's orders or restrictions.
• You have the right to the care of your own clergy, or the hospital chaplain, and the right to decline such services.
• You are entitled to know the names of the people involved in your care. All hospital employees are expected to wear nametags.
• If you require care after discharge, the hospital's social work and discharge planning departments will cooperate with your physician in arranging for that care.
• No research or experimental procedures will be used in your care without full and proper consent after your physician has explained all aspects of the procedures.
• The hospital will, if requested by you, review and provide you with an explanation of your bill even though it may be covered by insurance.
• You have the right to refuse any treatment, drug or procedure offered by the hospital or ordered by your physician to the extent allowed by the law. Your physician will inform you of the medical consequences of your refusal of any treatment, drugs or procedures. In the event you refuse treatment, drugs or a procedure, you will be required to sign a release.
• The Warren Hospital Ethics Committee provides a forum for presenting, discussing and resolving differences that arise between patients' requests and care giving decisions. For more information, talk to your nurse director.
• For your information, a copy of Warren Hospital’s Patient Bill of Rights is posted in your room. Speak with your nurse if you have questions.

Patient Responsibilities
As a patient you are expected to:

• Provide accurate information about your past medical history so your illness or injury may be treated effectively.
• Cooperate with hospital personnel.
• Ask questions if you do not understand directions or procedures.
• Be considerate of other patients.
• Assist in control of noise, the number of visitors in your room and in following the no-smoking policy.
• Provide accurate information necessary for processing your hospital insurance coverage.
• Be responsible for payment of any item of your bill not covered by insurance, including any second opinion or consultation.
• Be respectful of the property of other patients, of the employees and of the hospital.
• Do not take drugs, alcoholic beverages or toxic substances which have not been prescribed by your physician or administered by hospital personnel.
• Help your physician, nurses and allied medical personnel in their effort to care for you by following their instructions and medical orders.
• Report concerns or complaints regarding your care to the nursing clinical coordinator, nursing administration office, patient representative, or the public relations office. You may also contact the New Jersey Department of Health Complaint Hotline directly by calling (800) 792-9770 or the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) at 1-800-994-6610 or www.jcaho.org.