Patient Rights and Responsibilities

A Patient's Bill of Rights

Medical Care

A patient has the right to quality care and treatment consistent with available resources and generally accepted medical standards. The patient has the right to that care and treatment in a safe environment.

Respect and Dignity

A patient has the right to considerate and respectful care, with recognition of his/her personal dignity.

Privacy

A patient has the right to privacy concerning his/her own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential. Those not directly involved in the patient's care must have the patient's permission to be present.

Confidentiality

A patient has the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to his/her care will be considered confidential, and release of such treatment information shall be only as authorized by current law and military regulations.

Information

A patient has the right to obtain from his/her physician an explanation concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, procedures and prognosis in terms the patient can be expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient. the information should be provided to appropriate family members or, in their absence, another appropriate person.

Identity

A patient has the right to know, at all times, the identity, professional status, and professional credentials of health care personnel, as well as the name of the health care provider primarily responsible for his/her care.

Communication

A patient has the right of access to people outside of the hospital by means of visitors, and by verbal and written communication when such visitations and communications will not interfere with the patient's treatment.

Consent

A patient has the right to receive from his/her physician information in non-clinical terms necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment. Except in emergencies, such information for informed consent should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the specific procedures or treatment; the medically significant risks, complications, and benefits involved; and the probable duration of incapacitation. When medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, or when the patient requests information concerning medical alternatives, the patient has the right to such information. The patient has the right to be advised if the hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting his/her care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.

Refusal of Treatment

A patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and existing government regulations and to be informed of the medical and administrative consequences of his/her refusal.

Transfer and Continuity of Care

A patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care. The patient has the right to know in advance what appointment times and physicians are available and where. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital will provide a mechanism whereby he/she is informed by his/her physician or a delegate of the physician of the patient's continuing health care requirements following discharge.

Hospital Charges

A patient has the right to expect and receive a detailed explanation of his/her total bill, regardless of source of payment.

Hospital Rules and Regulations

A patient has the right to be informed of the hospital rules and regulations that relate to visitor and patient conduct. Patients are entitled to information about the hospital's mechanism for the initiation, review and resolution of patient complaints.

Pain Control

A patient has the right to appropriate evaluation and treatment of pain.

A Patient's Bill of Responsibilities

Provisions of Information

A patient has the responsibility to provide, to the best of his/her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his/her health. A patient must promptly inform those treating him/her of any change in his/her condition or apparent adverse reaction to prescribed care.

Understanding of Treatment

A patient is responsible for informing his/her primary health care provider whether he/she clearly understands a contemplated course of treatment, what is expected of him/her, and to bring forward any doubts or questions at the time of treatment.

Compliance with Prescribed Treatment

A patient is responsible for complying with the medical and nursing treatment plan, to include follow-up care recommended by health care providers. This includes keeping appointments on time and notifying the hospital when appointments cannot be kept.

Refusal of Treatment

A patient is responsible for his/her actions if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow the practitioner's instructions.

Hospital Rules and Regulations

A patient is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct. Regulations regarding smoking should be followed by all patients.

Respect and Consideration

A patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel, the control of noise, the behavior of persons accompanying them, to include all family members, and not smoking. A patient is also responsible for being respectful of his/her personal property, the property of other persons, and of the hospital. A patient must conduct himself/herself in a respectful, proper manner.

Medical Records

The patient is responsible for ensuring that his/her medical record is promptly returned to the hospital for appropriate filing and maintenance when the record is transferred by the patient for an appointment or consultation. All medical records documenting care provided by any federal treatment facility are the property of the United States Government.

Patient Complaints and Compliments

The patient has a responsibility to assist the hospital Commander in providing the best possible care to all beneficiaries. Patient's recommendations, questions, complaints and/or compliments should be reported to the Customer Relations Office, Mountainside Entrance, 4th Floor, Room 4G818. (808) 433-6336.

Patient Assistance

The care and comfort of our patients are of primary importance to the Commander of Tripler Army Medical Center. We strive continually to improve the hospital's service to patients and their families. The Patient Assistance Program was created as an additional dimension to assist in improving the hospital's ability to provide total health care to the military community. Tripler Army Medical Center is a large and extremely busy medical center. We serve as many as 3000 outpatients and 150 inpatients daily.

We accept customer satisfaction feedback through our FOCUS "For Our Customer's Ultimate Satisfaction" Cards (located throughout the hospital) and through our Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) site located on the Internet at http://ice.disa.mil. If you have any questions, you may contact our Customer Relations office.

Letters may be sent to: Commander
Tripler Army Medical Center
ATTN: Customer Relations Office Room 4G818
1 Jarrett White Road
Honolulu, Hawaii 96859-5000