Patient Rights

Ohio Valley Medical Center encourages respect for the personal preferences and values of each individual. While you are in our facility, your rights include the following:

1. Each patient has the right to receive this written statement of patient rights.
2. Each patient has the right of access to treatment regardless of your race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability.
3. Each patient has the right to express their spiritual beliefs and cultural practices provided he/she does not harm others or interfere with treatment.
4. Each patient has the right to be involved in all aspects of his/her care.
5. Each patient has the right to prompt, considerate and respectful care.
6. Each patient has the right to receive information; give informed consent; and make decisions regarding his/her care, proposed treatment or procedures and/or healthcare services rendered to him/her.
7. Each patient has the right to participate in the development and implementation of his/her plan of care and the right to make decisions regarding his/her care.
8. Each patient has the right to be fully informed of his/her total health status, including his/her diagnosis (to the degree known), his/her recommended treatment plan and his/her prognosis.
9. Each patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of his/her decision.
10. Each patient has the right to expect unrestricted access to communications such as visitors, mail and telephone calls. If there is a need for communication restrictions, he/she has the right to be informed of the reasons, participate in the decision and have the restriction evaluated for therapeutic effectiveness.
11. Each patient has the right to know the names and professional roles of the physicians and individuals who are providing care and treatment to him/her.
12. Each patient has the right to an environment that protects his/her personal privacy and to receive care in a safe setting.
13. Each patient has the right to confidentiality of his/her clinical records.
14. Each patient has the right to his/her treatment records remaining confidential unless he/she authorizes the release of confidential information or if reporting is required by law.
15. Each patient has the right to examine, review or obtain a copy of his/her medical record within a reasonable period of time and to have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, unless access is specifically restricted by his/her physician.
16. Each patient has the right to designate another person to make medical decisions on his/her behalf.
17. Each patient has the right to formulate Advance Directives and to have the Center staff members and practitioners who provide care comply with these directives.
18. Each patient has the right to refuse or request the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment or the withholding of resuscitative services.
19. Each patient has the right to participate in qualified research projects and be informed of the expected benefits, risks, potential discomforts and alternative services, as well as to refuse to participate, knowing that this will not compromise access to services.
20. Each patient has the right to be informed of available resources for resolving disputes, grievances and conflicts.
21. Each patient has the right to register complaints without fear of recrimination.
22. Each patient has the right to consult with a representative of the Center's management regarding ethical issues relating to medical decisions that may impact his/her care.
23. Each patient has the right to timely and accurate answers to his/her questions regarding facility charges, insurance reimbursement and methods of payment.
24. Each patient has the right to have protective services provided to him/her.
25. Each patient has the right to spiritual counseling.
26. Each patient has the right to request to be transferred to another room (if available) or to a different facility upon acceptance by the receiving facility.
27. Each patient has the right to be informed of realistic care alternatives when facility care is no longer appropriate.
28. Each patient has the right to know the relationship of the Center to other healthcare providers, educational institutions and payers as it pertains to his/her care.
29. Each patient has the right to expect that the Center will honestly, ethically and in good faith communicate billing information to him/her and bill only for those services rendered.
30. Each patient has the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
31. Each patient has the right to have a family member or representative and his/her own physicians notified promptly upon his/her admission to the hospital.
32. Each patient has the right to the appropriate assessment and management of pain.
33. Each patient has the right to have information about pain and pain relief measures.
34. Each patient has the right to have a concerned staff member committed to pain prevention taking care of him/her.
35. Each patient has the right to have health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain.
36. Each patient has the right to know if their physician is an investor in this facility.

Patient Responsibility

1. Each patient is responsible for providing information about his/her health, including past illnesses, hospital stays and use of medicine.  Each patient is also responsible for sharing information about changes in his/her condition and the management of their pain with his/her doctor or nurse.
2. Each patient is responsible for asking questions when he/she does not understand information or instructions. 
3. If a patient believes that he/she cannot follow through with his/her treatment, he/she is responsible for telling his/her doctor.
4. Each patient is responsible for accepting the consequences of not following instructions.  
5. Each patient and his/her visitors are responsible for being considerate of the needs of other patients and staff and following hospital policies and regulations. 
6. Each patient is responsible for providing information for insurance and for working with the hospital or healthcare facility to arrange payment when needed.  
7. Each patient is responsible for asking her/her doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management. 
8. Each patient is responsible for discussing pain relief options with her/her doctor or nurse. 
9. Each patient is responsible for working with his/her doctor and nurse to develop a pain management plan.
10. Each patient is responsible for asking for pain relief when pain first begins.  Patient is responsible for helping the doctor or nurse measure his/her pain. 
11. Each patient is responsible for telling the doctor or nurse if his/her pain is not relieved.  
12. Each patient is responsible for providing a copy of his/her advance directive(s) in order for us to honor them. 
13. Each patient is responsible for sending his/her watch, jewelry and other valuables home.  Do not keep valuables at the hospital.