Cheshire Medical Center

As a natural outgrowth of our organizational values and mission, the board of trustees, the medical staff and the employees of Cheshire Medical Center jointly affirm and recognize the following rights and responsibilities of patients:

As a patient of Cheshire Medical Center, you have the right to have care provided in a safe manner by competent and trained staff. You have the right to expect that the hospital will make a reasonable response to your request for services. The hospital will provide evaluation, medical care and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of your affliction, without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, creed, age, religious or cultural beliefs, physical or mental handicap or economic status. When required services cannot be provided by Cheshire Medical Center, arrangements will be made for transfer to a more appropriate facility.

You have the right to compassionate and respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of your personal dignity. Your care will include consideration of you and your family's psychosocial and spiritual concerns as they affect the manner in which care is provided.

You have the right to have your complaints and concerns heard and to have your conflicts resolved in a timely manner.

When your care issue is unresolved and you are unable to agree with your physician's recommendations for care, the physician will make arrangements to transfer your care to another physician associated with Cheshire Medical Center or transfer you to another hospital. If your attending physician cannot agree with decisions you, your family or legal guardian wish to make regarding medical care, the physician has the option to withdraw from the case providing he/she has arranged for your continued care. In both instances, the physician will continue providing your care until satisfactory arrangements are made.

You have the right to request a meeting of the Ethics Committee to assist in discussion of ethical concerns and conflicts related to your care. The intent of the Ethics Committee is to clarify information and assure understanding of medical care and consequences of accepting or refusing recommended care.

You have the right to receive complete and current information about your condition, medical treatments, and diagnostic and surgical procedures in a manner that is easily understood by you in order for you to give informed consent. You have the right to be involved in the planning and delivery of your care both during and after your hospitalization. You have the right to accept or refuse treatment or procedures to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of your refusal.

You have the right to be treated in the least restrictive manner and to be free of any form of seclusion or restraint that is not necessary to meet your safety needs or the needs of others.

You have the right to formulate advance directives and to appoint a representative to make healthcare decisions on your behalf to the extent permitted by law.

You have the right to be advised if the hospital proposes to engage in or conduct research or educational projects affecting your care and treatment. You have the right to refuse to participate in any such projects.

You have the right to every consideration of privacy concerning your medical care and to expect confidentiality of your medical information to the extent that disclosure may be required by your insurer or by law. Within this guideline you have the right to access information contained in your medical record within the limits of the law.

Summary of Policy on Medical Records and Privacy
DHMC Notice of Privacy (Acrobat Reader required)

You have the responsibility to provide complete and accurate medical information to the hospital.

Your hospital stay is based on the professional assessment of your medical needs. Should you decide to leave the hospital against your physician's advice, careful consideration should be given to your personal health and safety and to that of others. If you do choose to leave against your physician's advice, you will be asked to sign a form releasing the physician and hospital from responsibility for any harm resulting from your early departure.

You have the right, upon admission, to receive written information that details the hospital's room rate and the services included in that rate. We will also inform you of those services not usually covered by Medicare or Medicaid. You have the responsibility to provide the hospital with full and accurate information for billing purposes and to make appropriate financial arrangements to ensure payments for services. You may inquire about possible financial aid to help pay your bill.

You have the responsibility to be considerate of other patients and to observe hospital guidelines which have been established for the benefit of every patient and to be candid about your feelings with those who care for you.

You have the right to expect information about pain relief measures and a staff committed to quick responses to reports of pain. Your pain level will be assessed routinely and pain relief options will be provided. As a patient at Cheshire Medical Center we ask that you discuss pain relief options with your doctor and nurse and work with them to develop a pain relief plan