Patient Rights and Responsibilities

The federal government provides protections for your personal health information and sets limits on who can look at or receive your personal health information.

• Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) –HIPAA is federal legislation that requires covered entities to take certain protective actions related to individuals protected health information. You will be given additional information on this when you come to the Institute.
• Protected Health Information (PHI) - PHI refers to the health information protected under HIPAA including demographic information, whether oral or recorded in any form or medium, that is created or received by a health care provider, health plan, public health authority, employer, life insurer, school or university, or health care clearinghouse.

General Rights & Responsibilities

• Asking questions about your condition, procedures, tests, treatments and medications to ensure you have a full understanding of your options and potential side effects of treatment
• Requesting written information about your drugs and treatments to ensure you understand what each is for
• Telling your physicians and nurses about any drug or food allergies you may have
• Know the name and role of everyone on your healthcare team
• You have a right to talk to every member of your healthcare team
• Ask that your healthcare team members wash their hands before touching you

Rights While in the Hospital

• Asking family or friends to be with you in the hospital and talk with the health care team
• Inform your nurse or doctor of any drugs brought from home
• Give a list of your drugs, over-the-counter medicines, herbal/dietary supplements, and home remedies to the team
• Be aware when your nurse gives you a drug or starts an IV, ask what it is for
• Ask about changes in size, shape, color or taste of your drugs
• Press the call light button if a scheduled dose is more than one hour late
• Learn why each test or treatment is needed
• Discuss test results with your doctor
• Discuss the treatment plan you will follow at home with your doctor