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Patient and Visitor Guide

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Individuals shall have care provided based on clinical decision making according to individual patient care needs. Patients shall be given impartial access to treatment or accommodations which are available or medically indicated, regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, resources of payment, or how the hospital compensates or shares financial risk with its leaders, managers, clinical staff, and licensed independent practitioners.

Patients may expect consideration of the following rights:

The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care; and the integrity of clinical decision-making.
The patient has the right to and is encouraged to obtain from physicians and other direct caregivers relevant, current and understandable information concerning diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Except in emergencies when the patient lacks decision-making capacity and the need for treatment is urgent, the patient is entitled to the opportunity to discuss and request information related to the specific procedures and/or treatments, the risks involved, the possible length of recuperation and the medically-reasonable alternatives and their accompanying risks and benefits.
Patients have the right to know the identity of physicians, nurses and others involved in their care, as well as when those involved are students, residents or other trainees. The patient also has the right to know the immediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices, insofar as they are known.
The patient has the right to make decisions about the plan of care prior to and during the course of treatment, to refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy and to be informed of the medical consequences of this action. In case of such refusal, the patient is entitled to other appropriate care and services that the hospital provides or transfer to another hospital. The hospital should notify patients of any policy that might affect patient choice within the institution.
The patient has the right to have an advance directive (such as a living will, health care proxy, or durable power of attorney for health care) concerning treatment of designating a surrogate decision maker with the expectation that the Hospital will honor the intent of that directive to the extent permitted by law and Hospital policy.
- Health care institutions must advise patients of their rights under state law and Hospital policy to make informed medical choices, ask if the patient has an advance directive, and include that information in patient records. The patient has the right to timely information about Hospital policy that may limit its ability to implement fully a legally valid advance directive.
The patient has the right to every consideration of privacy. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment should be conducted so as to protect each patient’s privacy. Patients may be treated as a “no publicity” patient upon their request (see the “No Publicity” policy for additional information).
The patient has the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to his/her care will be treated as confidential by the hospital, except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards when reporting is permitted or required by law. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital will emphasize the confidentiality of this information when it releases it to any other parties entitled to review information on these records.
The patient has the right to review the records pertaining to his/her medical care and to have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by law.
The patient has the right to expect that, within its capacity and policies, a hospital will make reasonable response to the request of a patient for appropriate and medically-indicated care and services. The hospital must provide evaluation, service and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically appropriate and legally permissible, or when a patient has so requested, a patient may be transferred to another facility. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer. The patient must also have the benefit of complete information and explanation concerning the needs for risks, benefits, and alternatives to such as transfer.
The patient has the right to ask and be informed of the existence of business relationships among the Hospital, educational institutions, and other health care providers, or payers that may influence the patient’s treatment and care.
The patient has the right to consent to or decline to participate in proposed research studies or human experimentation affecting care and treatment or requiring direct patient involvement, and to have those studies fully explained prior to consent. A patient who declines to participate in research or experimentation is entitled to the most effective care that the Hospital can otherwise provide.
The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed by physicians and other caregivers of available and realistic patient care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
The patient has the right to be informed of Hospital policies and practices that relate to patient care, treatment and responsibilities. The patient has the right to be informed of available resources for resolving disputes, grievances, and conflicts such as ethics committees, patient representatives, or other mechanisms available in the institution. The patient has the right to be informed of the Hospital’s charges for services and available payment methods.
Patients have the right to have their pain assessed and appropriately managed
Communication… we recognize that patients have the right to expect unrestricted access to communication. If it is necessary to restrict visitors, mail, telephone calls or other forms of communication as a component of care the patient will be included in the decision. These rights can be executed on the patient’s behalf by a designated surrogate or proxy decisionmaker if the patient lacks decision-making capacity, is legally incompetent or is a minor.
Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages Regional Hospital are Joint Commission Accredited Hospitals. If you have any concern about patient care and safety, please contact the hospital’s management. If your concerns are not addressed by the hospital, you may call the Joint Commission’s Office of Quality Monitoring at 1-800-994-6610 or e-mail them at complaint@jointcommission.org.
The patient has the right to a timely acknowledgement and response to any grievance that is submitted to the organization’s team members.
The patient has the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.

Rights Specific to Children & Adolescents

Children have the right to have a parent, relative, guardian or other person assuming the parenting role staying with them during the course of hospitalization. Such individuals shall also have unlimited visitation rights as long as such visitations do not interfere with the provision of care.
Children and adolescents have the right to expect that all aspects of their care will be delivered taking into consideration age specific needs, in a safe environment.
Children and adolescents have the right to wear appropriate personal clothing as long as it does not interfere with the provision of care.
Children and adolescents have the right to request and receive, if available, their favorite foods at mealtime or as a snack or nourishments providing such foods are consistent with the physician’s nutritional orders. Children or adolescents who are expected to remain in the hospital for a prolonged period of time have the right to have their educational needs assessed by the Hospital staff who will also implement an appropriate educational plan in cooperation with the child’s parent or guardian and the school system.