Patient Rights and Responsibilities

The patient, or their representative, has the right to:

  1. Access To Care

    The patient shall be accorded impartial access to treatment regardless of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, gender, age, disability or handicap, economic status, educational background, sexual orientation, martial status or source of payment for his/her care. The patient has the right to exercise his/her rights while receiving care or treatment in the facility without coercion, discrimination or retaliation.

  2. Respect And Dignity

    The patient has the right to considerate, respectful care and to be made comfortable. The patient has the right to respect for his/her personal values and beliefs.

    The patient has a right to reasonable responses to any reasonable requests made for service.

    The patient has the right to receive care in a safe setting, free from verbal, sexual, physical, and mental abuse, harassment, corporal punishment and involuntary seclusion. To be free from restraints (physical or chemical) and seclusion of any from used a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff. The patient has the right to access protective services, including notifying the government agencies of neglect or abuse.

  3. Advance Directives

    The patient has the right to formulate Advance Directives. This includes designating a decision-maker if the patient becomes incapable of understanding a proposed treatment or becomes unable to communicate your wishes regarding care. Hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital shall comply with these directives. All patient rights apply to the person who has a legal responsibility to make decisions regarding medical care on your behalf. The patient has the right to exercise advance directives regarding decisions at the end of life in accordance with the Federal and State Patient Determinations Act 482.13(b) (3).

  4. Privacy And Confidentiality

    The patient has the right, within the law, to personal and information privacy as manifested by the following rights:

    To refuse to talk with or see anyone not officially connected with the hospital, including visitors, or persons officially connected with the hospital, but not directly involved in his/her care.

    To wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.

    To be interviewed and examined in surroundings designed to assure reasonable visual and auditory privacy. This includes the right to request to have a person of one's own sex present during certain parts of physical examination, treatment, or procedure performed by a health professional of the opposite sex; and the right not to remain disrobed any longer than is required for accomplishing medical care or treatment. The patient has the right to be told the reason for the presence of any individual. The patient has the right to have visitors leave prior to an examination and when treatment issues are being discussed. Privacy Curtains will be sued in semi private rooms.

    To expect that any discussions or consultation involving his/her case will be conducted discreetly and that individuals not directly involved in his/her care will not be present without his/her permission.

    To access information contained in his/her clinical records maintained by the facility. To have his/her medical record read only by individuals directly involved with his/her treatment or the monitoring of its quality and by other individuals only on his/her written authorization or that of his/her legally authorized representative.

    To expect all communications and other records pertaining to his/her care including the source of payment for treatment, to be treated as confidential. The patient will receive a separate "Notice of Privacy Practices" that explains the patients' rights to privacy in detail and the hospital may use and disclose the patients' protected health information.

    To request a transfer, if possible, to another room if another patient or visitors in the room are unreasonably disturbing him/her.

    To be placed in protective privacy when considered necessary for personal safety.

  5. Involvement By Other Parties

    The patient has a right to have a surrogate (parent, legal guardian, person with medical power of attorney) exercise the patient rights when the patient is unable to do so, without coercion, discrimination, or retaliation.

    The patient has the right to be informed, or when appropriate the patient's representative (as allowed under state law) of the patient's rights in advance of furnishing or discontinuing patient care whenever possible.

    The patient has the right to have a family member (or other representative of your choosing) and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.

    The patient has the right to designate visitors of his/her choosing, if you have decision making capacity, whether or not the visitor is related by blood or marriage, unless a) no visitors allowed, b) the facility reasonably determines that the presence of a particular visitor would endanger the health or safety of a patient, a member of the health facility staff or other visitor to the health facility or would significantly disrupt the operations of the facility, c) the patient indicated to the health facility staff that the patient no longer wants this person to visit.

  6. Personal Safety

    The patient has the right to expect reasonable safety in so far as the hospital practices and environment are concerned.

  7. Identity

    The patient has the right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service to him/her and to know which physician or other practitioners is primarily responsible for his/her care. This includes the patient's right to know of the existence of any professional relationship among individuals who are treating him/her, as well as the relationship to any other health care or educational institutions in his/her treatment. You also have the right to know the reasons for any proposed change in the Professional Staff responsible for your care.

  8. Information

    The patient has the right to obtain from the practitioner responsible for coordinating his/her care, complete and current information concerning his/her diagnosis (to the degree known), his/her treatment, prospects for recovery and outcomes of care (including unanticipated outcomes). This information should be communicated in terms the patient can reasonably be expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be made available to his/her legally authorized representative.

    The patient has the right to participate in the development and implementation of their Plan of Care. The patient has the right to participate in ethical questions that arise in the course of their care, including issues of conflict resolution, withholding resuscitative services, and foregoing or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment.

  9. Communication

    The patient has the right to communicate with people outside the hospital in verbal and written form. The patient has a right to designate visitors of the patient's choosing, if the patient has decision making capacity, whether or not the visitor is related by blood or marriage, unless a) no visitors allowed, b) the facility reasonable determines that the presence of a particular visitor would endanger the health or safety of a patient, a member of the health facility staff, or other visitor to the health facility, or would significantly disrupt the operations of the facility, or c.) the patient has told the health facility staff that the patient no longer wants a particular person to visit. However, a health facility may establish reasonable restrictions upon the hours of visitation and number of visitors.

    The patient has a right to have his/her wishes considered, if the patient lacks decision making capacity, for the purposes of determining who may visit. The method of consideration will be disclosed in the hospital policy on visitation. At a minimum, the hospital shall include any persons living in your household.

    When the patient doe not speak or understand the predominant language of the community, he/she shall have access to an interpreter.

  10. Consent

    The patient has the right to reasonably informed in advance of care or treatment and actively participate in decisions involving his/her care, planning and treatment. To the degree possible, this should be based on a clear, concise explanation of his/her condition and of all proposed technical procedures, including the possibilities of any risk of mortality or serious side effects, problems related to recuperation, and probability of success. The patient should not be subjected to any procedure without his/her voluntary, competent, and understanding consent or that of his/her legally authorized representative. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, the patient shall be so informed.

    The patient has a right to make decisions regarding medical care, and receive as much information about any proposed treatment. Except in emergencies, this information shall include a description of the procedure or treatment, the medically significant risks involved, alternate courses of treatment or non-treatment and the risks involved in each, and the name of the person who will carry our the procedure or treatment.

    The patient has the right to have a surrogate (parent, legal guardian, person with medical power of attorney) exercise the patient's rights when the patient is incapable of doing so, without coercion, discrimination or retaliation.

    To consent, request or refuse treatment, to the extent permitted by law after being adequately informed of the benefits and risks of, and alternatives to treatment. However, the Patient has the right to leave the hospital even against the advice of physicians, to the extent permitted by law.

    The patient has the right to be advised if the hospital/personal physician proposes to engage in or perform experimentation affecting your care or treatment. The patient has the right to be fully informed of and to consent or refuse to participate in any unusual, experimental or research projects without compromising his/her access to services.

  11. Pain Management

    The patient has a right to an appropriate assessment and management of his/her pain, information about pain, pain relief measures and to participate in pain management decision. The patient my request or reject the use of any or all modalities to relieve pain, including opiate medication. If the patient suffers from severe chronic intractable pain, the doctor may refuse to prescribe opiate medication, but if so, must inform the patient that there are physicians who specialize in the treatment of severe chronic intractable pain with methods that include the use of opiates.

  12. Consultation

    The patient at his/her own request and expense has the right to consult with an appropriate specialist, providing spiritual, emotional and attitudinal health.

  13. Refusal Of Treatment

    The patient may refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law. When refusal of treatment by the patient or his/her legally authorized representative prevents the provision of appropriate care in accordance with professional standards, the relationship with the patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice. The patient has the right to leave the hospital even against the advice of physicians.

  14. Transfer And Continuity Of Care

    The patient may not be transferred to another facility unless he/she received a complete explanation of the need for the transfer and of the alternative to such a transfer; and unless the transfer is acceptable to the other facility.

    The right to know the reasons for his/her transfer either within or outside the facility.

    The patient has the right to be informed by the practitioner responsible for his/her care, or his/her delegate, of any continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital.

  15. Hospital Charges

    Regardless of the source of payment for his/her care the patient has the right to request and receive an itemized and detailed explanation of his/her total bill for services rendered in the hospital. The patient has the right to timely notice of termination of his/her eligibility for reimbursement for the cost of his/her care if this information is available to the provider by any third party payer.

    The patient has the right to be informed of the source of the facility's reimbursement for his/her services, and the limitations which may be placed upon his/her care.

    The patient has aright to examine and receive an explanation of the hospitals bill regardless of the source of payment. The patient has a right to access the cost, itemized when possible, of services rendered within a reasonable time.

    The patient has a right to exercise these rights without regard to sex, economic status, educational background, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation or marital status or the sourced of payment for care.

  16. Hospital Rules And Regulations

    The patient should be informed of the hospital rules and regulations applicable to his/her conduct. Patients are entitled to information about the hospital's protocol for initiation, review and resolution of patient complaints.

  17. Nondiscrimination

    The patient is entitled to have these rights exercised without coercion, discrimination or retaliation because of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, ancestry, economic status, educational background, sexual orientation, martial status or source of payment for his/her care.

  18. Money And Valuables

    All patients' money, credit cards and jewelry will be kept separate and intact per hospital's patient valuable policy.

  19. Discharge

    The patient has a right to be informed by the physician, or delegate of the physician, of continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital. Upon the patient's request, a friend or family member may be provided this information also.

Policy On Patient Responsibilities

The staff and faculty at Tahoe Forest Hospital District are committed to providing high quality effective health care to all patients. The patient plays a key role in allowing the accomplishment of this goal. Adherence to the patient responsibilities listed below will greatly assist in making the patient's hospitalization as pleasant and effective as possible.

The patient, or their representative, has the responsibility to:
  1. Provison Of Information

    The patient has the responsibility of providing, to the best of his/her knowledge accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and of other matters relating to his/her health. H/she has the responsibility of reporting unexpected changes in his/her condition to the responsible practitioner. A patient is responsible for making it known whether he/she clearly comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him/her.

  2. Compliance With Instructions

    The patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the practitioners primarily responsible for his/her care. Patients shall also let their physician know if they are unable to understand or cannot follow the instructions that they have received. The patient is responsible for keeping appointments or for notifying the appropriate personnel if he/she is unable to do so.

  3. Refusal Of Treatment

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

  4. Hospital Rules And Regulations

    The patient is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

  5. Hospital Charges

    The patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his/her health care are fulfilled. The patient should provide current and correct demographic and financial information and/or arrangements for payment of bills as promptly as possible.

  6. Respect And Consideration

    The patient is responsible for considering the rights of other patients and hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and number of visitors. The patient is responsible for respecting the property of other persons and of the hospital.

Complaint Or Grievance

The patient has a right to file a grievance. If the patient wishes to file a grievance with this hospital, the patient may do so by writing or calling:

Director of Quality and Regulations
Tahoe Forest Hospital District
P.O. Box 759
Truckee, CA 96160
(530) 587-6011

The patient has a right to file a complaint with the state Department of Health Services regardless of whether the patient uses the hospital grievance process. The state Department of Health Services phone number and address is:

California Department of Health Services
1367 East Lassen Ave, Suite B-1
Chico, CA 95973
(530) 895-6711

Nevada Bureau of Licensing and Certification
1550 East College Parkway, Suite 158
Carson City , Nevada 89706
(775) 687-4475