Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Patient Rights
Patient Responsibilities
Speak Up and help us make your healthcare safer

Patient Rights

  • Respecting your rights is critical to providing you with the best possible care and therefore is an inherent part of our mission. These rights are fundamental and are intended to safeguard your personal dignity while a patient is at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

You Have the right to Reasonable Access to Care and Treatment

  • Portsmouth Regional Hospital will respond to your requests for services within the limits of ethical practice, the laws and it capabilities.
  • Quality healthcare will be rendered regardless of religion, sex, race, national origin, llife-style, age, handicap or degree of disability, financial resources and the absence or presence of Advance Directives. These are your fundamental legal rights.
  • You have the right to have your family and your personal physician notified promptly of your admission.

You Have the Right to Care That is Considerate of Personal Values and Beliefs

  • You will be treated with respect and dignity at all times.
  • Your questions or requests for information will be answered courteously, promptly, and completely.
  • Your individuality, cultural, religious, spiritual and psychosocial beliefs will be respected.

You Have the Right to Security, Personal Privacy and Confidentiality of Information

  • You will receive reasonable privacy during hospitalization, case discussions, consultations, examinations and treatments.
  • All your records and communications concerning care and treatment will be kept confidential.
  • You have the right not to be videotaped, photographed, or audio recorded without your consent unless this is a routine part of a specific medical test or procedure.
  • No person or outside agency, other than those directly involved in your care or allowed by law will have access to your records and/or communications without written permission.
  • You have the right to have access to information in your medical record within a reasonable timeframe.

You Have the Right to Receive Care in a Safe Setting

  • You will be provided with reasonable safety relative to the hospital's practices.
  • You have the right to access protective services. Hospital staff will assist you when necessary.
  • You have the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
  • You have the right to be free from restraints or seclusion that are not medically necessary or are used in an emergency situation. Restraint and seclusion cannot be used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff. You have the right to be treated in the least restrictive environment necessary to maintain safety.

You Have the Right to Know Who is Caring For You

  • The names, credentials and professional status of all people providing any services to you will be clearly visible.
  • Staff will introduce themselves to you prior to providing care.

You Have the Right to be Informed and Participate in Decisions Regarding Your Care

  • You have the right to be fully informed of your rights and responsibilities as a patient.
  • A reasonable explanation of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis will be provided to you. At your request, your family will be included in this decision.
  • Your care team will provide you with information about your treatment and procedures, medications, and the means of caring for yourself once you are discharged.
  • If it is not medically advisable to share this information with you, the information will be made available to an appropriate person on your behalf.

You Have the Right to Unobstructed Access to Communication

  • You have the right freely and privately communicate with others.
  • You have the right to make and receive phone calls, to send and receive mail, and to receive or refuse visitors, unless contraindicated therapeutically.
  • An interpreter will be provided when you do not speak or understand the predominant language of the community.

You Have the Right to Consent

  • You have the right to determine which treatments you receive. A full discussion of the proposed treatment will be provided, allowing you time to review, question, and discuss your treatment plan will be provided, allowing you time to review, question and discuss your treatment plan prior to implementation. Alternatives to the preferred treatment plan that might prove advantageous to you will also be presented. You will be asked if you understand the information prior to your giving consent.
  • You have the right to designate a decision-maker.
  • A legally authorized person may be designated to exercise your rights if your physician has found you to be incompetent, unable to comprehend the proposed treatment or procedures, or if you are a minor.
  • You have the right to receive a complete explanation of any research study in which you may be asked to participate along with expected benefits, procedures to be followed, potential discomfort and risks involved and the option to refuse. Such refusal will not compromise your access to services.

You Have the Right to Refuse Treatment and Seek Other Medical Care

  • You may refuse procedures or treatments and will receive advice about the possible medical consequences.
  • You may request a second opinion from another physician and you may request to have your care transferred to another physician.
  • You may leave the hospital against medical advice. Please be informed that if you leave the hospital, the hospital, the doctor and staff no longer have legal responsibility for you medical outcome.
  • You may refuse examination, observation or treatment by students withou jeopardizing your medical care or attention.

You Have the Right to Make Your Wishes Known Regarding Advance Directives and End-of-Life Care

  • You have the right to formulate Advance Directives and to have these Directives carried out to the degree allowed by New Hampshire Laws.
  • You may seek and expect assistance in formulating and executing Advance Directives.
  • You have the right to forego cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • You have the right to forego or withdraw life-sustaining treatment. The hospital's policy will be explained to you.
  • In choosing to forego cardiopulmonary resuscitation and/or other life-sustaining treatment, you will continue to be treated with respect and dignity with special concern in the treatment of symptoms, care and comfort.
  • You have the right to make your wishes known about tissue and organ donation.

You Have the Right to Effective Pain Management

  • You have the right to appropriate assessment, reassessment and management of your pain.
  • You have the right to information about pain and pain relief measures.

You Have the Right to Continuity of Care When You Are Discharged From Portsmouth Regional Hospital or Transferred to Another Facility

  • You have the right to be transferred to another facility.
  • You have the right expect full explanation of the reasons for any transfer. The benefits and risks will be explained to you prior to transfer to another facility.
  • All essential data necessary for your treatment, including Advance Directives, if executed, will be forwarded to the transfer facility.
  • At discharge, the specific plan of care, instructions of your discharge from the hospital, including the involvement of community resources essential to your recovery, will be provided.

You Have the Right to Know about Your Charges

  • You may request a copy of your hospital charges and have the charges explained.
  • You may request information about possible payment services.

You Have the Right to Participate in Ethical Questions and to Know the Hospital Rules and Regulations and Ethical Practices

  • You have the right to request a consult with the hospital Ethics Committee and to participate in ethical questions regarding your care, including conflict resolution of issues which may develop between you and your healthcare providers, participation in investigational studies, withholding resuscitative services and forgoing on withholding life-sustaining treatment.
  • At your request you will be given a copy of the hospital's rules and regulations. This includes information regarding how to initiate, review, and resolve questions and complaints. You may also request a copy of the hospital's Code of Ethical Behavior.

You Have the Right to Voice Your Complaints

  • You have the right to voice your complaints regarding care received or recommend changes without being subjected to coercion, discrimination, reprisal or unreasonable interruptions to care, treatment or services. Staff can assist you with this.

  • Your complaint will be promptly investigated and the findings communicated to you.

  • You may seek additional avenues to resolve clinical or ethical conflicts relative to your care. You may consult the Hospital Ethics Committee at any time in your hospitalization.

  • You also have the right to file a complaint with the State Peer Review Organization or other agencies regarding the care you receive, instead of utilizing the hospital’s’ complaint/grievance process: 

For Quality of Care/Premature Discharge for Medicare Patients:

Northeast Health Care Quality Foundation
15 Old Rollinsford Road, Suite 302
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 749-1641

For Other Complaints:

Office of the Ombudsman
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
(800) 852-3345, Ext 6941

or

NH DHHS Office
Operations Support Health Facility Administration
129 Pleasant St
Concord, NH 03301-3857
(800) 852-3345, Ext.4592

or

The Joint Commission (TJC)
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
(630) 792-5000

Patient Responsibilities

At Portsmouth Regional Hospital, we consider you the most important member of your care team. We rely on you to help us do what we do best -- care for people. With this in mind, we ask that you review the following responsibilities so that you will understand our expectations.

Provision of Information

  • We ask that you provide the physician and staff involved with your care the personal information necessary to deliver and administer care. This personal information, provided upon admission, may include information about past hospitalizations, previous and concurrent health problems, medications and treatment (including any vitamins or herbal supplements), insurance data, executed Advance Directives, and all other matters pertaining to your health status.
  • Communicating in a direct and honest manner with doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff members about matters or conditions that concern your health will help us care for you.
  • We ask that you assume responsibility for your discharge.
  • Please immediately inform the staff of any perceived unsafe, unclear, or unreasonable request or situation.
  • Please inform the staff of your whereabouts and probable return time if you leave the patient unit.

Compliance with Instruction

  • So that we can serve you and others better, we ask that you keep your appointments or schedules, and notify the appropriate individual when you cannot keep them.
  • You are the most important member of your care team and we expect you to fully participate in your plan of care and to follow the prescribed therapies and treatments ordered.

Refusal of Treatment

  • By following your physician's instructions, you are doing your part to get well. If you refuse treatment and fail to follow your physician's instructions, you are responsible for the outcome.

Hospital Charges

  • Your financial obligations for healthcare provided are your responsibility and we ask that you address them promptly.

Hospital Rules and Regulations

  • Please respect and follow the rules and regulations regarding patients while you are admitted to the hospital.
  • Please refrain from social behavior that may offend others or be dangerous to health, including the use of alcohol, tobacco products, non-prescribed medications, or drugs.

Respect and Consideration

  • We ask that you and your visitors be considerate of other patients. Additional respect pertains to the hospital's rules regarding visiting hours, smoking, noise, and the use of non-hospital medications.
  • Please respect hospital property, treat such property with reasonable care, and be waste conscious.

Process Improvement

  • We rely on your input so we can continuously improve upon your care and the care of others. Please share your perceptions about the care and treatment you received with hospital staff to aid them in our pursuit of excellence.

Conflicts Concerning Patient Care

  • Please inform the Unit Manager should a conflict concerning your care develop between you, the parent/guardian, the hospital staff, or physician. If there is a conflict, the Unit Manager will try to resolve the matter for you. Failing this, the matter will be referred for resolution to the Vice President of Patient Services/ Chief Nursing Officer, who will review the matter with you (or the guardian), Administration, and the physician. You will be continuously informed during the resolution process. Please be aware that presenting a complaint will not serve to compromise your future access to care in any way.

Speak Up and help us make your healthcare safer

Everyone has a role in making healthcare safer - physicians, healthcare executives, nurses and other hospital staff. Portsmouth Regional Hospital is working to make healthcare safety a priority. You play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active member of your healthcare team.

To help prevent healthcare errors, patients are urged to Speak Up.

Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again.

It's your body and you have the right to answers you can understand.

Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatments and medications by the right healthcare professionals. Tell us if something doesn't seem quite right.

Hospital staff should check your identification bracelet before administering any medication, test or procedure.

Tell us if you think you have been confused with another patient.

Expect that your care will reflect current standards for safety and privacy.

Your caregivers should wash their hands or use a waterless hand disinfectant, located outside your room, before starting any procedure or treatment.

Your privacy and right to confidentiality should be respected during your hospital stay.

Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.

Make sure your advocate understands your preferences for resuscitation and life support. Having Advanced Directives/Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare is important. Tell us if you need information or assistance.

Know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common healthcare mistakes.

Ask the purpose of all your medications, how often to take them and side effects.

Let us know all the medicines you take, including vitamins, herbal supplements and those you buy without a prescription.

Understand your Rights and Responsibilities as a patient AND

Participate in all decisions about your treatment. The more information you have, the more confident you will be with your care.

We need your involvement with your treatment plan. If you disagree with the plan or are unable to comply, talk to your healthcare team.

You and your doctor should talk about each phase of your care.

BEFORE YOU GO HOME

UNDERSTAND all of your discharge instructions. Generally these instructions will include information on:

  • Diet
  • Activity
  • Medications
  • Follow-up appointments
  • What to do if you feel worse

Review all prescriptions with your caregiver, make sure you can read the prescription, and know how to take the medication.

Review all follow-up appointments and ask if they already have been made or if you must call the physician or health service to make the appointment.

Review all home health arrangements including how to contact the home health agency if needed.

During the course of your hospital visit you may have questions or concerns about the care you and your loved one is receiving. We encourage you to share these concerns with your physician, healthcare providers or the director of the hospital unit so they can work to quickly resolve the issue.

If you have feedback or concerns about your experience at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, we also welcome your written comments. Please ask your nurse for a form and let us know how we can improve the quality and safety of our patient care.

Portsmouth Regional Hospital has been nationally recognized for its efforts to reduce medication errors. Please visit our Medication Safety page for more information