S02 ATTACHMENT D.36 - 00-53_PATIENT_RIGHTS_AND_RESPONSIBILITIES.pdf

Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO)

VHSO Memorandum 2017-00-53

March 20, 2020

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

1. Purpose: To define and establish policy concerning patient/consumer rights and responsibilities at the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks (VHSO) and the Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

2. Policy: It is the policy of this medical center and the community based outpatient clinics to ensure all patients are provided quality healthcare in a respectful and courteous manner, as set forth by the National Patient Rights and Responsibilities policy.

3. Responsibilities

a. The Associate Director for Patient Care Services is responsible for ensuring that patients are informed of their rights and responsibilities when a patient is seen in the Emergency Department and/or admitted to the medical center. The Associate Director for Patient Care Services will coordinate notification of the name and professional title of the provider in charge of the Veterans’ care.

b. The Primary Care Team and other clinic personnel are responsible for ensuring outpatients are informed of their rights and responsibilities when reporting for outpatient visits and for providing the name and professional title of the provider in charge of their care.

c. All medical center and community based outpatient clinic employees are responsible for ensuring that patients/consumers are treated in a courteous, dignified and compassionate manner, and that they understand their rights and responsibilities.

4. Procedures

a. Nursing Service will provide each patient who is admitted to the medical center access to a Patient Handbook, which lists patient rights and responsibilities.

b. In those cases where the patient is too ill or otherwise incapable of reading and/or understanding the Patient Handbook, it will be offered to the next-of-kin or other person accompanying the patient. Information regarding patient rights and responsibilities is given and reinforced by nursing staff as issues arise. Patient rights are posted on all nursing units for public review.

c. Patients’ rights and responsibilities handouts will be made available to outpatients in Primary Care and other patient care areas throughout the medical center and community based outpatient clinics.

VHSO MCM 16-00-53

d. Patient rights and responsibilities will be discussed with all new employees during their initial orientation. Any employee who is aware of any violation of a patient/consumer right and/or responsibility shall report the incident to his/her supervisor immediately, preparing all necessary documentation of the incident, to include Special Report of Incident (VA Form 10-2633) if necessary. The Supervisor will determine if completion of VA Form 10-2633 is necessary.

5. References

a. National Patient Rights and Responsibilities of VA Patients and Residents of Community Living Centers, dated May 11, 2015.

b. Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (Current edition).

6. Rescission: MCM 13-00-53, dated 3/18/2013.

7. Rescission: This MCM expires March 20, 2020

4/3/2017

X Bryan C. Matthews

Medical Center Director

Signed by: BRYAN C. MATTHEWS 109848 Distribution: Via lntranet https://www.va.gov/health/rights/patientrights.asp https://www.va.gov/health/rights/patientrights.asp