Patients and Visitors
Strong Memorial Hospital and Highland Hospital
Patient Rights
As a patient in a hospital in New York State, you have the right, consistent with law, to:
- Understand and use these rights. If for any reason you do
not understand or you need help, the hospital must provide assistance,
including an interpreter.
- Receive treatment without discrimination as to race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation,
or source of payment.
- Receive considerate and respectful care in a clean and safe
environment free of unnecessary restraints.
- Receive emergency care if you need it.
- Be informed of the name and position of the doctor who will
be in charge of your care in the hospital.
- Know the names, positions, and functions of any hospital
staff involved in your care and refuse their treatment, examination
or observation.
- A no-smoking room.
- Receive complete information about your diagnosis, treatment
and prognosis.
- Receive all the information that you need to give informed
consent for any proposed procedure or treatment. This information
shall include the possible risks and benefits of the procedure
or treatment.
- Receive all the information that you need to give informed
consent for an order not to resuscitate. You also have the right
to designate an individual to give this consent for you if you
are too ill to do so. If you would like additional information,
please ask for a copy of "Do Not Resuscitate Orders - A
Guide for Patients and Families.
- Refuse treatment and be told what effect this may have on
your health.
- Refuse to take part in research. In deciding whether or not
to participate, you have the right to a full explanation.
- Privacy while in the hospital and confidentiality of all
information and records regarding your care.
- Participate in all decisions about your treatment and discharge
from the hospital. The hospital must provide you with a written
discharge plan and written description of how you can appeal
your discharge.
- Review your medical record without charge. Obtain a copy
of your medical record for which the hospital can charge a reasonable
fee. You cannot be denied a copy solely because you cannot afford
to pay.
- Receive an itemized bill and explanation of all charges.
- Formulate an advance directive and appoint a health care proxy.
- Participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise
in your care.
- Authorize those family members and other adults who will be
given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive
visitors.
- Make known your wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. You
may document your wishes in your health care proxy or on a donor
card, available from the hospital.
- Receive timely assessment and treatment of pain, including
education about how to manage your pain.
- Complain without fear of reprisals about the care and services
you are receiving and to have the hospital respond to you and
if you request it, a written response. You should first speak
to the nurse or doctor caring for you and, if you remain dissatisfied,
to Patient Relations. If you are not satisfied with the hospital's
response, you can complain to the New York State Department
of Health at 1-800-804-5447 or The Joint Commission at 1-800-994-6610 or submit your concerns via e-mail to complaint@jointcommission.org
If you have any questions about your rights, please speak with a staff member, especially the doctor or nurse caring for you.