Rights & Responsibilities

You Have the Right to the Best Care

As a patient in a hospital in New York State, you have the right, consistent with law, to:



1. 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.
2. Receive treatment without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, source of payment or age.
3. Receive considerate and respectful care in a clean and safe environment free of unnecessary restraints.
4. Receive emergency care if you need it.
5. Be informed of the name and position of the doctor who will be in charge of your care in the hospital.
6. Know the names, positions and functions of any hospital staff involved in your care and refuse their treatment, examination or observation.
7. A no smoking room.
8. Receive complete information about your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
9. 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.
10. Receive all the information 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 the pamphlet “Deciding About Health Care – A Guide for Patients and Families.”
11. Refuse treatment and be told what effect this may have on your health.
12. Refuse to take part in research. In deciding whether or not to participate, you have the right to a full explanation.
13. Privacy while in the hospital and confidentiality of all information and records regarding your care.
14. 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.
15. Identify a caregiver who will be included in your discharge planning and sharing of post-discharge care information or instruction.
16. Review your medical record without charge. Obtain a copy of your medical record for which the hospital can charge you a reasonable fee. You cannot be denied a copy solely because you cannot afford to pay.
17. Receive an itemized bill and explanation of all charges.
18. View a list of the hospital’s standard charges for items and services and the health plans the hospital participates with.
19. You have a right to challenge an unexpected bill through the Independent Dispute Resolution process.
20. 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. If you are not satisfied with the hospital’s response, you can complain to the New York State Health Department. The hospital must provide you with the State Health Department telephone number.
21. Authorize those family members and other adults who will be given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive visitors.
22. Make known your wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. You may document your wishes in your healthcare proxy or on a donor card, available from the hospital.
    

Mutual respect and cooperation are essential to the delivery of quality and safe healthcare. As a patient at Phelps, it is your responsibility to:



1. Provide accurate and complete information about your past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters relating to your health to the best of your ability.
2. Tell your doctor or nurse if you do not understand any treatments, medications, procedures or what you are expected to do.
3. Tell your doctor or nurse if there is a change in your condition or if problems arise during treatment.
4. Follow your prescribed treatment plan. If you refuse recommended treatment, understand that you take responsibility for your decisions.
5. Be courteous and considerate of other patients and hospital staff—help to maintain a quiet environment, respect the privacy of other patients and be respectful of hospital property.
6. Respect hospital policies, including the No Smoking and Visitor policies.
7. Send valuables and money home with family members. If that is not possible, deposit such items with the cashier.
8. Keep eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and dentures in protective containers when not in use, as the hospital cannot assume responsibility for replacing them.
9. Provide accurate information related to insurance and your current mailing address.
10. Promptly settle your financial obligations. Tell us if you are having financial problems so that we may assist you in a timely manner.
11. Be prepared to leave the hospital upon discharge by your physician. Tell your nurse if you need assistance in making discharge preparations.

As a parent, legal guardian or person with decision-making authority for a pediatric patient receiving care in this hospital, you have the right, consistent with the law, to the following:



1. To inform the hospital of the name of your child’s primary care provider, if known, and have this information documented in your child’s medical record.
2. To be assured our hospital will only admit pediatric patients to the extent consistent with our hospital’s ability to provide qualified staff, space and size-appropriate equipment necessary for the unique needs of pediatric patients.
3. To allow at least one parent or guardian to remain with your child at all times, to the extent possible given your child’s health and safety needs.
4. That all test results completed during your child’s admission or emergency room visit be reviewed by a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner who is familiar with your child’s presenting condition.
5. For your child not to be discharged from our hospital or emergency room until any tests that could reasonably be expected to yield critical value results are reviewed by a physician, physician assistant and/or nurse practitioner, and communicated to you or other decision-makers, and your child, if appropriate. Critical value results are results that suggest a life-threatening or otherwise significant condition that requires immediate medical attention.
6. For your child not to be discharged from our hospital or emergency room until you or your child, if appropriate, receives a written discharge plan, which will also be verbally communicated to you and your child or other medical decision-makers. The written discharge plan will specifically identify any critical results of laboratory or other diagnostic tests ordered during your child’s stay and will identify any other tests that have not yet been concluded.
7. To be provided critical value results and the discharge plan for your child in a manner that reasonably ensures that you, your child (if appropriate), or other medical decision-makers understand the health information provided in order to make appropriate health decisions.
8. For your child’s primary care provider, if known, to be provided all laboratory results of this hospitalization or emergency room visit.
9. To request information about the diagnosis or possible diagnoses that were considered during this episode of care and complications that could develop as well as information about any contact that was made with your child’s primary care provider.
10. To be provided, upon discharge of your child from the hospital or Emergency Department, with a phone number that you can call for advice in the event that complications or questions arise concerning your child’s condition.

Public Health Law (PHL) 2803 (1)(g) Patient’s Rights, 10NYCRR, 405.7, 405.7(a)(1), 405.7(c)

The Parent’s Bill of Rights is pursuant to New York state law, Section 405.7 subdivision (d) and subject to the laws and regulations governing confidentiality. Version 130503

You have the right to receive treatment without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, source of payment or age.

Our goal is to provide the best patient care. If at any time you have questions or concerns about the quality of care that you or a family member is receiving or has received at our hospital, do not hesitate to speak with your doctor, nurse or hospital staff member. You are welcome to contact the hospital’s patient advocate at 914-366-3170 or Phelps management at 914-366-1000 with your compliments, complaints or concerns. Feel free to call at any time during or after your stay.

In addition, you have the right to file a complaint or concern with either or both:

New York State Department of Health
Centralized Hospital Intake Program
Mailstop: CA/DCS
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
Phone: 800-804-5447

Office of Quality and Patient Safety
The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Blvd.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

File a report online