Patients Bill of Rights

  1. Patient Rights
  2. Patient Right to Communicate
  3. Patient Rights and Responsibilties
  4. Patient Responsibilties
  5. The Right to Appropriate Assessment and Management of Pain

  1. Patient Rights

    As a patient at Columbia Memorial Hospital, you have the right:

    1. To impartial access to available, medically indicated care and participation in programs and services regardless of national origin, religion, disability, sex, age or marital status.
    2. To respectful care, taking into consideration emotional, spiritual and cultural needs as values that may influence your reaction to and perception of your medical care.

      3. To an environment that promotes personal dignity.

    3. To know the names of all doctors and personnel providing direct service to you.
    4. To actively participate in decisions pertaining to your planned course of treatment including a description of treatments, procedures and tests, significant risks involved, reasonable alternatives, and any ethical considerations that may arise from the provision of care.
    5. To informed consent that is understandable through effective communication.
    6. To refuse any treatment or procedure and to leave the hospital, even against medical advice, and to be informed of the consequences of your refusal.
    7. To effective pain management.
    8. To request a second opinion from another doctor, to change physicians, or to request transfer to another hospital.
    9. To be informed of any reason for transfer to another hospital or physician’s care and the risks and alternatives.
    10. To voice complaints regarding any aspect of your hospitalization; to have the complaint reviewed, and if possible, resolved.

      CMH Administration, 503-338-7505 or 503-325-4321 ext. 3476 or
      Department of Human Services Health Division
      800 N.E. Oregon St. #21, Suite 640
      Portland, OR 97232-2162, 503-731-4013

    11. To examine and receive an explanation of your bill regardless of the source of payment.
    12. To privacy and confidentiality in the discussion and performance of your care and in regard to your medical records and correspondence.
    13. To formulate, and to the extent permitted by law, have honored Advanced Directives. These Directives include the “Oregon Directive to Physicians” regarding the withholding of treatment for the terminally ill and the “Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care” appointing a representative decision maker in the event that the patient is incapable of understanding or unable to communicate their wishes regarding care and treatment. To also have the right to review and revise your Advanced Directive. To be informed of the ability or inability to honor an advanced directive when an Advanced Directive is presented.
    14. To have your legal representative or appointed attorney-in-fact participate and benefit from all of these same rights.
    15. To protective services. If you are being physically, emotionally or financially abused, tell your nurse, physician, clergy, social worker or caseworker. They will contact the appropriate protective service agency on your behalf or provide you with information on who you may contact with your concern.
    16. To participate in consideration of ethical questions that arise during the course of care including issues of conflict resolution, withholding or withdrawal of life sustaining treatment and participation in clinical trials or studies.
    17. To request the Ethics Committee to review an ethical issue ( those related to end of life, treatment, care, pain management, hydration) when there is conflict without resolution. To request the Ethics Committee you may call the Professional Staff Office at 503-338-7536 during normal working hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The nursing supervisor may be contacted to notify the Ethics Chairman after normal working hours.

  2. Patient Right to Communicate

    Columbia Memorial Hospital respects your right and need for effective communication whenever services are being provided.

    These rights include and are not limited to:

    1. Information will be provided to you in a manner that is understandable based
      on the individuals needs.
    2. Access to communication with others outside of the hospital will be provided to
      you through telephone, mail and internet as appropriate to the setting and
      patient condition.
    3. Information will be provided that is appropriate to your age, understanding and
      language.
    4. The hospital will provide an interpreter for you when the need is identified.
    5. The hospital will address the needs of those with vision, speech, hearing and
      cognitive impairments to ensure you will receive effective communication.

  3. Patient Rights and Responsibilties

    Columbia Memorial Hospital is an equal opportunity health care organization and provides equal care to all patients without discrimination in admission to, access to, treatment in or benefits of it’s programs and activities on the basis of handicap, race, color or national origin.

    If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the content of this brochure or your care, please contact CMH Administration at 503-338-7505 or 503-325-4321 ext. 3476 or the Department of Human Services.

    Health Division
    800 N.E. Oregon St. #21, Suite 640
    Portland, Oregon 97232-2162
    503-731-4013

  4. Patient Responsibilties

    As a patient or family member, as appropriate, at Columbia Memorial Hospital, you have the responsibility:

    1. To provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information. This information may include present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters relating to the patient’s health.
    2. To report any unexpected changes in the patient’s condition to the patient’s practitioner and whether the patient clearly understands a planned course of treatment.
    3. To follow the treatment plan developed with the practitioner and understand the consequences of treatment alternatives and noncompliance with the proposed course of treatment.
    4. For outcomes, if the patient or family refuses treatment or does not follow the practitioner’s instructions.
    5. To ask questions regarding your care and treatments.
    6. For being considerate of the rights of other patients and Columbia Memorial Hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise and distraction.
    7. For respect of the property of other persons and of Columbia Memorial Hospital.
    8. For following the rules and regulations of Columbia Memorial Hospital affecting patient care and conduct.
    9. To provide timely and accurate information regarding any insurance or benefit program that impacts payment of your hospital bill.

  5. The Right to Appropriate Assessment and Management of Pain

    As a patient at Columbia Memorial Hospital, you have the right:

    1. Health care staff trained in the skills necessary to implement this policy.
    2. To be informed at the time of your initial evaluation that relief of pain is an important part of your care at CMH and that staff respond quickly to the report of pain with appropriate measures.
    3. To be asked on initial evaluation and as part of regular assessments about presence, quality, and intensity of pain and the use the patient’s self report as the primary indicator of pain.
    4. To work together with the health care providers to establish a goal for pain relief and develop and implement a plan to achieve that goal.

    As a patient at Columbia Memorial Hospital, we expect that you will:

    1. Ask your doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management.
    2. Discuss pain relief options with your doctors and nurses.
    3. Work with your doctor and nurse to develop a pain management plan.
    4. Ask for pain relief when pain first begins.
    5. Help your doctor and nurse assess your pain.
    6. Tell your doctor or nurse if your pain is not relieved.
    7. Tell your doctor or nurse about any worries you have about taking pain medication.