Skip to main content

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

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 its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity, age, marital status, sexual orientation or economical status.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the content of this sign or your care, please contact CMH Administration or the Department of Human Services: Health Care Regulation and Quality Improvement.

As a patient at Columbia Memorial Hospital, your rights include:

  1. The right to participate in the development and implementation of his or her plan of care.
  2. The patient or his or her representative has the right to make informed decisions regarding his or her care, be informed of his or her health status, be involved in care planning and treatment, and be able to request or refuse treatment. This right must not be construed as a mechanism to demand the provision of treatment or services deemed medically unnecessary to inappropriate. Additionally: The patient's family has the right of informed consent of donation of organs and tissues.
  3. The right to personal privacy.
  4. The right to formulate advance directives and to have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives, in accordance with Medicare.
  5. The right to have a family member or representative of his or her choice and his or her own physician notified promptly of his or her admission to the hospital.
  6. The right to receive care in a safe setting.
  7. The right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
  8. The right to the confidentiality of his or her clinical records.
  9. The right to access information contained in his or her clinical records within a reasonable time frame. The hospital must not frustrate the legitimate efforts of individuals to gain access to their own medical records and must actively seek to meet these requests as quickly as its keeping system permits.
  10. The right to be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.
  11. The right to be fully informed of and to consent or refuse to participate in any unusual, experimental or research project without compromising his or her access to services.
  12. The right to know the professional status of any person providing his or her care or services.
  13. The right to know the reasons for any proposed change in the Professional Staff responsible for his or her care.
  14. The right to know the reasons for his or her transfer either within or outside the hospital.
  15. The relationship(s) of the hospital to other persons or organizations participating in the provision of his or her care.
  16. The right to access to the cost, itemized when possible, of services rendered within a reasonable period of time.
  17. The right to be informed of the source of the hospital's reimbursement for his or her services, and of any limitations which may be placed upon his or her care.
  18. The right to be informed of the right to have pain treated as effectively as possible.
  19. The right to be informed of the hospital's visitation policy and to consent to (or not) visitors of his or her choosing at anytime, in accordance with clinical restrictions or limitations. All visitors shall enjoy full and equal visitation practices without restrictions or limitations on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability (Oregon Revised Statute 441.049 protects some patients' right to a support person at all times).
  20. The right to effective communication whenever services are being provided. These rights include and are not limited to:
    • Information will be provided to you in a manner that is understandable and based on the individuals needs.
    • 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.
    • Information will be provided that is appropriate to your age, understanding and language.
    • The Hospital will provide an interpreter for you when the need is identified.
    • The Hospital will address the needs of those with vision, speech, hearing and cognitive impairments to ensure you receive effective communication.
  21. The right to voice complaints regarding any aspect of your hospitalization; to have the complaint reviewed; and if possible, resolved.
  22. The right 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.
  23. The right to request the Ethics Committee to review an ethical issue when there is conflict without resolution, you may call the Professional Staff Office at 503.338.7536 during normal working hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. After normal working hours contact the nursing supervisor to notify the Ethics Chairman.
  24. The right to request pastoral/other spiritual services during your hospital stay.

As a patient or family member 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 your health.
  2. To report any unexpected changes in your condition to the practitioner and whether you clearly understand the 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 you or your 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.
  10. To refrain from bringing the following items to the hospital: alcohol, tobacco products, weapons or any illegal substances. We reserve the right to have our security staff search patient belongings, rooms, visitors and their possessions. If possible, we will let you know before any search is conducted.