Patient Rights

Speak Up About Your Treatment

We are partners in your healthcare. When you are well informed, participate in treatment decisions, and communicate openly with your doctor and other health professionals, you help make your care as effective as possible. Kirby Medical Center encourages respect for the personal preferences and values of each individual.

As a patient, you have the right to:

Considerate and respectful care in a safe and secure environment, regardless of your age, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, source of payment for care, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Prompt notification of your physician regarding your admission and the option of prompt notification to a family member or representative of your choice regarding your admission/discharge.
Information about hospital policies, rules and regulations governing your conduct as a patient.
Clear and concise explanations of your condition and of all proposed procedures, including the possibility of any risks, problems or side effects which may result.
Be involved in the development and implementation of the plan for your care.

Know the names and the roles of health care professionals providing service to you.
Refuse care, treatment and services to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of your refusal.
Freedom from restraint unless it is the only means to protect safety.
Prompt, effective and continuous assessment and treatment of your pain.
Be advised if any portion of your care or treatment is part of an experimental or research program and to decline participation in such program if you so choose. (Kirby Medical Center does not participate in experimental research.)
Formulate, change or withdraw an Advance Directive, such as a Living Will, Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare or Do Not Resuscitate Form and have hospital staff comply with your directives.
Personal dignity and privacy.
Expect that your treatment records are confidential, unless you have given permission to release such information or reporting is required or permitted by law.
Access, request amendment to, and receive an accounting of disclosures regarding your own health information as permitted under applicable law.
Request and receive a printed copy of your hospital charges and have them explained to you.
Have an ethics consultation without charge to review the plan for your care and discuss your right to attempt to settle ethical disagreements or conflicts with the health professionals providing care here.
Express complaints and grievances and expect that they will be investigated within a reasonable time frame.
Know what alternatives exist for your care and treatment when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
Be allowed through your own choice or that of your support person, to designate or deny hospital visitors regardless of the visitor’s race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or relationship to you.
To the extent permitted by law, to leave the hospital against your doctor’s advice. Should you do so, neither your physician nor the hospital will be responsible for whatever harm such action may cause you or others.

As a patient, you have the responsibility to:

Provide information about illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters related to your health, both past and present.
Report any perceived risks in your care or changes in your condition.
Accept the consequences of refusing your treatment or failing to follow your established care, service or treatment plan.
Abide by hospital rules, regulations and policies during your stay.
Respect the rights of other patients, hospital personnel and others you may come in contact with.
Ask questions if you do not understand the directions given to you by your health care team.
Pay your hospital bills promptly and provide the accurate information necessary for insurance processing.
Express to hospital management complaints about any aspect of your care if you feel your rights have been violated.

If you have concerns

In keeping with our patient-center care philosophy, and in compliance with the law. Kirby Medical Center provides the opportunity for all patients to express their concerns about the quality of care, language assistance services, or premature discharge through a grievance mechanism. The hospital has established a process for the prompt investigation and resolution of patient grievances. First, we encourage you to share your concerns with your providers so that they can assist you in resolving your concerns. The patient or a representative may also contact Andrew Buffenbarger, Chief Compliance Officer to file a grievance.

If you would like to take your grievance to a third party, you may contact:

Illinois Department of Public Health
525 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, Illinois 62761
Phone: 1-800-252-4343
Fax: 217-524-8885
Email: dph.ccr@illinois.gov
TTY: 800-547-0466
Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

The Joint Commission, Office of Quality and Patient Safety
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
Fax: 630-792-5636

Use the “Report a Patient Safety Event” link at www.jointcommission.org

If you have concerns about our compliance with our non-discrimination policies, you may contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf or by mail or by phone.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, DC 20201
Phone: 800-368-1019
TTY: 800-537-7697

Complaint forms are available at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints/index.html

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