Patient Rights & Responsibilities

As a patient, or when appropriate, the patient’s representative as allowed by law, you have the following rights:

Respect and Dignity

To be treated with dignity and receive considerate care that is respectful of your personal beliefs and cultural and spiritual values as consistent with the Mission, Vision and Values of Wellstar Health System;
To have your family or support persons of your choice and your own physician notified of your admission to the hospital;
To consent to receive guests of your choice, subject to any clinical restrictions, including a spouse, domestic partner (including same-sex domestic partners), family member or friend, and to withdraw or deny such consent at any time;
To include or exclude any or all family members or support persons from participating in your care decisions;
To the confidentiality of records about your care unless a disclosure is allowed by law;

Information

To be informed of the nature of your illness and treatment options, including potential risks, benefits, alternatives and outcomes in terms you can understand;
To know the names of your primary physician and other practitioners providing your care;
To have any restrictions on communications discussed with you;
To access your medical records within a reasonable timeframe and have them explained, unless restricted by law;
To know that Wellstar Health System is a teaching organization that participates in research;
To be informed and to give or withhold consent if our facility proposes to engage in or perform research associated with your care or treatment;
To obtain a full explanation of the bills related to your healthcare services;
To receive information about outcomes of care, treatment and services needed (including unanticipated outcomes of care, treatment and services);

Participation

To request and receive medically appropriate treatment and services within our Medical Center’s capacity and capabilities;
To be involved in decisions about your medical care and treatment plan, including the right to refuse treatment;
To participate in the development and implementation of your medical care and treatment plan;
To an interpreter, as necessary, to understand all pertinent communications;
To formulate advance directives and have them followed;
To pastoral counseling;

Safe Care

To expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed of available and realistic patient care options when care at our facility is no longer appropriate;
To impartial medical care without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion, marital status, citizenship, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and/or other legally protected classification;
To receive care in a safe environment while maintaining your personal privacy;
To be free from all forms of abuse or harassment;
To be free from any form of restraint or seclusion as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff;
To access state and community protective services;
To appropriate assessment and management of your symptoms, including pain;
To express any concerns or grievances orally or in writing without fear of reprisal.

As a patient, or the patient’s representative as allowed by law, you and/or your designees have the responsibilities:

To provide accurate information about your present illness and past medical history, including medications;
To ask questions when you do not understand information or instructions;
To participate as best you can in making decisions about your medical treatment and carry out the plan of care agreed upon by you and your caregivers;
To be respectful and considerate of others; threats, verbal abuse, violence or harassment towards others will not be tolerated;
To observe facility policies and procedures, including those on patient safety;
To respect facility property and the property of other patients and caregivers;
To accept the financial obligations associated with your care and request financial assistance if needed;
To be reasonable in requests for medical treatment and other services.

Wellstar seeks to treat our patients with fairness and concern, recognizing your needs and satisfying them to the greatest extent possible. For concerns regarding Patient Privacy Rights, call the Privacy Office at (470) 644-0444.

Department of Community Health
2 Peachtree St, NW 15th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
Toll Free: 1 (800) 878-6442 | Fax: (404) 657-8935

The Joint Commission
Mail to: Office of Quality and Patient Safety
The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Blvd
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181