Patient Rights & Responsibilities

To promote patient safety, we encourage you to speak openly with your health care team, be well informed, and take part in care decisions and treatment choices. Join us as active members of your health care team by reviewing the rights and responsibilities listed below for patients and patient representatives.

All Services Except Behavioral Health

Every hospital patient, support person and/or surrogate decision-maker has the right to:

Receive considerate, respectful, and compassionate care;
Be provided care in a safe environment free from all forms of abuse and neglect, including verbal, mental, physical or sexual abuse.
Have a medical screening exam and be provided stabilizing treatment for emergency medical conditions and labor.
Be free from restraints and seclusion unless needed for safety.
Be told the names and jobs of the health care team members involved in the patient’s care if staff safety is not a concern.
Have respect shown for the patient’s personal values, beliefs, and wishes.
Be treated without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, culture, physical or mental disability, religion, language, or ability to pay.
Be provided a list of protective and advocacy services when needed.
Receive information about the patient’s hospital and physician charges and ask for an estimate of hospital charges before care is provided and as long as patient care is not impeded.
Receive information in a manner that is understandable by the patient, which may include: Sign and foreign language interpreters; Alternative formats, including large print, braille, audio recordings, and computer files; and Vision, speech, hearing, and other temporary aids as needed, without charge.
Receive information from the patient’s doctor or other health care practitioners about the patient’s diagnosis, prognosis, test results, possible outcomes of care, and unanticipated outcomes of care.
Access the patient’s medical records in accordance with HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
Be involved in the patient’s plan of care.
Be screened, assessed, and treated for pain.
Refuse care.
In accordance with hospital visitation policies, have an individual of the patient’s choice remain with the patient for emotional support during the patient’s hospital stay, choose the individuals who may visit the patient, and change the patient’s mind about the individuals who may visit.
Appoint an individual of the patient’s choice to make health care decisions for the patient, if the patient is unable to do so.
Make or change an advance directive.
Give informed consent before any nonemergency care is provided, including the benefits and risks of the care, alternatives to the care, and the benefits and risks of the alternatives to the care.
Agree or refuse to take part in medical research studies and/or clinical trials, without the agreement or refusal affecting the patient’s care.
Allow or refuse to allow pictures of the patient for purposes other than the patient’s care.
Expect privacy and confidentiality in care discussions and treatments.
Be provided a copy of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Notice of Privacy Practices.
File a complaint about care and have the complaint reviewed without the complaint affecting the patient’s care.
Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for coverage decisions or to appeal a premature discharge:
Commence Health/BFCC-QIO
PO Box 2687 Virginia Beach, VA 23450
1.888.396.4646
State Agency:
Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
Office of Health Care Quality, Hospital Complaint
Unit 7120 Samuel Morse Drive
Second Floor
Columbia, Maryland 21046
Toll free: 1.877.402.8218
Accreditation Agency:
The Joint Commission Office of Quality and Patient Safety
One Renaissance Blvd. Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 https://www.jointcommission.org/report_a_complaint.aspx
To address discrimination concerns, you may also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Ave., SW, Room 509F
HHH Building, Washington, DC 20201
1.800.368.1019, 1.800.537.7697 (TDD)
OCRMail@hhs.gov
Complaint forms are available at: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html

Additional Patient Rights:

Have a family member or representative of the patient’s choice and the patient’s own physician notified of admission to the hospital.
Be told in advance about the plan for discharge or transfer to another level of care.
Participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise during the hospital stay.
Be notified of the existence of any business relationship among the hospital, educational institutions, other health care providers, and/or payers that may influence treatment and care.
Be provided care in an environment free of harassment and exploitation.
Receive treatment without regard to socioeconomic status.
A written copy of the patient rights.

You have the responsibility to:

Provide accurate and complete information about your health, address, telephone number, date of birth, insurance carrier and employer.
Call if you cannot keep your appointments.
Be respectful of your health care team, from the doctors, nurses and technicians to the people who deliver your meals and the cleaning crews.
Be considerate in language and conduct of other people and property, including being mindful of noise levels, privacy and number of visitors.
Be in control of your behavior if feeling angry.
Give us a copy of your advance directive.
Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
Report unexpected changes in your health.
Follow instructions for your plan of care and express concerns about your ability to follow the proposed plan of care.
Take responsibility for the consequences of refusing care or not following instructions.
Follow program rules.
Leave valuables at home.
Keep all information about staff or other patients private.
Do not take pictures, videos or recordings without permission from staff.
Pay your bills or work with us to find funding to meet your financial obligations

Behavioral Health

An individual in a Behavioral Health Facility has the right to:

Receive appropriate humane treatment and services in a manner that restricts the individual’s personal liberty only to the extent necessary and consistent with the individual’s treatment needs and applicable legal requirements.
Receive treatment in accordance with an individualized treatment plan.
Be free from restraints and seclusion except: a. In an emergency where the individual presents a danger to the life and safety of the individual or of others; or b. To prevent serious disruption of the therapeutic environment.
Be free from prone restraint or restraint that: a. Applies pressure to the individual’s back; b. Obstructs the airway of the individual or impairs the individual’s ability to breathe; c. Obstructs a staff member’s view of the individual’s face; or d. Restricts the individual’s ability to communicate distress.
Be free from mental abuse and be protected from harm and physical and sexual abuse.
Have an advocate of the individual’s choice participate in the treatment planning & discharge planning process, except when the: a. Individual is a minor or an adult under guardianship in accordance with §13-705 of the Estates & Trusts Article; b. Parent of the minor or the legal guardian of the individual has requested that the advocate not participate; c. Advocate is an attorney acting in the capacity of legal counsel to the individual; or d. Advocate has engaged in behavior that is: i. Disruptive to the individual, other patients, or staff at the facility; or ii. Poses a threat to the safety of the individual, other patients, or staff at the facility.
Subject to the provisions of H-G, §10-708, receive treatment in accordance with the preferences in the individual’s advance directive for mental health services, if one exists.
Have access to the resident grievance procedure that has been established at the facility.
Have reasonable access to writing materials and postage, and to have mail sent out promptly and, except at the direction of the addressee, without being opened, unless limited for medical reasons.
Have reasonable access to a telephone to call anyone who has not given written notice of being unwilling to be called unless limited for medical reasons.
At all reasonable hours, visit and have private conversation with a lawyer or clergy of choice.
At reasonable visiting hours, visit and have private conversation with any visitor whom the individual wishes to see, unless limited for medical reasons.
Vote and receive, hold, and dispose of property (NOTE: Access to personal property may be restricted for medical and/or security reasons).
Participate in the development and periodic updating of the ITP, and be told, in appropriate terms and language, of: a. The content and objectives of the plan; b. The nature and significant possible adverse effects of recommended treatments; c. The name, title, and role of the persons responsible for carrying out the treatment; and d. When appropriate, alternative treatments or mental health services that are available.
Refuse to participate as a subject in physically intrusive research conducted at the facility.
Choose to refuse medication used for the treatment of a mental disorder except when: a. The medication is ordered by a physician in an emergency where the individual presents a danger to the life or safety of the individual or of others, or b. The individual is hospitalized involuntarily or by order of a court, and medication is approved by a clinical review panel.
An aftercare plan in accordance with Health-General Article, §10-809, before being discharged.
If a minor in a residential State facility, be placed in a unit for minors, unless the individual treatment plan provides otherwise.
Complain and have your complaint reviewed without affecting your care. If you have a problem or complaint, you may talk to your doctor, nurse manager or a department manager.
You may also contact the Patient Advocate at 410.535.8446.
If your issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, other external groups you may contact include:
Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for coverage decisions or to appeal a premature discharge:
Commence Health/BFCC-QIO
PO Box 2687 Virginia Beach, VA 23450
1.888.396.4646
State Agency:
Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
Office of Health Care Quality, Hospital Complaint
Unit 7120 Samuel Morse Drive
Second Floor
Columbia, Maryland 21046
Toll free: 1.877.402.8218
Accreditation Agency:
The Joint Commission Office of Quality and Patient Safety
One Renaissance Blvd. Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 https://www.jointcommission.org/report_a_complaint.aspx
To address discrimination concerns, you may also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Ave., SW, Room 509F
HHH Building, Washington, DC 20201
1.800.368.1019, 1.800.537.7697 (TDD)
OCRMail@hhs.gov
Complaint forms are available at: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html

You have the responsibility to:

Provide accurate and complete information about your health, address, telephone number, date of birth, insurance carrier and employer.
Be respectful of your health care team, from the doctors, nurses and technicians to the people who deliver your meals and the cleaning crews.
Be considerate in language and conduct of other people and property, including being mindful of noise levels, privacy and number of visitors.
Be in control of your behavior if feeling angry.
Give us a copy of your advance directive.
Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
Report unexpected changes in your health.
Follow instructions for your plan of care and express concerns about your ability to follow the proposed plan of care.
Take responsibility for the consequences of refusing care or not following instructions.
Follow program rules.
Leave valuables at home.
Keep all information about staff or other patients private.
Do not take pictures, videos or recordings without permission from staff.
Pay your bills or work with us to find funding to meet your financial obligations

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Patient Rights & Responsibilities