General Information
Rights and Responsibilities
We consider you a partner in your child's hospital care. When you are well-informed, take part in treatment decisions, and talk openly with your child's doctor and other health professionals, you help make your child's care as effective as possible. This hospital respects your personal preferences and values.
Patients have the right to privacy, including the right to:
- Request confidential communication by alternative means or locations. For example, you may request that nothing be mailed to your home address or that you be contacted only at your work phone number.
- Receive a Notice of Privacy Practices describing how your protected health information (all personal and medical information) is used and disclosed for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations purposes.
- Expect that the information contained in your medical records is confidential and will be used by WVUH only for the purposes of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. Protected health information will not be disclosed for any other purposes unless you give permission to release the information, or reporting is required by law.
- Restrict access to your child's protected health information to the extent permitted by law.
- Review the protected health information in your medical records, receive a copy, and to have the information explained, except when restricted by law.
- Receive an accounting of all disclosures of your child's protected health information going back six years from the date of your request for such an accounting.
Patients also have the right to:
- Be cared for with consideration and respect.
- Be well informed about their illness, possible treatments, and likely outcomes and to discuss this information with their doctor.
- Know the names and roles of people treating them.
- Have an advance directive.
- Receive information about pain management measures and to have staff respond quickly to their reports of pain.
- Expect that the hospital will give them necessary health services to the best of its ability. If treatment referral or transfer is recommended, patients have the right to be informed of the risks, benefits, and alternatives.
- Know if this hospital has relationships with outside parties that may influence their treatment and care.
- Consent or decline to take part in research affecting your care.
- Be told of realistic care alternatives when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
- Know about hospital rules that affect your treatment and about charges and payment methods.
- Know about hospital resources, such as patient representatives or the ethics committee, that can help you resolve problems and questions about your hospital stay and care.
Patients have the responsibility to:
- Provide information about their health, including past illnesses, hospital stays, and use of medication.
- Ask questions when they do not understand information or instructions.
- Ask their physician or nurse what to expect about pain management and to work with them to develop a pain management plan.
- Tell their physician if they cannot follow through with the prescribed treatment.
- Be considerate of the needs of other patients, staff, and the hospital.
- Provide information for insurance and work with the hospital to arrange payment, when needed.
- Recognize the effect of lifestyle on their personal health.
The handling and resolution of a conflict concerning the care of a patient will be dealt with according to West Virginia University Hospital Policy IV.190.
Your Right to Make Decisions About Your Child's Care
West Virginia University Hospitals is committed to providing your child with the care you want him or her to receive. Among your rights as a patient is the right to make decisions about your child's healthcare, except when restricted by law. You have the right to accept or refuse medical and/or surgical treatment on behalf of your child, except when restricted by law. To make these decisions, it is best to consider what is important to you and to discuss these decisions with your family, friends and doctor.
Palliative Care Services
Your child has the right to be as free as possible of pain and other distressing symptoms, including shortness of breath and nausea. You have the right to make decisions about your child's healthcare, including the right to accept or refuse life-sustaining treatments on his or her behalf, such as feeding tubes, breathing machines, dialysis, and CPR, except when restricted by law. The Palliative Care team can provide you with information about the benefits and burdens of such treatments and work with hospital staff to be sure your child is comfortable and receives the treatment you want. You may call the Palliative Care team at 293-7618.