Patient Bill Of Rights
We Care About Your Rights.
All UAB Medicine patients shall have the RIGHT:
1. To receive considerate, respectful and compassionate care regardless of your age, gender, race, religion, culture, language, disabilities, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
2. To receive information in a manner that is understandable and have access to sign or foreign language interpreter services. We will provide an interpreter as needed.
3. To be called by your proper name and to be told the names of the health care team involved in your care. 4. To receive care in a safe environment free from all forms of abuse, neglect or harassment.
5. To have a family member or representative of your choice and your own physician / dentist notified promptly of your admission to the health care facility, if you so choose.
6. To be told by your doctor / dentist about your diagnosis and possible prognosis, the benefits and risks of treatment, and expected outcome of treatment, including unanticipated outcomes. You have the right to give written informed consent before any non-emergency procedure begins.
7. To have your pain assessed, reassessed, and be involved in decisions about managing your pain. 8. To be free from restraints and seclusion in any form that is not medically required.
9. To expect full consideration of your privacy and confidentiality in care discussions, examinations and treatments. You may ask for a chaperone during any type of examination.
10. To access protective and advocacy services in cases of abuse or neglect. The hospital will provide protective and advocacy resources.
11. To participate in decisions about your care, treatment and services provided, including the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, request \ another physician, or to be moved to another hospital. If you leave against the advice of your doctor / dentist, UAB will not be responsible for any medical consequences that may occur.
12. To agree or refuse to take part in medical research studies. You may at any time withdraw from a study.
13. To make an advance directive, appointing someone to make health care decisions for you if you are unable. If you do not have an advance directive, we can provide you with information and help you complete one.
14. To be involved in your plan of care from admission to discharge. You can expect to be told in a timely manner of the need for planning your discharge or transfer to another facility or level of care. Before your discharge from the hospital or outpatient setting of care, you can expect to receive information about follow-up care that you may need.
15. To receive financial information as a result of your treatment, care, and services received, including financial counseling resources.
16. To expect that all communications and records about your care are confidential, unless disclosure is allowed by law. You have the right to see or get a copy of your medical records and have the information explained, if needed. You may add information to your medical record by contacting the Medical Records Department. Upon request, you have the right to receive a list of to whom your personal health information was disclosed.
17. To participate in ethical decisions that arise in the course of your care. Members of the ethics committee are on call 24 hours / day.
18. To voice your concerns about the care you receive. If you have a problem or complaint, you may talk with your health care team to resolve the problem. If unresolved, you have the following contact options:
a. UAB Hospital / Highlands and Ambulatory / HSF Clinics:
• Contact Guest Services to request assistance from a Patient Advocate by dialing * 55 from an in-house phone or 205.934. CARE( 2273).
• Send a written letter of unresolved grievance to: UAB Hospital / Ambulatory Clinics, Chief Operating Officer, Suite 502, 500 22nd Street South, Birmingham, AL 35233.
b. Callahan Eye Hospital and Clinics: President, 1720 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35233 or call 205.325.8380.
c. File a complaint with:
• The Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Facilities, Complaint Unit, P. O. Box 303017, Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3017( Complaint Unit phone number is 1.800.356.9596).
• The Joint Commission( TJC) by calling 1.800.994.6610.
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services( CMS) by calling 1.800.633.4227 or cms. gov / center / ombudsman. asp.
RESOURCES uabmedicine. org 19