In keeping with Hill Regional Hospital's mission, philosophy, core values and commitment to the delivery of quality health care, Hill Regional Hospital recognizes, protects and promotes the following rights for each patient, to include, as appropriate, the patient’s legally authorized representative (referred to in this policy as patients).

As a Hill Regional Hospital patient, you have the right to: 

• Participate in the development and implementations of your plan of care and make decisions regarding your care, including pain management.
• Make informed decisions regarding your care, including being informed of your health status, being involved in your care planning and treatment, and being able to request or refuse treatment.
• Formulate advance directives and to have Hill Regional Hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives in accordance with the law.
• Have a family member of your own choice and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital. 
• Personal privacy.
• Confidentiality of your clinical records in accordance with law. 
• Access information contained in your clinical record within a reasonable time frame. 
• Be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of  coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff for acute medical or surgical care.  
• Receive reasonable access to care. 
• Care that is considerate and respectful of personal values and beliefs. 
• Participate in ethical issues that may arise in the course of your care. 
• Receive information about clinical experiments, research or educational projects affecting your care or  treatment including the expected benefits, potential discomforts and risks and alternatives that may also be available.  
• Receive a reasonable response to requests for treatment or service.  
• Appropriate assessment and management of pain.  
• Have Hill Regional Hospital uses its best efforts to meet your special communication needs.  
• Receive upon request Hill Regional Hospital’s policies related to patient rights.  
• Be informed of Hill Regional Hospital’s complaint/grievance process and to voice complaints or concerns without affecting your care or treatment.  
• Accept or refuse medical care to the extent permitted by law, or to change your mind regarding your care.  
• Be informed of Hill Regional Hospital’s rules and regulations applicable to patient care and conduct.  
• Request and receive a detailed explanation of your bill.

Pediatric Rights

While I am a patient I have a right to be treated under the Hospital’s Patient Rights.  This means I have the right: 

• To be called by my name.   
• To not have any pain, or very little.  
• To know the names of doctors, nurses and other helpers who will take care of me.  
• To be warm, comfortable and allowed to move in my room except when I need to be still to get better. 
• To have tests and procedures planned so I won’t be hungry or wait very long.  
• To know my safety is important to the hospital.  
• To make choices, when possible about my care.  
• To cry, make noise or object to anything that hurts me.  
• To have my family with me, as long as if doesn’t get in the way of my care. 
• To have caregivers speak in my own language to my family and me.

As a Hill Regional Hospital patient,  you have the responsibility to:  

• Provide accurate and complete health information and to understand your plan of care.  
• Follow the agreed-upon plan of care.  
• Accept responsibility for the outcomes of refusing treatment or for not following the agreed-upon plan of care.   
• Fulfill your financial obligations.   
• Follow Hill Regional Hospital's rules and regulations about patient care and conduct.   Be considerate and respectful of other patients, HILL REGIONAL HOSPITAL staff and their property.

Patient Healthcare Choices:

You have the right to make important legal decisions in advance about your health care. "Advance Directives" are documents written in advance of the time when you are unable to make health care decisions for yourself. By law, the lack of advance directives does not hamper your access to care.

Advance Directives:

Effective September 1, 1999, under the Texas "Advance Directive Act", you have a right to formulate the following "Advance Directives”:   

• Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Order: a written form directing healthcare professionals in out-of-hospital settings not to initiate or continue certain medical interventions. Declaration for Mental Health Treatment: a written directive specifying preferences or instructions regarding mental health treatment.  
• Organ and Tissue Donation: a written statement, signed by the donor or legally authorized representative, authorizing the donation of organs and/or tissues after death. 
• Medical Power of Attorney: a written directive designating a person or persons to make healthcare decisions if the patient becomes unable to make his/her own decisions. (*Prior to September 1, 1999, this document was known as a "Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care".)   
• Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates: a written directive specifying choices for life-sustaining treatment in the event of a terminal or irreversible condition, including wishes regarding life support. (*Prior to September 1, 1999, this document was known as a "Directive to Physicians/Living Will" and only addressed terminal condition and did NOT provide the option to request being kept alive using available life-sustaining treatment.) Hill Regional Hospital offers assistance to patients who choose to revoke the Directive to Physicians/Living Will and execute the Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates. However, a patient may wish to consult with an attorney or other resources for specific advice before doing so.
  • * Please note: Advance Directives signed before  September 1, 1999, remain valid. Patients are NOT required to sign the updated versions. For more information click www.oag.state.tx.us Senior Texan then click  Advance Planning or in Spanish or English forms click www.dhs.state.tx.us/providers/ltc-policy/index.html       

Ethics Consultation:  Consultations for ethical problems related to healthcare are available for each patient, their family or legal representative. In general, an ethical problem may exist when the right thing to do is not clear or when people disagree about what is appropriate. For further information contact a member of your healthcare team who will discuss the process with you and answer any questions you may have.

Questions/Concerns/Complaints/Grievances: Hill Regional Hospital staff is dedicated  to the delivery of quality health care and patient satisfaction. However, we recognize that concerns may arise. We ask that you first try to resolve the concern with the person involved if you are comfortable doing so. If there is no satisfactory resolution, you may contact any of the following for assistance: the Clinical Manager, Department Director or the Patient Representative.  If there still is no resolution, a Patient Representative will explain the grievance process and other options that may be available to you.  You also have the right to notify any of the state or federal regulatory agencies governing healthcare organizations. If you would like more information, please contact our Patient Representative at (254) 580-8952 or send an e-mail to HillRegional_info@CHS.Net .