RIGHTS OF A PATIENT

Information for patients You have the right to accurate and easily-understood information about your health plan, health care professionals, and health care facilities. If you speak another language, have a physical or mental disability, or just dont understand something, help should be given so you can make informed health care decisions. Choice of providers and plans You have the right to choose health care providers who can give you high-quality health care when you need it. Access to emergency services If you have severe pain, an injury, or sudden illness that makes you believe that your health is in danger, you have the right to be screened and stabilized using emergency services. You should be able to use these services whenever and wherever you need them, without needing to wait for authorization and without any financial penalty. Taking part in treatment decisions You have the right to know your treatment options and take part in decisions about your care. You have the right to ask about the pros and cons of any treatment, including no treatment at all. As long as you are able to make sound decisions, you have the right to refuse any test or treatment, even if it means you might have a bad health outcome as a result. You can also legally choose who can speak for you if you cannot make your own decisions. Respect and non-discrimination You have a right to considerate, respectful care from your doctors, health plan representatives, and other health care providers that does not discriminate against you based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or source of payment. Confidentiality (privacy) of health information You have the right to talk privately with health care providers and have your health care information protected. You also have the right to read and copy your own medical record. You have the right to ask that your doctor change your record if its not correct, relevant, or complete. Complaints and appeals You have the right to a fair, fast, and objective review of any complaint you have against your health plan, doctors, hospitals or other health care personnel. This includes complaints about waiting times, operating hours, the actions of health care personnel, and the adequacy of health care facilities. Consumer responsibilities In a health care system that protects consumer or patients rights, patients should expect to take on some responsibilities. For instance, patients must inform their health care providers about any medicines they are taking, and about health conditions and medical or surgical problems in the past or present. Patients must ask questions or request further information from health care providers if they do not completely understand health information and instructions.

Clients/Patients have the right to know the names, titles and qualification of staff members serving them and to request a chaperone during an examination. Clients/Patients have the right to expect privacy and confidentiality, including from parents, professors, and potential employers; Client/Patient information is not disclosed without written permission except, upon court order, as required by law (as in the case of certain communicable diseases and for reports of child abuse), or as required in our judgment to protect the Client/Patient or others from physical danger. Clients/Patients have the right to have information about the operations and services of Health Services, including the hours that services are available and current fees and payment policies. Clients/Patients have the right to be informed about procedures for giving feedback on services including how to make a suggestion or how to make a formal complaint.
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The right to receive information from physicians and to discuss the benefits, risks, and costs of appropriate treatment alternatives The right to make decisions regarding the health care that is recommended by the physician The right to courtesy, respect, dignity, responsiveness, and timely attention to health needs The right to confidentiality The right to continuity of health care The basic right to have adequate health care

HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND CLIENT RELATIONSHIP The importance of the health care provider/client relationship in promoting therapeutic outcomes is well recognised, as is the need for health care providers to work with rather than on the client to support self-management. The World Health organization has outlined a core set of competencies for health care providers to enable them to work effectively in chronic disease prevention and care. Included in the competencies are: the ability to adopt a client-centred approach. This implies a whole range of skills including effective interviewing techniques, effective communication styles, the ability to assist behavioural change and techniques to support self-management. the communication skills associated with collaborating with patients, families, carers, other service providers and communities. Practice Standard Principles 1. Nurses use professional judgment in determining the appropriate boundaries of a therapeutic relationship with each client. The nurse - not the client - is responsible for establishing and maintaining boundaries.

2. Nurses are responsible for beginning, maintaining and ending a relationship with a client in a way that ensures the clients needs are first and foremost. 3. Nurses do not enter into a friendship or a romantic or sexual relationship with clients. 4. Nurses are cautious in socializing with clients and former clients, especially when the client or former client is vulnerable or may require ongoing care. 5. At times, a nurse may have to care for family or friends. When it is possible, overall responsibility for care is transferred to another appropriate health care provider. 6. At times, a nurse may want to care for family or friends. This situation requires caution, discussion and careful consideration about the impact of the dual role on everyone involved. 7. Nurses in a dual role make it clear to clients when they are interacting in a professional capacity and when they are interacting in a personal capacity. 8. Nurses have access to privileged and confidential information, but never use this access or information to the disadvantage of clients or others. 9. Nurses disclose personal information about themselves only after they determine it may be helpful in meeting the therapeutic needs of the client. 10. Supportive touching or hugging a client may be therapeutic in select circumstances. 11. Communicating with clients in ways that are perceived to be demeaning, seductive, insulting, disrespectful, humiliating or otherwise inappropriate is unacceptable. 12. Unacceptable behaviour by the nurse includes neglect and/or verbal, physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse. Any action that results in inappropriate financial or personal benefit to the nurse or loss to the client is unacceptable. 13. Nurses do not act as representatives for clients under powers of attorney or representation agreements. 14. Generally, it is not acceptable for nurses and clients to exchange gifts. A group of nurses may give or receive a token gift in situations where it has therapeutic intent. Any significant gift must be returned or redirected. 15. Nurses maintain the same boundaries with the clients significant others as with the client. 16. Nurses help colleagues to maintain professional boundaries and report evidence of boundary violations to the appropriate person.