We, at Firelands, want to be certain you are fully aware of your rights as a patient of our hospital. If you have any questions about, or would like assistance reading these rights, please ask us for help.

Patients have a right to be informed about and understand the treatment they receive.
This means, as a patient, you have a right to:

• Be informed of, or have your legally identified surrogate be informed of, the patients’ rights in advance of furnishing or discontinuing patient care whenever possible.
• Impartial access to treatment, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age or handicap.
• Give, or have your surrogate as allowed by law give, fully informed consent to and participate in the development and implementation of their plan of care, including any proposed care, treatment, or service, and to be made fully aware of their health status.
• Refuse, or have your surrogate as allowed by law, refuse care, treatment, and services in accordance with state and federal law and regulations.
• Have your wishes regarding end-of-life decisions honored and to have assistance in completing Advance Directives in accordance with state and federal law and regulations and organizational policy.
• Be informed about the outcomes of care, treatment, and services, including unanticipated outcomes and when appropriate have your family informed about such outcomes.
• Effective communication, including written information that is appropriate to age, language, and culture; use of interpreters; aids for those with cognitive or physical impairments; and telephone and mail service as appropriate.
• Have your family members and your family physician promptly informed about your admission and involved in your care if desired.
• Have your visitors receive full and equal visitation privileges consistent with your preferences and to inform you of any clinically necessary restriction on visitation.
• Have your family given an opportunity for fully informed consent to the donation of organs and tissues.
• Know of any potential conflict of interest or relationship of the hospital to persons or organizations involved in your care.
• Know the reasons for your transfer either within or outside the hospital.
• Right to access to your medical records within a reasonable time frame.
• Be fully informed of and participate voluntarily or refuse participation in experimental treatments, research, or clinical training without compromising your access to services.
• Know the identity and professional status of the individuals providing you with services.
• Know the reasons for any proposed change in the Professional Staff responsible for your care.

Patients have a right to privacy, safety, and respect during their stay.
This means, as a patient, you have a right to:

• Receive care in a setting that assures confidentiality, personal privacy, safety, and security for yourself, your healthcare information, and your property.
• Prompt assistance with resolution of your concerns or complaints, without coercion, discrimination, reprisal, or unreasonable interruption of care, treatment, and services; receive information about the complaint resolution process and assistance as needed with filing a grievance; including the right to file a grievance with the Ohio Department of Health at 800-342-0553 or 614-466-7217, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at 800-589-7337 or 216-447-9604, Office of Civil Rights, or other state and federal reporting agencies as indicated.
• Be free from all forms of abuse and harassment, including mental, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
• Be free from seclusion and restraints which are not medically necessary or which are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
• Have your pain treated as effectively as possible.

Patients have a right to know their responsibilities regarding the treatment they receive.
This means, as a patient, you have a right to:

• Request and receive an itemized bill within a reasonable timeframe, regardless of the source of payment; timely notice prior to termination of eligibility of non-coverage; and price information regarding charges.
• Be informed of the source of the hospital’s reimbursement for services and any limitations which may be placed on your care.

For more information about all of your rights as a patient, please contact the Director of Patient Advocacy at 419-557-6572. A staff member will be happy to provide you with a written description of your rights.

We welcome the comments and concerns of our patients and guests. Learning about your experience helps us to fine tune our services to make them the best available. If you would like to speak to someone at Firelands Regional Medical Center regarding your visit, please contact the Director of Patient Advocacy at 419-557-6572 or call 1-800-342-1177 and ask to speak to the Nursing Supervisor.

We also offer a patient satisfaction survey to assist us in learning about our patients' experiences. If you would like to receive such a survey, please contact the Director of Patient Advocacy at 419-557-6572.

We hope that you will give us the opportunity to address any concerns you might have directly. However, you also have the right to voice your concerns to agencies outside of the Firelands regional Medical Center staff. You may contact the Ohio Department of Health at 1-800-342-0552 or the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) at 1-800-589-7337. For a complete listing of external agencies and their addressed, please contact the Director of Patient Advocacy at 419-557-6572.