McKenzie Memorial Hospital and its’ offsite clinics is committed to delivering quality health care to you, our patient, and to make your visit and health care experience as pleasant as possible. It is our belief that you, as a patient, have the following rights.

Equal Treatment

You, the patient, have the right to impartial access to treatment regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, marital status, sexual preference or source of payment for your care. You are entitled to respectful care at all times, regardless of circumstances.

Respect

You, the patient, have the right to be treated with respect, consideration and dignity.

Decision Making

You, the patient, have the right to receive as much information about your illness, the course of treatment and information about any proposed procedure that you may need in order to give informed consent for treatment or to refuse the course of treatment. Except in emergencies, when you, the patient, lack decision making capacity and/or the treatment is urgent, this information shall include a description of the procedure or treatment, the medially significant risks involved in this treatment, alternate courses of treatment or non-treatment and the risks involved in each. You can also expect to know the name of the person who will carry out the course of treatment or procedure.

Care Givers

You, the patient, have the right to know the identity of physicians, nurses and others involved in your care, as well as when those involved are students or other trainees.

Request Services

You, the patient, have the right to expect that within its capacity and policies, the hospital and clinic will provide reasonable responses to reasonable requests you make for appropriate and medically indicated care and services.

Confidential Information

You, the patient, have the right of confidential treatment. We believe your health is a personal matter. The information you share with your physician and with us is confidential information about you and will not be released to anyone without your permission. We will not release medical records to any “third party” without your consent, unless otherwise required by law.

Advance Directive

You, the patient, have the right to have an advance directive (such as a living will, health care proxy or durable power of attorney for health care) concerning treatment or designating a surrogate decision maker, with the expectation that the hospital, clinic and your physician will honor the intent of that directive to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy.

Review Record

You, the patient, have the right to review records pertaining to your medical care, with the supervision of a staff member, and to have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by law.

Experimental Treatment

You, the patient, have the right to consent to or decline to participate in proposed research studies or experimental treatment affecting care or requiring direct patient involvement, and to have those studies fully explained prior to consent. If you decline to participate in research or experimentation you will continue to be entitled to the most effective care that the hospital can otherwise provide.

Privacy

You, the patient have the right to privacy and we will honor this right. Case discussions, consultations, examinations and treatments are confidential and will be conducted discreetly. Please consider your privacy before sharing medical or personal information with anyone including family, friends, visitors and others. You have the right to be advised as to the reason for the presence of any individual.

Complaints or Concerns

You, the patient, have the right to express any complaints or concerns you may have regarding your health care or services at the hospital or clinic, with the assurance that doing so will not affect your care. We strive to exceed our patients’ expectations and therefore want to know if you are unhappy with any services you receive. Please contact the offsite clinic office supervisor or his/her designee immediately with any concern you may have, or you may contact McKenzie Memorial Hospital patient relations department at (810) 648-6126. Medicare and Medicaid patients can also contact the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services at 1-800-882-6006, if you are not satisfied with action taken by the clinic or hospital.

Bill for Services

You, the patient, have the right to examine and receive an explanation of your bill regardless of your source of payment.

Patient Responsibilities

To help us meet your needs, it is important that you assume certain responsibilities that will enable the hospital and the clinic to provide you with quality care. It I sour request that you, as a patient, assume the following responsibilities:

• You, the patient, are responsible for providing information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters related to your health status.
• You, the patient, are encouraged to take responsibility for requesting additional information or clarification about your health status or treatment when you do not fully understand information or instructions.
• You, the patient, are responsible for ensuring that the hospital and clinic has a copy of your written advance directive, if you have one.
• You, the patient, are responsible for informing your physicians and other care givers if you anticipate problems in following your prescribed treatment.
• You, the patient, and your family/visitors are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients, clinic and hospital personnel and clinic and hospital property.
• You, the patient, are responsible for providing necessary information for insurance claims and for working with the clinic and hospital to make payment arrangements, when necessary.
• A person’s health depends on much more than health care services. You, the patient, are responsible for recognizing the impact of your life style on your personal health.

If you have questions or problems, please let us know. If you would like an additional explanation of the “Patient Rights” and “Patient Responsibilities” as they pertain to you, do not hesitate to ask a staff member.