Patient Rights & Responsibilities

As a patient at St. Margaret’s Hospital, your patient rights and responsibilities state that you have the right to considerate, respectful, quality care.

St. Margaret’s Hospital places a high priority on dignity and respect for the personal preferences and values of each individual, patient safety and quality health care.

We consider you a partner in your hospital care. When you are well informed, participate in treatment decisions and communicate openly with your doctor and other health professionals, you help make your care as effective as possible.

Patient Rights

You can expect:

  • Treatment and service evaluation and referral as needed or requested. If we cannot meet these needs, we will arrange a transfer. You may be transferred to another facility once the following has occurred: You have received complete information about why the transfer is needed, including the risks, benefits and alternatives. We have discussed available options with you in lieu of a transfer. The receiving facility has agreed to the transfer.
  • Personal dignity and regard for your psychosocial, spiritual and cultural beliefs.
  • St. Margaret’s Hospital is a community of caregivers who welcome, respect and serve with dignity all people without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, religion, disability, age or sexual orientation.
  • To be able to exercise cultural and spiritual beliefs and practices that do not interfere with the well being of others or your treatment plan.
  • Appropriate continuity of care and referrals. You have the right to be informed of realistic care alternatives, and needed follow-up care after discharge, when hospital care is no longer appropriate.
  • Foreign language or sign language interpretation so that you can access the care and information needed to participate in your care.
  • Information about any relationship of the hospital and staff to other healthcare and educational institutions, as it is related to your care.

You Have The Right To Obtain Information About Your Treatment And Healthcare Team

You can expect your health care team to explain:

  • Your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms you can understand
  • Your role in your care
  • Treatment options
  • Expected course of the treatment and/or recovery
  • Benefits and risks of treatments
  • The names of doctors responsible for your care
  • Any proposed clinical trials affecting your care or treatment. You have the right to refuse to participate in such trials. If you do refuse, this will not affect your access to continued care.

You Have The Right To Make Decisions About Your Care

You or your legally designated representatives
should expect:

  • Information needed to give informed consent. This includes proposed procedures/treatment options, risks and benefits of each, in language you can
    understand.
  • Information about advance directives and help to prepare a living will or power of healthcare attorney (as requested). You may select a healthcare agent if you are unable to make decisions about your treatment.
  • To be encouraged to make health care decisions as permitted by law. This includes use or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.
  • To always have the right to refuse treatment and care, and to be informed by the health care team of any anticipated medical outcome of refusal.
  • That upon request by you or your family, the Hospital’s Ethics Committee will help you and your care team explore options and issues that will assist in making health care decisions.

Patient Responsibilities

The care that a patient receives and the results of that care depend partially on the actions of the patient. Because we want you to get well as quickly as possible, St. Margaret’s asks that you be responsible for:

  • Providing complete and accurate information concerning your present health complaints, past medical history, and other health-related matters.
  • Making it known whether or not you clearly understand the course of your medical treatment and what may be expected of you.
  • Following the treatment plan established by your physician, including the instructions of nurses and other health professionals as they carry out your physician’s orders.

In addition, you are responsible for:

  • Keeping appointments and notifying the facility or physician when you are unable to do so.
  • Your own actions should you refuse treatment or fail to follow your physician’s orders.
  • Following hospital policies and procedures.
  • Assuring that the financial obligations of your care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
  • Providing a copy of your advance directive or guardianship documents.

We also request that you remember to be:

  • Considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel.
  • Respectful of your personal property and that of others in the hospital.

SMH Peru And Spring Valley Will Be Closing All Current Operations As Of Friday, June 16, 2023 At 11:59 P.M.

This includes the Hospital, Clinics and other facilities at both locations.

All portals will be inaccessible after this time.

Patients needing emergency care should call 911.

To obtain a copy of your Medical Records please visit our Medical Records Request webpage and download and submit a request in writing.

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