PATIENTS' RIGHTS

THE PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT:

1.   To be fully informed and knowledgeable of all rights and responsibilities before providing pre-planned care and to understand that these rights can be exercised at any time.

2.   To appropriate and professional care relating to physician orders.

3.   To choose a health care provider

4.   To request services from the Home Care Agency of their choice and to request full information from their agency before care is given concerning services provided, alternatives available, licensure and accreditation requirements, organization ownership and control.

5.   To be informed in advance about care to be furnished and of any changes in the care to be furnished before the change is made.

6.   To be informed of the disciplines that will furnish care and the frequency of visits proposed to be furnished.

7.   To information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment and any changes to be made.

8.   To participate in the development and periodic revision of the plan of care/service.

9.   Confidentiality and privacy of all information contained in the client/patient record and of Protected Health Information..

10. To information necessary to refuse treatment within the confines of the law and to be informed of the consequences.

11. To treatment with utmost dignity and respect by all agency representatives, regardless of the patient's chosen   lifestyle, cultural mores, political, religious, ethical beliefs, having or not having executed an advance directive and   source of payment without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age or handicap.

12. To have his/her property and person treated with respect, consideration and recognition of client/patient dignity and individually..

13   To receive and access services consistently and in a timely manner from the agency to his/her request for service.

14   To be admitted for service only if the agency has the ability to provide safe professional care at the level of intensity needed and to be informed of the agency's limitations.

15.  To  reasonable continuity of care.

16.  To an individualized plan of care and teaching plan developed by the entire health team including the patient and/or family.

17   To be informed of client patient rights under state law to formulate advanced care directives.

18   To be informed of anticipated outcomes of service/care and of any barriers in outcome achievement.

19.   To be informed of client/patient rights regarding the collection and reporting of OASIS information.

20.  To expect confidentiality of the access to medical records according to State Statutes.

21.  To be informed within a reasonable time of anticipated termination of service of plans for transfer to another health care facility/provider.

22.  To be informed verbally and in writing ad before care s initiated of the organization's billing policies and payment procedures and the extent to which:

(a)  Payment may be expected from Medicare, Medi-Cal, or any other federally funded or aided program known to the organization.

(b)  Charges for services that will not be covered by Medicare.

(c)  Charges that the individual may have to pay.

23.  Be able to identify visiting staff members through proper identification.

24.  To be informed orally and in writing of any changes in payment information   as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days from the date that the organization becomes aware of the change.

25.  To honest , accurate, forthright information, regarding the home care industry in general and his/her chosen agency in particular, including cost per visit, employee qualifications, names and titles of personnel, etc.

26   To access necessary professional services 24 hours a day,  7 days a week.

27.  To be referred to another agency if he/she is dissatisfied with the agency or the agency cannot meet the patient's needs.

28.  To receive disclosure information regarding any beneficial relationship the organization has that may result  in profit for the referring organization.

29.  To education , instruction and a list of requirements for continuity of care when the services of the agency are terminated.

30.  To be free of abuse of any kind.

31.  To privacy to maintain his/her personal dignity and respect.

32.  To know that the agency has liability insurance sufficient for the needs of the agency.

33.  To be advised that the agency complies with Subpart 1 of 42 CFR 489 and receive a copy of the organization's written policies and procedures regarding advance directives, including a description of an individual's right under applicable state law.

34.  To receive advance directives information prior to or at the time of the first home visit, as long as the information is furnished before care is provided and to know that the Hotline number 1-800-554-0354 may be used to lodge complaints regarding the implementation of the Advance Directive requirement.

35.  To voice grievances regarding treatment or care that is (or fails to be) furnished, or regarding the lack of respect of property or recommend changes in policy, staff, or service/care without restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal.

36.  To be advised of the toll-free home health agency hot-line for the State of California and the purpose of the hotline to receive complaints or questions about the organization. The State of California Home Health Hotline Number is 1-800-554-0351. The number is operated 8AM to 5PM daily to receive complaints or questions about local Home Health Agencies. You may also register complaints in writing to:

State of California Home Health Hotline
630 Beircut Drive, Suite B
Sacramento, California  95811

37.  To be informed of the toll-free abuse hot-line 1-800-418-1426, or 559-255-3383 in Fresno County used to report abuse, neglect or exploitation.

38. To be informed of the abuse hot line 1-559-255-8320 in Fresno County used to report child abuse neglect or exploitation.