Bringing you excellent health care is not only our mission and commitment, it is our life. Our entire focus is on your individual health care needs. Our goal is to respect your dignity and choices. Be assured that every patient receives equal attention and equal access to all of our services. There is no discrimination in regard to race, religion, age, sex, disability or economic status.

This listing of your rights serves to inform you of your options regarding treatment or refusal of treatment. These rights apply to all patients. If you are unable to exercise any or all of these rights, it is Texas law that your guardian, next of kin or legally authorized representative may enforce these rights on your behalf.

You Have the Right, Within the Limits of Law, to:

• Be informed of your rights as a University Health System patient, including information about the Health System's patient rights policy and the Health System's mechanism for resolving patient complaints and grievances
• Be informed of your health status, and participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care
• Request or refuse treatment, and receive information regarding the consequences of refusing treatment
• The information necessary to enable you to make treatment decisions that reflect your wishes
• Create advance directives and have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives
• Have a family member or representative of your choice and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital
• Have reports of pain accepted and acted on by health care professionals
• Effective management of pain
• Personal privacy
• Receive considerate and respectful care in a safe setting
• Be free from all forms of abuse and harassment
• The confidentiality of your clinical records
• Access information contained in your clinical records
• Be informed of any research or educational projects affecting your care or treatment
• Examine and receive an explanation of the bill for your services
• Freedom from seclusion and restraints, including physical restraints and drugs, unless seclusion or restraint is medically necessary or is imposed to ensure your safety in emergency situations
• Request spiritual guidance
• Appoint a surrogate to make health care decisions on your behalf
• Participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise in your care
• A reasonable response to your requests and needs for treatment or service, within the hospital's capacity, its stated mission, applicable law and regulation.

As a University Health System Patient, You Are Responsible for:

• Providing, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, alternative therapy and other matters relating to your health
• Reporting unexpected changes in your condition to your doctor or nurse
• Informing your doctor or nurse if you do not understand the plan of treatment and what is expected of you
• Knowing and following the treatment plan prescribed by your medical team
• Making and keeping appointments and notifying the appropriate staff when unable to do so
• Accepting responsibility for outcomes related to refusing treatment or not following the medical team's instructions
• Paying your bill or making arrangements to pay your bill within 30 days
• Demonstrating consideration for the rights of visitors, staff and other patients (including another patient's right to confidentiality)
• Respecting University Health System property and the property of other persons

You have the right to file a grievance with the Texas Department of Health (TDH) directly, regardless of whether you have just used the hospital's grievance process or not. The TDH Information/Complaint Hotline is (888) 973-0022. The TDH offices are located at 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, Texas 78756.

Speak Up: Help Prevent Errors in Your Care

Everyone has a role in making health care safe-physicians, health care executives, nurses and technicians. Health care organizations across the country, including University Health System, are working hard to make health care safety a priority. As the patient, you can also play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active, involved and informed member of your health care team.

In your room, you will find information on a program called Speak Up, which is our accrediting agency's effort to involve you in your care. While you are here at University Health System, we want you to speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again. It's your body and you have a right to know. We also want you to tell your doctor or nurse if something doesn't seem quite right to you. Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing and your treatment plan. It is also important for you to know what medications you take and why you take them.

We encourage you to be a full partner in your health care experience.

For more information about patient rights, policies, resolution of complaints or to submit compliments, please contact our Patient Relations Department at (210) 358-0600.

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