Patient's
Bill of Rights

At Lawrence Memorial Hospital, we recognize the responsibility to provide quality medical health care to our patients, respecting each patient's personal dignity. These rights shall apply to all patients, including neonates, children and adolescents and shall include the parents and/or guardians of these patients.

• You have the right to competent, considerate and respectful care in a safe setting that fosters your comfort and dignity and is free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
• You have the right to complete, current information concerning your diagnosis, your treatment and what you can expect, in terms that you can understand. You, or an appropriate person acting in your behalf, have the right to know, by name, the physician responsible for coordinating your care.
• You have the right to know, upon request, the names of all doctors and other health care persons directly participating in your care and other health care persons having direct contact with you.
• You have the right to safe pain relief. Your input directs your pain management. Planning, support and coordination of activities and resources will be implemented to assure that your pain is recognized and addressed. You have the right to receive from your physician, information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment. Except in emergencies, this information for informed consent should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the expected benefits, the medically significant risks involved and how you will be affected by the treatment procedure. You have the right to know if medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist.
• You have the right to have a family member or representative and your physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.
• You have the right to obtain consultation with another practitioner who has staff privileges at your request and your own expense.
• You have the right to request or refuse treatment, to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the medical consequences of such refusal. However, the right to request treatment does not include a demand for treatment or services that are medically unnecessary or inappropriate.
• You have the right to be free from seclusion and restraints, of any form, that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
• You have the right, in collaboration with your physician, to make decisions about your health care and to participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care, involving your family/guardian as you choose.
• You have the right to every consideration of personal privacy concerning your medical care program, including case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment. These discussions are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Persons not directly involved in your care must have your permission to be present.
• You have the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to your care are treated as confidential.
• You, or your legally designated representative, shall have access to the information contained in your medical records within a reasonable time frame.
• You have the right to know about any research studies and procedures affecting your care or treatment. You have the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.
• You have the right to formulate advance directives and to expect compliance with these wishes, including giving directions about your future medical care. These directions may include advance directives, such as living wills, durable powers of attorney, or similar documents stating your preferences.
• You have the right to refer conflicts regarding ethical issues to the Bioethics Committee for consideration.
• You have the right to hospital services without discrimination based upon your race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, national origin, or method of payment.
• You and/or your family have the right to file complaints or grievances concerning care or infringement of personal rights and to expect a response within a reasonable time frame.

You Have Certain Responsibilities As A Patient:

• You are responsible to provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, medications, past illnesses, hospitalizations, and other matters relating to your health or care.
• You are responsible to provide information about advance directives, giving directions about your future medical health care should you become incapable of participation in such discussions.
• You are responsible to inform us if you do not understand a proposed course of action or what is expected of you.
• You are responsible to ask questions about your treatment, diagnosis or prognosis.
• You are responsible to know and follow hospital rules and regulations, including noise control, smoking and number of visitors.
• You are responsible to be cooperative and considerate during the treatment and care prescribed.
• You are responsible for the financial obligations for care and hospitalization.
• You are responsible to respect the privacy of other patients and employees.
• Your are responsible to talk with the nurse, doctor or patient representative if you are dissatisfied or have questions about your care.

At LMH, patient satisfaction is our top priority.
But just in case…

Staff members are empowered to resolve problems as they occur or, when it is not possible, to refer concerns to the appropriate managers. If you have a concern or wish to speak to someone about your care, several options are available to you:

• Talk to your nurse.
• Ask to have the nursing supervisor paged to call you or to stop in and visit with you.
• Ask to speak to a representative of the Quality Services Department at 840-3156.
• Send a written report to:
  Gene Meyer, President/Chief Executive Officer
  Lawrence Memorial Hospital
  325 Maine Street
  Lawrence, KS 66044
• Contact this state organization:
  Kansas Foundation for Medical Care
  2947 S.W. Wanamaker
  Topeka, KS 66614-4193