Date
of Last Review 6/11/08
SME: Patients Relations Manager
UTHCPC staff must inform the patient of his/her personal rights and the confidentiality
of his/her medical record.
The physician can limit the patient's personal rights only to the extent that the limitation is necessary to his/her welfare or to protect another person. The physician must fully explain and write the reasons for and duration of the limitation in the patient medical record.
The physician must review and renew in writing if needed the limits on the patient rights at least every seven days.
Patient/family communication barriers which should not be imposed by the hospital are the following:
 | Rigid and restrictive visiting hours |
| Policies that restrict hospitalized mothers and fathers from visiting with their |
| Policies that restrict parents from visiting their hospitalized children |
| Limited access to telephones |
| Failure to provide assistance to patients who wish to mail a letter |
This table describes the patient's personal rights:
Right |
The patient has the right to... |
1 |
Talk and write to people outside the hospital |
2 |
Have visitors in private, make private phone calls, and send and receive sealed and uncensored mail Contact limitation: Contact by an attorney, the department, the courts, or the state attorney general cannot in any case be limited to the patient. |
3 |
Keep and use his/her personal possessions, including wearing his/her own clothing and religious or other symbolic items Suitable clothing: Neat, clean, and well fitting |
4 |
Have an opportunity to exercise and go outdoors at least daily with or without supervision as clinically indicated Limitation: A physician's order limiting that right must explain reason, give duration, and be reviewed, renewed, and written in the medical record at least every three days. |
5 |
Have access to appropriate areas of the hospital away from his/her unit at regular and frequent times with or without supervision as clinically appropriate |
6 |
Practice his/her religious freedom and no one can force him/her to attend or engage in any religious activity |
7 |
Have opportunities to socialize with persons of the opposite sex with or without supervision as his/her treatment team considers appropriate |
8 |
Ask to be moved to another room if another person in the room is disturbing him/her Staff response: The hospital staff must pay attention to the patient request and must give a response and a reason for his/her answer as soon as possible. |
9 |
Receive treatment for any physical problems that develop while s/he is in the hospital or affect his/her treatment (i.e. pain assessment) |
10 |
Seek treatment outside the hospital at his/her own expense if the physician believes treatment of the physical problem is not required for the patient's health, safety, or mental condition |
11 |
Not to be unnecessarily searched unless his/her physician believes there is a potential danger and orders a search Search requirements: If the patient is required to remove any item of clothing, a staff member of the same sex must be present and the search must take place in a private place. |
This table describes the confidentiality of the patient's medical records and information:
Right |
The patient has the right to... | ||||||||||||||
1 |
Review the information contained in his/her medical record | ||||||||||||||
2 |
Have another doctor review his/her attending doctor's decision that prohibits seeing part of his/her record at his/her expense | ||||||||||||||
3 |
Have his/her records kept private and be told about the following:
| ||||||||||||||
4 |
Be informed of the current and future use of products of special observation and audiovisual techniques Example: One-way vision mirrors, tape recorded television, movies, or photographs | ||||||||||||||
5 |
Refuse to take part in research without affecting regular care | ||||||||||||||
6 |
Refuse any of the following:
| ||||||||||||||
7 |
Withdraw his/her permission at any time in matters to which s/he has previously consented |
How UTHCPC Protects Patient Information
Related Standard
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Policies and Procedures Committee.
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