Patient Rights and Responsibilities

The Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s Health Care is committed to upholding our patients’ rights and their dignity. Please make note of your patient rights, as well as your responsibilities to the physician(s) and caregivers who treat you.

Medical Decisions
Respectful & Safe Care
Privacy & Confidentiality
Pain Management
Communication with Visitors
Participation in Research Studies
Billing Information
Ethics Committee Assistance
Complaints About Your Care
Your Responsibilities
Pertinent Contact Info

Medical Decisions.

You have the right to have medical treatment options communicated in a language you can understand and that allows you to give informed consent and participate in your medical care.
You have the right to discuss appropriate medical treatment options with your physicians and caregivers prior to and during the course of treatment; to agree to recommended treatment or to refuse treatment, even life-sustaining treatment; to be informed of the consequences of decisions regarding treatment or refusal of treatment.
You have the right to be treated in the least restrictive environment possible and in a way that your human dignity and safety are ensured.
You have the right to an advance directive (Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and/or Living Will); you can expect that the intent of your wishes will be followed to the extent permitted by law and Saint Mary’s policies.
You have the right to have your family, guardian or other legally recognized individual make medical decisions on your behalf, should you become unable to do so; to have these persons receive information necessary for giving informed consent for donation of organs and tissues.
You have the right to request brand name medications instead of generic medications.
You have the right to know the professional status of those caring for you; to be informed of any changes in the persons caring for you.
You have the right to know that your special needs will be addressed, including access to a foreign language interpreter, sign language interpreter, or assistance for the blind and/or telecommunication devices for the deaf.
You have the right to reasonable continuity of care as medically appropriate; to be informed of appropriate patient care transfer options when the hospital setting is no longer medically necessary. If you are a Medicare and/or Medicaid patient and believe you have been denied services to which you are entitled or are being discharged prematurely, you may submit a complaint to the Michigan Peer Review Organization.
You have the right to leave the facility against your physician’s advice, to the extent permitted by law.
You have the right to be informed of the existence of business relationships among the hospital, educational institutions, other health care providers and/or payers, which directly relate to your medical care.

Respectful & Safe Care.

You have the right to be treated with courtesy, dignity and respect at all times.
You have the right to have your cultural, psychological, spiritual and personal values, beliefs and preferences respected.
You have the right to pastoral care and other spiritual services.
You have the right to be free from use of physical or chemical restraint and/or seclusion as a means of coercion, convenience or retaliation.
You have the right to personal clothing, possessions, religious and symbolic items in your room as space allows—unless this infringes upon another patient’s rights or medical recommendations.
You have the right to have valuables kept safe through Saint Mary’s security procedures; and to receive timely responses to reasonable requests that you make for service.

Privacy & Confidentiality.

You have the right to privacy when discussing personal medical information and during examinations.
You have the right to have a person of your own sex present during physical examinations and treatment procedures.
You have the right to privacy during personal hygiene, except when assistance is needed for your personal safety and well being.
You have the right to remain clothed appropriately during a medical procedure.
You have the right to expect confidential treatment of communication regarding your care and your medical records.
You have the right to review medical records, to the extent permitted by law; to have information explained and interpreted as necessary, unless restricted by law.
You have the right to have a family member or representative of your choice and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.

Pain Management.

You have the right to have your pain prevented or adequately controlled.
You have the right to know what medications, treatment or anesthesia will be given during surgery; to understand the risks and benefits and side effects of any medication given.
You have the right to know what alternative treatment may be available.
You have the right to have your expressions of pain believed and responded to as quickly as possible.

Communication with Visitors.

You have the right to have your preference honored regarding visitors, including hospital staff not directly involved in your care.

Participation in Research Studies.

You have the right to have sufficient information so that you can make an informed choice about participation in a proposed research trial.
You have the right to be fully informed about the risks and benefits of such participation.
You have the right to refuse to participate without it negatively impacting the medical care to which you are entitled.
You have the right to contact Saint Mary’s Institutional Review Board about concerns you may have regarding participation in the study.

Billing Information.

You have the right to know the cost of the medical services provided by The Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s Health Care.
You have the right to know any financial limitations that may be placed upon provision of care.
You have the right to receive assistance if there is difficulty in paying your bill.
You have the right to receive an itemized list and explanation of your hospital or outpatient procedure bill.
You have the right to receive helpful, courteous service from the billing department.

Ethics Committee Assistance.

You have the right to participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise during your care; and to be informed of available resources, including a review by the Ethics Committee.
You have the right to contact the Ethics Committee. Ask your physician, nurse or other caregiver for assistance.

Complaints About Your Care.

You have the right to submit a complaint or file a grievance about the care you are receiving.
You have the right to have your complaints addressed in a timely and respectful manner. If you are not satisfied with the response you get from your immediate care givers, you may file a complaint with the Saint Mary’s Health Care Service and Risk Management Department, the Recipient Rights Advisor (for those with mental health needs), The State of Michigan Department of Community Health, or the Michigan Peer Review Organization. You may lodge a grievance with the state agency directly, regardless of whether you have first used the hospital’s complaint/grievance process.

Your Responsibilities.

To provide to the best of your ability, accurate and complete information about your health, including past illnesses, hospital stays and use of medicines you are taking (including any herbal supplements or other non-prescription drugs).
To ask questions when you do not understand treatment information or instructions.
To inform your physician(s) and other care givers when you do not feel capable of following treatment or care instructions.
To be considerate and respectful of the rights of other patients and the staff; to ask your visitors to do the same.
To provide accurate and adequate information to the hospital to arrange for payment of services, when needed.

If you have any questions concerning these rights, contact your physician or nurse for assistance.

Pertinent Contact Info:

Billing questions:
Saint Mary’s Health Care Patient Accounts Customer Services
200 Jefferson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.643.3500

Complaints or grievances:
Saint Mary’s Health Care Customer Relations Coordinator
200 Jefferson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.752.5444

Michigan Department of Community Health
Complaint Investigation Unit
PO Box 30664, Lansing, MI 48909
1.800.882.6006

Michigan Peer Review Organization
Beneficiary Complaint Department
22670 Haggerty Road, Suite 100
Farmington Hills, MI 48335
1.800.365.5899