Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Your right to privacy Read our hospitals' privacy policy

Lifespan hospitals recognizes the rights of each of our patients. State laws have been established to ensure that your rights are respected. Below is an easy to understand interpretation of the law. It is also our promise to you.

Your Rights

1. As a patient, you shall be afforded considerate and respectful care.
2. Upon request, you shall be furnished with the name of the physician responsible for coordinating your care.
3. Upon request, you shall be furnished with the name of the physician or other person responsible for conduction any specific test or other medical procedure performed by the hospital in connection with your treatment.
4. You shall have the right to accept or refuse any treatment by the hospital to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of such acceptance or refusal.
5. You have the right to designate a representative to make health care decisions on your behalf, and the right to formulate advance directives.
6. Your right to privacy shall be respected to the extent consistent with providing adequate medical care to the patient and with the efficient administration of the hospital. Nothing in this sections shall be construed to preclude discussion of a patient's case or examination of patient by appropriate medical personnel.
7. You right to privacy and confidentiality shall extend to all records pertaining to your treatment except as otherwise provided by law.
8. The hospital shall respond in a reasonable manner to the request of your physucian for medical services for you. The hospital shall also respond in a reasonable manner to your request for other services customarily rendered by the hospital to the extent such services do not require the approval of your physician or are not inconsistent with your treatment.
9. You may be transferred to another facility only after receiving an explanation of the need for and alternatives to such a transfer.
10. Upon request, you shall be furnished with the identities of all other health care and educational institutions that Rhode Island Hospital has authorized to participate in your treatment and the nature of the relationship between such institutions and the hospital.
11. If your physician believes you may benefit from participating in an authorized research program, your physician must thoroughly inform you of such proposal and offer you the right to refuse to participate in such a program.
12. Upon request, you have the right to examine your hospital bill and receive an explanation of the charges, regardless of the source of payment of such bill. Upon request, you shall be furnished with an itemized copy of your bill.
13. Upon request, you have the right to examine any pertinent hospital rules and regulations that specifically relate to your care or treatment.
14. Upon request you shall be allowed the use of a personal television set provided that the television complies with Underwriters Laboratory standards and OSHA standards, and so long as said television set is classified as a portable television.
15. There is no charge for furnishing a health record or part thereof to a patient, his or her attorney or authorized representative if the record is necessary for the purpose of supporting an appeal under any provision of the social security act and the request is accompanied by documentation of the appeal or a claim under the provisions of the Workers Compensation Act, chapters 29-38 of title 28. We shall furnish a health record requested pursuant to this section within thirty (30) days of the request.
16. You have the right to be involved in your care including managing pain effectively.
17. You have the right to be free from restraints and seclusion of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.
18. You have the right to request an itemized copy of your bill.
19. You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you.

Your Responsibilities

The hospital has the right to expect responsible behavior from its patients and their families. We expect that you will:

1. Provide the hospital or your physician with information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, allergies and any other matters relating to your health.
2. Inform us if you do not understand instructions given to you by the staff or if you think you will be unable to carry out any particular instruction.
3. Not take any drugs that have not been prescribed by your physician and administered by hospital staff.
4. Be considerate of other patients and their visitors, particularly with regard to adherence to the hospital's no-smoking policy, noise and your visitors.
5. Provide complete and sufficient information necessary for insurance processing of your bill.
6. Assume the financial responsibility of paying for all services rendered either through your insurance or by taking personal responsibility to pay for any services that are not covered by insurance.
7. Keep all appointments and advise the hospital or physician when you are unable to keep an appointment.
8. Let hospital personnel know if you have prepared advance directives for healthcare (Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and/or Living Will) and provide a copy of any advance directive document(s) to Rhode Island Hospital.
9. As a major teaching institution, we have a commitment to the education of future health care professionals. While you do have rights as a patient, you also have a responsibility to participate in the process of medical education as authorized by Rhode Island Hospital.

If you have questions or suggestions, please contact the ethics committee at your hospital. If you have concerns, you may contact the R.I. State Department of Health, 3 Capital Hill, Providence, RI 02908, or call 401-222-2566.