Valley Baptist Health System recognizes that patients have a fundamental right to considerate and respectful care that safeguards their personal dignity, cultural, psychosocial and spiritual values. The goal of the patient rights and organization ethics function is to help improve patient outcomes by respecting each patient's rights and conducting business relationships with patients and the public in an ethical manner.

VBHS acknowledges patient rights by:

• Respecting the rights of patients.
  
•  Involving patients/families in decision-making about care, treatment and services provided.
  
• Obtaining informed consent.
  
• Having patients receive adequate information about the person(s) responsible for the delivery of their care, treatment, and service.
  
• Addressing the wishes of the patient relating to end of life decisions.
  
•  Demonstrating respect for the following patient/family needs: confidentiality, privacy, security.
  
• Supporting the patient’s right to access protective & advocacy services.
  
• Protecting research subjects & respects their rights during research, investigation & clinical trials involving human subjects.
  
•  Patients and families, when appropriate, are informed about the outcomes of care, treatment, services and including unanticipated outcomes.

Furthermore, VBHS encourages that:

• The wishes of the patient relating to end-of-life decisions are addressed.
  
• Comfort and dignity are optimized during end-of-life care.
  
• Patients have a right to pain management.
  
• The resolution of complaints from patients & families are addressed.
  
• Conflicts of interest are addressed.
  
• The integrity of decisions based on identified care, treatment and serviced needs of the patients are acknowledged.
  
• When care, treatment, and services are subject to internal or external review that results in the denial of care, treatment, services or payment; VBHS makes decisions regarding the provision of ongoing care, treatment, services or discharge based on the assessed needs of patients.
  
• Ethical behavior in its care, treatment, services and business practices are followed.
  
• Patients receive information about their rights
  
• Consent is obtained for regarding or filming made for purposes other than the identification, diagnosis, or treatment of the patient.
  
• Patients have the right to refuse care, treatment, and services in accordance with the laws and regulation.
  
• The patients right to and need for effective communication are respected.
  
• Patients have a right to an environment that preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image.
  
• Patients have a right to be free from mental, physical, sexual and verbal abuse, neglect and exploitation.
  
• If VBHS provided opportunities for work, a defined policy would address situations in which patient’s work.
  
• Patients are given information about their responsibilities while receiving care, treatment, and services.
  
• Employee will be provided initial job training and info about patient rights during orientation.

VBHS also recognizes that the Hospice patient has a right to:

• Unlimited contact with visitors and others.
  
• To keep and use personal clothing and possessions.
  
• To an environment that preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image.

In addition to the above patient rights, VBHS recognizes Behavioral Health Services patients have the following rights:

• Policies and procedures govern situations in which individuals served work for the service provider as part of their treatment.
  
• Individuals served can obtain a personal advocate when appropriate.
  
• Clinical staff help individuals served, their families, and the court determine the need for protective services.
  
• Individuals served, their families, and the courts are assisted in determining the need for guardianship through an independent assessment that ensures the individual served is the primary beneficiary.
  
• Use of special treatment procedures in consistent with the rights on individuals served and organization policies governing their use.

In addition to the above patient rights VBHS recognizes that patients of Watson W. Wise Memorial Dialysis Center and Raymondville Dialysis Center have the following rights:

1. treated with respect, dignity, and full recognition of the patient's individuality and personal needs;
2. provided privacy and confidentiality, for the patient and the clinical record;
3. provided a safe and comfortable treatment environment;
4. provided information in a manner to facilitate understanding by the patient and the patient's legal representative, family or significant other. Written patient information materials shall be available, with materials in languages other than English if the census of the facility includes more than four patients who read that primary language. In lieu of written materials in the patient's primary language, an interpreter may be provided if documentation and patient interview support that information sufficient to allow the patient to participate in the treatment has been communicated;
5. informed by a physician of the patient's medical status;
6. informed of all treatment modalities and settings for the treatment of end stage renal disease;
7. informed about and participates in, if desired, all aspects of care, including the right to refuse treatment, and informed of the medical consequences of such refusal;
8. aware of all services available in the facility and the charges for services provided;
9. informed about the facility's reuse of dialysis supplies, including hemodialyzers. If printed materials such as brochures are used to describe a facility and its services, the brochures shall contain a statement with respect to reuse;
10. assured of a reasonable response by the facility to the patient's requests and needs for treatment or service, within the facility's capacity, the facility's stated mission, and applicable law and regulation;
11. provided hours of dialysis that are scheduled for patient convenience whenever feasible or possible. Consideration shall be given to a patient's work or school schedule;
12. transferred or discharged only for medical reasons, for the patient's welfare or that of other patients or staff members, or for nonpayment of fees. A patient shall be given 30 calendar days advance notice to ensure orderly transfer or discharge, except in cases where the patient presents an immediate risk to others;
13. a facility shall establish, implement and enforce a policy whereby a disruptive patient or family member or non-compliant patient is given an opportunity and assistance to improve the problematic behavior prior to dismissal from the facility. The policy will include requirements at §117.43(b)(7);
14. provided protection from abuse, neglect, or exploitation as those terms are defined in §1.204 of this title (relating to Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Defined);
15. provided information regarding advance directives and allowed to formulate such directives to the extent permitted by law. This includes documents executed under the Natural Death Act, Health and Safety Code, Chapter 672; Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 135 concerning durable power of attorney for health care; and Health and Safety Code, Chapter 674 concerning out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate;
16. aware of the mechanisms and agencies to express a complaint against the facility without fear of reprisal or denial of services. A facility shall provide to each individual who is admitted to the facility a written statement that informs the individual that a complaint against the facility may be directed to the department. The statement shall be provided at the time of admission and shall advise the patient that registration of complaints may be filed with the director, Health Facility Licensing and Compliance Division, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756-3199, 1-888-973-0022. Correctional institutions shall not be required to include the 1-888 number in information provided to patients in these facilities; and
17. fully informed of the rights listed in this subsection, the responsibilities established by the facility, and all rules and regulations governing patient conduct and responsibilities. A written copy of the patient's rights and responsibilities shall be provided to each patient or the patient's legal representative upon admission and a copy shall be posted with the facility license certificate.
18. Provide your own transportation to and from the facility. When any assistance is needed, contact the social worker.
19. Bring all your medications to the facility for review at the beginning of each month or when requested. Furnish your own scheduled (pre-scribed or non-prescribed) medications while on dialysis.
20. Provide payment for all services rendered and be aware of those services covered by Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance. Inform the business office and dialysis social worker, in a timely manner, of any change in coverage.
21. Care for personal belonging and effects.