Patient Bill of Rights - Dorchester House Multi-Service Center

Dorchester House Multi-Service Center recognizes, supports and protects the following patient rights:

To a prompt and adequate response to reasonable requests and needs for treatment or service within the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center’s (DHMSC) capacity
To prompt life-saving treatment in an emergency without discrimination based on economic status or source of payment
To considerate and respectful care
To accept or refuse to be examined, observed or treated by students or any other DHMSC staff without jeopardizing access to psychiatric, psychological or other medical care or attention
To provide or receive assistance to execute a Health Care Proxy pursuant to law
To informed consent to the extent provided by law
Upon request, to obtain from DHMSC the name and specialty, if any, of the physician or other person responsible for the patient’s care or the coordination of such care
Upon admission, to information about the DHMSC’s policy regarding patient’s rights and responsibilities
Upon request, to receive any information which DHMSC has available relative to financial assistance and free health care
Upon request, to obtain an explanation as to the relationship, if any, of the DHMSC or any physician practicing at the DHMSC or at any other health care facility or educational institution, in so far as said relationship relates to the patient’s care or treatment
To refuse to serve as a research subject or to refuse to accept any care or examination when the primary purpose is educational or informational rather than therapeutic
To privacy during medical treatment or other rendering of care within the DHMSC’s capacity
To confidentiality of records and communications, as prescribed by law
Upon request, to inspect his or her medical record and to receive a copy thereof, as prescribed by law
Upon request, to receive a copy of any itemized DHMSC bill or other statement of charges submitted to a third party for the patient’s care
To complete information on all medically viable alternative treatments in the case of patients suffering from breast cancer
Except in cases of emergency surgery, at least 10 days prior to an operation for breast implant, to receive information regarding the risks and disadvantages associated with breast implantations
At the time of pre-admission, each maternity patient shall receive complete statistics on the DHMSC’s deliveries by cesarean section, nurse-midwife deliveries, deliveries in birthing and delivery rooms, prenatal monitoring, induction, various delivery procedures, anesthesia, and the percentage of patients who breast-feed
To appropriate assessment and management of pain

Any individual who has concerns about patient care or safety in our organization is encouraged to contact the appropriate manager. If the concerns are not adequately resolved, we encourage the individual to contact the Joint Commission On Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181 or call (603) 792-5000.

To ensure the best possible care for all patients, the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center (DHMSC) asks each patient to accept the following responsibilities:

To keep appointments, or to notify the DHMSC when you cannot keep a scheduled appointment
To provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illness, hospitalizations, medications, advance directives and other matters relevant to your healthcare
If you have a complaint regarding your care or have a question concerning your rights and responsibilities as a patient, please call our DHMSC Quality Improvement Coordinator at (617) 825-0110 ext. 8356
To be considerate of other patients, particularly with reference to noise
To observe the DHMSC’s smoke-free policy
To abide by the DHMSC’s rules and regulations
To provide the DHMSC with necessary information regarding coverage for your care
To be responsible for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow your practitioner’s instructions
To inform the DHMSC promptly if you do not understand any matter relating to your care and treatment or if there are instructions with which you can not comply