OrthoIndy and OrthoIndy Hospital’s Patient Rights & Responsibilities

At OrthoIndy Hospital, we are dedicated to ensuring that each patient entrusted to our care is treated with dignity, respect and compassion. We recognize that all patients have basic rights, and we are committed to honoring these rights. Likewise, OrthoIndy Hospital has a right to expect reasonable and responsible behavior from patients, their relatives, representatives and friends. The following is a summary of rights and responsibilities that we believe serves as a foundation for a good relationship between patients and OrthoIndy Hospital staff and providers.

Patient Rights

  1. You have the right to participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care.
  2. You and/or your representative have the right to make informed decisions regarding your care, the right to be told your current health status and to be involved in care planning and treatment.
  3. You can appoint someone to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to make decisions for your- self. This is called an Advance Directive. We will provide you with information about Advance Directives, ask if you have an Advance Directive so we can place a copy in our medical record and honor your wishes expressed in the Advance Directive you provide. Your representative can exercise your rights when you are not able to speak for yourself. Your Advance Directive may include, at a minimum, your wishes regarding: end of life care; to be informed or not informed of the approaching stage of end of life; your plan for a safe and comfortable death; avoidance of discomfort and preservation of your dignity; pain relief that is as effective as possible; emotional support; avoidance of assessments and intrusions that do not relieve suffering at the end of life; unencumbered support of family and friends; spiritual care; palliative medicine and/or hospice consultation; information about organ donation; and the benefits of enrolling in hospice care to provide support for you, your family and loved ones. Please be aware that OrthoIndy Hospital suspends an Advance Directive indicating “Do Not Resuscitate” during a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia.
  4. You have the right to have a family member or representative of your choice, and/or your own doctor, notified promptly that you have been admitted to the hospital. You have the right to designate a lay care giver who will assist you with your care at home after you leave the hospital. You have the right to designate a lay care giver, but if you do, we will ask you to complete a form to give us permission to release your medical information to that person. Prior to your discharge, we will attempt to communicate with your lay care giver about your post-discharge instructions. We will also provide you with information at the time of your discharge regarding your post-discharge needs at home, and you should share this with your lay care giver as well.
  5. You have the right to personal privacy.
  6. You have the right to receive care in a safe setting.
  7. You have the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
  8. You have the right to confidentiality of your medical records.
  9. You have the right to access information contained in your clinical records within a reasonable time frame. We use electronic medical records, which means that most of your medical records are stored in our computers instead of on paper. We will provide a copy for you upon your request.
  10. You have the right to be free from any restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience for retaliation by staff.
  11. You have the right to be fully informed of and to consent or refuse to participate in any unusual, experimental or research project without compromising your access to services. If you agree to be part of the study, you will be asked to sign specialty consents that tell the expected risks and benefits of being in the study. You don’t have to be in a study to get care at the hospital, but some new devices may only be available as part of a study. You can refuse to be in any research study, at any time, and it will not compromise your access to any of our services.
  12. You have the right to know the professional status of any person providing services to you.
  13. You have the right to know the reasons for any proposed change in the professional staff responsible for your care.
  14. You have the right to know the reasons for your transfer either within or outside the hospital. If you need care that we do not provide at our facility, you will be told that we do not offer the service and ask about a transfer to another hospital. Before a transfer we will contact the other hospital to make sure they have the services you need, and they agree to your transfer. In an emergency, you will be provided with care to stabilize your condition before transfer. A physician is available to the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A physician many not be physically present in the hospital during all hours that services are furnished to patients.
  15. You have the right to know the relationship(s) of the hospital to other persons or organizations participating in the provision of care to you. We are affiliated with OrthoIndy. The hospital meets the federal definition of a “physician owned hospital” and doctors who own or are employed by OrthoIndy (orthopedic physicians, physiatrists, hospitalists and anesthesiologists). A complete list of the physicians who own the hospital is available upon request. We have contracts with other independent physicians to provide their services to you, such as the radiologists (X-ray interpretations) and pathologists (lab interpretations). The independent doctors are not directly under our control and will send you a separate bill for their services. Let us know if you have concerns about them and we will investigate and/or assist you in getting any questions answered. We also have a contract with a company to provide durable medical equipment, such as crutches and walkers, that you may need at home after your surgery. This is offered as a convenience to you, but you are free to use a different company for your at home needs. You may be required to use certain companies for coverage by your health plan.
  16. You have the right to access the costs of the services you receive, and you may obtain an itemized bill upon request. (This is usually provided within two weeks.)
  17. You have the right to be informed of the source of the hospital’s reimbursement for your services and of any limitations which have been placed on your care. We will bill you for the services you receive, and if you have health insurance or are covered by a government program such as Medicare or Medicaid, we will, with your permission, bill your insurance or other payment source. When we know that your insurance plan or government program limits the number of hospital days they will pay for, our Utilization Review or Discharge Planning staff will tell you, and ask you to decide whether you want to pay for those days or items that will not be covered.
  18. You have the right to have pain treated as effectively as possible.
  19. You have the right to receive visitation privileges consistent with your visitation preference. Visitation will not be denied on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity, national organization, sexual orientation or disability.
  20. You or your representative can exercise your rights while receiving care in the hospital without coercion, discrimination or retaliation.
  21. You have the right to sign an Organ and Tissue Donor form as part of our admissions process and your family or representative has the right to informed consent of donation of tissues and organs.
  22. Mechanism to inform each patient of his or her rights in a language the patient readily understands – at a minimum via written text.
  23. You have the right to be provided necessary assistive devices, including language and hearing interpreters if needed at no cost to you. Tell us what you need during registration or tell your nurse once you arrive at the hospital.

 

Patient Responsibilities

  1. Respect and Consideration: You are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and staff. This includes not smoking and maintaining reasonable noise limits with family and guests. You are responsible for being respectful of the property of others and of the hospital. You understand that any abusive or disre- spectful behavior could result in early dismissal or termination from OrthoIndy Hospital. Visitors or guests who become disruptive may have their visitation privileges revoked.

  2. Safety: You play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active, involved or informed member of your healthcare team. You are responsible to:
    a. Work with your doctor, nurse or other healthcare providers to make decisions about your care.
    b. Notify your primary care physician of changes to your plan of care.
    c. Ask a family member, representative or friend to be part of the healthcare team if you are very sick.
    d. Ask questions until you understand the answers (about treatments, procedures, medications, etc.)
    e. Learn about the possible risks of self-refusing a test or procedure.
    f.  Ask why a test or treatment is needed, how it can help you and if you would be better off without it. Know that more is not always better.
    g. Make sure that you and your provider all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done if you are having surgery.
    h. Ask your doctor or healthcare providers to explain the recommended or prescribed treatment plan.
    i.  Ask for information about your medicines, if any, in terms you can understand. You will need to know, at a minimum:
         - What it is for
         - How to take it
         - How long to take it
         - What to do if there are side effects
         - If it is safe to take with other medicines, foods or supplements
         - What food, drink, activities to avoid
         - Where to store it

  3. Rules and Regulations: You are responsible for following rules and regulations that apply to patients at OrthoIndy Hospital. These include but are not limited to*:
    a. No smoking or use of tobacco or electronic cigarette or vape devices.
    b. No unauthorized firearms or weapons on property.
    c. No solicitation of any personal products or goods.
    d. No alcoholic beverages.
    e. No illicit non-prescribed drugs on campus.
        *Entire list of rules and regulations are available upon request.

  4. Pain Management: You are responsible for:
    a. Working with the healthcare providers to develop a pain management plan.
    b. Asking the healthcare provider what to expect of pain and pain management.
    c. Helping the healthcare provider assess your pain.
    d. Discussing pain relief options with the healthcare providers.
    e. Telling the healthcare providers about any concerns you have about taking pain medication.
    f.  Asking for pain relief when pain first begins.
    g. Compliance with healthcare provider’s orders regarding medication.
    h. Telling the healthcare provider if and when pain is not relieved.

  5. Providing Information: As a patient, you are an integral part of the healthcare team. Therefore, you are responsible for:
    a. Participating in your care and healthcare decisions.
    b. Providing, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, allergies and other matters related to your health.
    c. Reporting unexpected changes to your condition to the responsible practitioner.
    d. Communicating whether you clearly understand your plan of care and what it expected of you.

  6. Education: You are expected to participate in the teaching/learning process so that you will acquire and understand the skills and behaviors that promote recovery, maintain or improve function, or manage disease or symptom of progressions.

  7. Advance Directive: If you have an advance directive in a valid format and present it either at registration or to your healthcare provider, it will be retained in your medical record when appropriate. (Advance Directives forms are available upon request.) You are responsible for informing OrthoIndy Hospital and your healthcare providers if you create, modify or revoke an advance directive. An advance directive is not required to receive treatment, and you may waive your right to make one.

  8. Charges: You are responsible for assuring that your financial obligations for the healthcare services received are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

  9. Compliance: You are responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for your care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and other healthcare providers as they carry out your plan of care, implement the responsible practitioner’s orders and enforce applicable hospital rules and regulations. You are responsible for keeping appointments and for notifying OrthoIndy Hospital when you are unable to do so.

  10. Refusing Treatment: You are responsible for your actions if you refuse treatment and do not follow the practitioner’s instructions. This includes the decision to leave Against Medical Advice (AMA).

  11. Personal Property: OrthoIndy Hospital is not responsible for cash, valuables or personal belongings that are brought to the hospital. If you are an inpatient, please leave all jewelry and valuables at home or send them home with family members or a person whom you trust to properly secure them.

Patient Complaints

If you have a complaint: Contact your healthcare provider or his/her supervisor to report a problem. You can also write to us at the address below. Please include your phone number or the preferred way that we may contact you.

Complaints to the Chief Executive Officer
OrthoIndy Hospital
8400 Northwest Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46278

We will respond as promptly as possible when you are on campus, and within two business days from the time OrthoIndy Hospital confirms receipt of your letter. For complaints about the quality of care OrthoIndy Hospital provides or a concern that you were sent home too early, please contact the Indiana Medicare quality standards agency referenced below:

Livanta, LLC
BFCC-QIO
108209 Guilford Road, Suite 202
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-1105
888.524.9900
 
Individuals may also report any complaints regarding OrthoIndy Hospital to the agencies that regulates healthcare:

Indiana State Department of Health Division of Acute Care Services
2 North Meridian St., 4A Indianapolis, IN 46204
317.233.7474 (Acute Care number)
317.233.1325 (ISDH Main Switchboard)

Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)
139 Weston Oaks Ct.
Cary, NC 27513
855.937.2242
www.achc.org/contact