Responding to Abuse

Trainees who are subject to inappropriate conduct should:

1. Report the behavior to their Supervising Faculty Physician, and
2. Report the behavior to their Program Director.

After receiving a report from a trainee, the Supervising Faculty Physician and Program Director should:

1. Notify the Practice Area Manager (Clinic Administrator or Unit Nursing Administrator) where the behavior occurred, and 
2. Notify Risk Management at 859-257-6212.

Faculty physicians who are subject to inappropriate conduct should:

1. Notify the Practice Area Manager (Clinic Administrator or Unit Nursing Administrator) where the behavior occurred, and 
2. Notify Risk Management at 859-257-6212.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

#A08-105 (April 2018)

Purpose: To define the role of UK HealthCare members in providing all patients with a high quality health care experience by recognizing the rights and responsibilities of all patients.

Policy: UK HealthCare seeks to provide high quality, compassionate care for all patients, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, culture, color, national origen, language, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, appearance, socio-economic status, physical or mental disability, religion, military or veteran status, or diagnosis. To meet this goal, UK HealthCare seeks to provide patient-centered services that are grounded in what the University Health Care Committee recognizes to be the ‘Rights and Responsibilities’ of all patients. All UK HealthCare staff are educated about patient rights and responsibilities during UK HealthCare new employee orientation and departmental orientation sessions. In addition, all staff shall comply with the established behavioral standards in patient care and UK HealthCare Values as a condition of employment. Patients receive communication about their rights and responsibilities at registration.

Procedure:

Patient Rights

1. All individuals who present for treatment have the right to expect UK HealthCare to make a reasonable response to their requests for services, consistent with UK HealthCare’s mission, services, policies, and fiscal responsibility.

2. No person shall be denied health care, service, or treatment because of their age, race, ethnicity, culture, color, national origen, language, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, appearance, socio-economic status, physical or mental disability, religion, military or veteran status, or diagnosis consistent with the services that UK HealthCare provides.

(a) Room assignment is not based on a patient’s age (with the exception of the Kentucky Children’s Hospital), race, ethnicity, culture, color, national origen, language, sex (except in semi-private room arrangements), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, appearance, socio-economic status, physical or mental disability, or religion. Disability shall be considered only in terms of providing the most accessible accommodations available to a patient. Patients with similar diagnoses may be assigned rooms within a specialty unit.

(b) UK HealthCare services and programs are made accessible to disabled individuals and consistent with diagnosis.

3. All patients have the right to request treatment and to be informed of their health status.

4. All patients have the right to receive information in a manner that is tailored to the patient’s age, language, and ability to understand.

5. All patients have the right to participate actively in decisions regarding their medical care and to decide whether to authorize or refuse procedures recommended by their practitioners. As a result, all patients have the right to an explanation, in understandable terms, of

(a) Identity of the physician primarily responsible for the patient’s care;

(b) Identity of all individuals participating in the patient’s care;

(c) Description of the nature and purpose of treatment;

(d) Possible benefits from treatment plan;

(e) Known serious side effects, risks, or drawbacks associated with treatment plan;

(f) Problems related to recovery;

(g) Likelihood of success;

(h) Alternative procedures or treatments; and

(i) Cost of treatment.

6. At the time of admission, patients are informed of their rights to authorize or refuse treatment. Patients or persons who authorize treatment shall be asked to sign an Authorizations and Agreements form and for specific treatment or procedures, shall be asked to sign a Consent to Treatment form.

7. When a recommended procedure is invasive or involves significant risk, the patient’s physician or a Licensed Independent Practitioner (“LIP”) shall undertake to provide information in a manner that the patient can understand. Patients or persons who authorize these special procedures are asked to sign a consent form for such procedures.

8. All patients have the right to have a family member or support person of their choosing, including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including same-sex domestic partner), or a friend, legal representative, or their primary care physician notified of their admission to a UK HealthCare hospital.

9. All patients have the right to receive care in a safe and secure setting, to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment, and to access protective services.

10. All adult patients have the right to formulate advance directives, to appoint a surrogate decision maker, and to write a living will, and to have those advance directives honored.

11. If the patient has developed an advance directive, the patient is requested to supply a copy for his or her medical record.

12. All patients have the right to considerate and respectful care that maintains their dignity and comfort and that is consistent with the patient’s personal values and belief systems.

13. All patients have the right to have others respect their privacy and to expect that all discussions and records pertaining to their care be treated confidentially. This includes the patient’s right to request that their hospitalization not be disclosed as directory information. While a UK HealthCare hospital typically acknowledges a patient’s admission through disclosure of directory information, the patient may choose not to have calls transferred to his or her room and to not have directory information released. Directory information includes a patient’s name, admission status and a one word description of the patient’s condition. UK HealthCare generally does not release directory information about patients in the custody of law enforcement, patients receiving care in the Behavioral Health Unit at UK HealthCare Good Samaritan Hospital or patients for whom the release of directory information may give rise to a safety risk to the patient or staff.

14. All patients have the right to obtain a copy of clinical information contained in their medical records within a reasonable amount of time. The right of patients in the custody of law enforcement to receive a copy of clinical information may be subject to restrictions imposed by such custody.

15. All patients have the right to be informed of UK HealthCare rules and regulations that affect them and their family and/or visitors.

16. All patients have the right to consent to or refuse care that involves research, experimental treatments, new technologies, or educational projects.

17. All patients have the right to complain about care without fear of recrimination or penalty, to have their complaints reviewed, and, when possible, resolved. This includes the right to file a formal, written, or verbal grievance when a patient issue cannot be resolved promptly by UK HealthCare staff. A patient may file a formal written or verbal grievance with UK HealthCare and/or directly with the Kentucky Office of the Inspector General (502-564-2888, CHR Building, 275 E Main 4EA, Frankfort, KY 40621), or with a UK HealthCare Patient Representative in H106, 257-2178

18. All patients have the right to expect reasonable continuity of care and to receive instructions regarding care at the time of discharge.

19. All patients have the right to examine and receive an explanation of all physician and UK HealthCare charges on request. The right of patients in the custody of law enforcement to receive an explanation of charges may be subject to restrictions imposed by such custody.

20. All patients have the right to supportive care including appropriate management of pain, treatment of uncomfortable symptoms, and support of psychological and spiritual concerns and needs. 

21. All patients have the right to request consultation from the UK HealthCare Ethics Committee regarding ethical issues surrounding the patient’s care.

22. All patients have the right to be informed of notices of non-coverage, when known, by third-party health care payers.
 

Patient Responsibilities

To reinforce UK HealthCare’s ability to provide the best care possible, all patients have the responsibility to:

1. Provide accurate and complete information regarding medical history, hospitalizations, and current health concerns.

2. Work with health care professionals to develop treatment plans, including questioning instructions and information they do not understand.

3. Follow treatment plans recommended by their physicians and other health professionals working under the attending physician’s direction or assume responsibility for consequences of informed refusal of treatment.

4. Be considerate of other patients, visitors, and staff and interact with other patients, visitors, faculty, and staff in a manner that is not verbally or physically abusive.

5. Follow UK HealthCare’s rules and regulations, including those related to tobacco and tobacco-product use.

6. Provide accurate and complete financial information and work with UK HealthCare in fulfilling financial obligations.

7. Provide a copy of any advance directive to be included in the medical record.

8. Demonstrate Respect and Consideration:

(a) Patients, as well as their family members, representatives and visitors, are expected to recognize and respect the rights of our other patients, visitors, and staff.

(b) Threats, violence, disrespectful communication or harassment of other patients or of any medical center staff member, for any reason, including because of an individual’s age, ancestry, color, culture, physical or mental disability, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, language, military or veteran status, appearance, socioeconomic status, national origen, race, religion, sexual orientation, or other aspect of difference are not tolerated. This prohibition applies to the patient as well as their family members, representatives, and visitors.

(c) In addition, patient or family requests for changes of nurses or other non-physician staff based solely on the nurse’s or other non-physician staff member’s race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity are not honored, except in rare circumstances.
 

Rights and Responsibilities of Minor Patients and Guardians

1. UK HealthCare recognizes that the rights of all patients extend to minor patients and their parents or guardians.

2. Kentucky Children’s Hospital encourages the parents or guardians to be involved in the care and treatment of the minor patient. Kentucky Children’s Hospital consults with and requires the consent of the parent or guardian before treating a minor, except when the minor is emancipated or considered independently responsible for his or her own acts, or pursuant to law. See also A06-000 Consent for Treatment for specific information regarding consent of minor and guardian.

Based on the special needs of pediatric patients, specific rights and responsibilities have been developed for such patients, their parents and guardians, visitors, faculty, and staff members at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital.

Intensive Care Units and Psychiatric Care Units Based on the special needs of intensive care patients and patients receiving psychiatric or behavioral health care treatment, specific rights and responsibilities have been developed for patients, visitors, family, faculty, and staff in these units.