Home / Patients & Visitors / Patient Rights and Responsibilities

• myBWMC Portal
• Getting Here
• Financial Information
• Visiting Hours
• Out of Town Visitors
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Joint Commission Public Notice
• Patient Rights and Responsibilities
• Spiritual Care
• CaringBridge

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

It's your health care. Never be afraid to ask, Why?

At Baltimore Washington Medical Center, we want what is best for you. No matter what the service, the hospital always has one principle in mind. Patient safety.

There are several ways Baltimore Washington Medical Center works to protect its patients. We support the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) nationwide patient safety goals, considering the patient in every step of care.

But there are also ways patients can protect themselves when it comes to medical care. Get involved with your care, and ask questions if you are not sure of something. Below, we've listed some tips that can help, based on information from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Institute of Safe Medication Practices.

Your medicines

• Tell your doctors about all the medicines you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, as well as vitamins and herbal supplements.
• Inform your doctor about any allergies or bad reactions to certain medicines.
• Ask your doctor questions about the medicine, such as, "What is this medicine for," "How long am I supposed to take it," "What are the potential side effects?" and "How should I store it?"
• Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about the dosage or directions on the medicine labels.
• Keep an up-to-date list of the medicines you take, both prescription and over-the-counter. Don't forget about vitamins and herbal supplements.

Hospital stays

• When you go to the hospital, take the list of all your medications with you.
• Remind health care workers who have direct contact with you to wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand gel.
• Remind your nurse or doctor if you have any allergies. If you are having tests or procedures done, be sure to include allergies to iodine or shellfish. Latex allergies are also important to note.
• Before you are discharged, ask your doctor or nurse to explain your at-home treatment plan, including when and how to take your medicines, what to look for that might mean you're getting worse and whom to contact.

Surgery

• If you are having surgery, make sure you and your surgeon agree on the procedure that is to be performed. At Baltimore Washington Medical Center, surgeons and other physicians are required to initial the site for the procedure, especially when a procedure involves part of the body with multiple structures, such as the fingers, or laterality, such as the arms.

Remember: It's important to speak up and ask questions if you have concerns about your care. Don't assume the doctor and staff members know everything about your medical background. You need to provide the doctors and nursing or hospital staff with as much information as possible about your particular situation and your desired care. If you have concerns or need to make a complaint, you have the right to contact management. Please ask to speak with the Nursing Supervisor. If you feel it is necessary to report your concerns to Joint Commission, please do so by calling the Joint Commission Office of Quality Monitoring at 1-800-994-6610 or writing to: The Joint Commission, Quality Monitoring, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181.

For more information about patient safety, visit one of the following websites:

• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
• Institute of Medicine
• Institute of Safe Medication Practices
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Patient Bill of Rights

We feel so strongly about your rights, we've put it in writing

Preamble
Baltimore Washington Medical Center respects the rights of the individual and therefore, accepts and recommends the following principles, which it believes regulates human conduct in the health care setting.
The task of implementing these principles is difficult in a health care setting, as the delivery of health care requires the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures which are often complex, and which necessarily invade the person and offend the sensibilities of patients. This fact, however, increases rather than diminishes the medical center's responsibilities to recognize and preserve the dignity and integrity of the patient, as described in the principles.

Principle I
The patient, as a human being and as a citizen, is entitled to have reasonable equal access to care and to be treated with dignity by receiving considerate and respectful care, and by the recognition of his/her integrity as an individual:

1. The medical center's policies and procedures are formulated to afford the patient consideration and respect by the staff, during the course of every phase of the patient's care, inclusive of the psychological, spiritual and cultural variables that could influence the perception of illness during his/her treatment.
2. The medical center will ensure that, within its capacity and applicable law and regulation, patient requests and needs will be properly considered. The patient is apprised of decisions made in his/her behalf or pertaining to his/her care.
3. The medical center and its staff respect the sensitivity and privacy of the patient. The patient is not to be unnecessarily subjected to the view of other patients, visitors or employees in the course of examination and treatment. The staff has been instructed in protocols and courtesies appropriate to avoid the embarrassment of the patient. Only those persons involved in the patient's care or in training programs which are an integral aspect of the medical center's mission are to be present during the administration of care to the patient. Any patient whose length of stay is greater than seven days and if his/her condition allows, may with a physician order, go to the courtyard or outside the medical center campus for fresh air.
4. The medical center will protect the patient's privacy by limiting the disclosure of clinical information that identifies the patient and his/her condition and care, unless the patient gives permission. Separate consideration is to be made in police cases or in cases involving public, prominent figures.
5. The medical center will provide every patient with a written bill stating the medical center charges. It will set forth the charges in such a manner that, upon the request of the patient, the medical center can provide further explanation of the charges without undue delay. Requests for an explanation of charges will be channeled to personnel qualified to provide the explanation, and prompt response given.

Principle II
A medical center patient is entitled to informed participation in the decisions affecting his/her health, care and well-being. This includes managing pain effectively and those decisions pertaining to the withholding of resuscitate services or the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. To do this, the patient has a right to receive information that is appropriate of the age, the understanding, and language of the patient and addresses special needs of vision, speech, and hearing impaired patients.

1. The patient is entitled to know the name of the physician responsible for directing and coordinating his/her care, as well as the names of other physicians and personnel participating in his/her care. The medical center will have information recorded on the patient's medical record so that if the patient has any questions about the identity of such persons, the appropriate medical center personnel can promptly identify and furnish that information.
2. A patient (or health care decision-maker or agent) is entitled to have access to information, including the nature of the proposed care, treatment, services, medication, interventions or procedures, the risks or side effects including potential problems related to the recuperation, benefits and alternatives including the possible results of not accepting the proposed care, treatment and services, about his/her condition and course of treatment, and to be informed of any human experimentation or other research/educational projects affecting his/her or treatment. Refusal to participate will not compromise their access to care. It is the responsibility of the patient's physician to maintain communication with the patient with respect to such condition and care.
3. A patient (or health care decision-maker or agent) has the right to make decisions regarding his/her care must consent to procedures and treatment rendered. While it is the responsibility of patient's physician to provide information for the patient to make his/her decision to allow treatment, the medical center has procedures to aid patient/physician communications.
4. A legally competent patient (or health care decision-maker or agent) has the right to refuse treatment, such as the withholding of resuscitation services or the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, as permitted by law and is notified of that right at the time of admission when a copy of existing advance directives is requested, or information and assistance is offered to develop them. The medical center has established procedures for communications between the patient and physician to inform the patient of the consequences of his/her decision to refuse treatment.
5. A patient (or health care decision-maker or agent) is entitled to participate in the consideration of ethical issues arising in his/her care. The medical center has established mechanisms by which these issues are considered, including consultation with the Medical Ethics Committee. Patients and, when appropriate, their families will be informed about the outcomes of care, treatment, and services, including unanticipated outcomes.
6. A patient is to be notified of information obtained by the medical center with respect to available facilities to which a patient may be transferred. While it is the responsibility of the patient's physician to assess the patient's medical needs, the medical center will endeavor to keep the patient aware of alternatives available to him/her.
7. Patients have the right to have their reports of pain accepted, respected and acted on by health care professionals.
8. The patient has the right to a secure environment and to be protected from real or perceived abuse, neglect, or exploitation from anyone, including staff, students, volunteers, other patients, visitors, or family members.
9. The patient has a right to access protective services to help keep them free from mental, physical, sexual and verbal abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Principle III
A medical center patient must recognize the considerations and responsibilities of other patients and persons providing health care to him/her.

1. The medical center maintains reasonable rules for the patient's conduct, and requires the patient, in a fair and courteous manner, to maintain him/herself within these limits. When decisions are made upon matters of conduct, not subject to routine practices, the patient will be advised, upon his/her request, as to who has made the decisions and why.
2. The patient is responsible for providing, to the best of his or her knowledge, accurate and complete information about his/her medical history, a copy of his/her advance directives and other matters relating to his/her health or care. He/she (or health care decision-maker or agent) is also responsible for indicating his/her comprehension of a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him/her for compliance.
3. The patient is responsible to conform to medical center rules and to act in a manner consistent with the well being of other patients, and with the responsibilities of physicians and the medical center staff to other patients.
4. The patient is responsible to provide his/her name and date of birth when receiving medications or blood products and during taking of blood samples.
5. Patients and their families are responsible for the outcomes if they do not follow the care, treatment, and service plan or instructions. Patients and families must ask questions when they do not understand their care, treatment, and service, or what they are expected to do.

Principle IV
A medical center patient, when terminally ill, is entitled to respectful, responsive care directed to optimizing the patient's comfort and dignity providing appropriate treatment for secondary symptoms when applicable, aggressively managing pain and responding to the psychosocial and spiritual concerns of the patient and family.

1. The medical center recognizes the needs of the dying patient in areas pertaining to the prevention and/or treatment of secondary symptoms, pain management and family support through continuous assessment and appropriate intervention during the course of the patient's hospitalization.

Principle V
A medical center patient is entitled to information concerning the initiation, review and resolution of patient concerns regarding the care rendered during his/her hospitalization.

1. The medical center is committed to the enhancement of quality patient care and as such, a patient complaint/grievance system is provided to respond to the diversity of concerns and needs of its patients.
2. Complaints or grievances should be addressed with the department director or supervisor first. If unable to be resolved at that level, the director or supervisor will forward a completed Patient Grievance form to the Risk Management Department and provide the person with the department's telephone number (410-553-8049) for further investigation.
3. The medical center is responsible for the timely initiation of an investigation and for pursing established steps until resolution of those complaints that can be settled. This should be accomplished within 30 days.
4. If the concerns have not been resolved to the patient's or family's satisfaction, complaints can be filed with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at 410-402-8016.