To show respect, we:
- Explain who we are and our role in your care.
- Provide care that protects your dignity and personal privacy.
- Respect cultural diversity, spiritual beliefs, personal practices, values and preferences.
- Provide privacy for your medical records and related discussions about your care and family information.
- Knock before entering patients’ rooms.
- Ask that you respect other patients and USA Health staff.
To support you and your family, we:
- Have no restrictions, limits or denials based upon age, race; ethnicity; religion; culture; language; physical or mental disability; socioeconomic status; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression or any legally protected classification.
- Try to notify a family member or the person you name when you are admitted.
- Welcome family/visitors of your choice.
- Provide space for someone who you choose to be with you throughout your stay, during exams or procedures.
- Provide age appropriate care.
- Only limit or restrict visitors for treatment reasons like infection risk or because of limited space or safety concerns.
- Provide supportive resources, with access to an interpreter translation service or auxiliary aids, as needed.
- Take actions to relieve or lessen your pain using medications and/or other comfort measures.
- Provide safe care in a secure setting free from abuse, neglect or harassment, with access to protective services.
- Receive restraint and seclusion-free care when not medically necessary.
- Seek your input and limit communication only when we need to for patient care and safety.
- Expect visitors and staff to perform routine hand hygiene.
- Allow you to refuse to speak to or see anyone not officially connected to USA Health.
You have choices about your care:
As a patient/legal guardian you have the right to...
- Any information you need to make decisions about your care.
- Know all choices for care, treatment, services, research and the risks and benefits involved or options.
- Refuse treatment when permitted by law.
- Ask for a second opinion from another doctor or specialist.
- Voice desired treatment plans through an advance directive, when applicable, or make your wishes known.
To assist you in being an active partner in your care, we will:
- Ask you to be involved in your plan of care and discharge planning.
- Encourage you to ask questions about your care.
- Ask you to select someone to make health care decisions for you if at some point you are unable to make those care decisions.
- Explain information in a way you can understand including:
- your diagnosis
- your test results
- outcomes of care
- unanticipated outcomes of care - Provide you with a list of protective and advocacy services, when needed, or offer other community resources.
- Explain our “Notice of Privacy” which explains your health information rights and how your health information will be used.
- Provide online access to a price index.
Your responsibilities are to:
- Share accurate health information including why you came for care, your health history, your medications and any other health-related matters.
- Ask questions to receive help in planning your care.
- Be informed and request more information, if needed.
- Speak up about concerns or complaints or suggestions.
- Show mutual respect in language and conduct.
- Meet your financial obligations.
Questions, Comments or Concerns? Contact us!
USA Health University Hospital / Children’s & Women’s Hospital | (251) 410-4706
USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute | (251) 665-8000
USA Health Physician Enterprise | (251) 434-3939
The Alabama Department of Public Health | (800) 356-9596
KEPRO | (844) 430-9504
The Joint Commission | www.jointcommission.org