Patient Rights & Responsibilities

This information is also available in Spanish and Korean.

Derechos y Responsabilidades del Paciente
환자의 권리와 의무

Englewood Hospital, part of Englewood Health, is committed to educating patients and their families on their rights under Federal and NJ State Laws. As a patient at Englewood Hospital, you have the following rights and responsibilities:

Patient Rights

Medical Care

To receive the care and health services that the Englewood Hospital is required by law to provide;

To receive an understandable explanation from your physician of your complete medical condition, recommended treatment, expected results, risks involved and reasonable medical alternatives. If your physician believes that some of this information would be detrimental to your health or beyond your ability to understand, the explanation must be given to your next of kin or guardian. This release of information and the reason for not informing you directly shall be documented in the medical record;

To be informed if Englewood Hospital has authorized other health care and educational institutions to participate in your treatment. You also shall have a right to know the identity and function of these institutions, and to refuse to allow their participation in your treatment;

To give informed, written consent prior to the start of specified, non-emergency medical procedures or treatments. Your physician should explain to you, in words that you understand, specific details about the recommended procedure, treatment, any risks involved, time required for recovery and any reasonable medical alternatives;

To refuse medication and treatment to the extent permitted by law after possible consequences of this decision have been explained. Such refusal shall be documented in your medical record. You also have the right to request treatment;

To be included in experimental research only if you give informed, written consent. You have the right to refuse to participate;

To complete an Advance Directive outlining your wishes related to health care should you become incapacitated and to have your medical team comply with your wishes;

To participate in the planning of your care and treatment, and to refuse medication and treatment. Such refusal shall be documented in your medical record;

Communication and Information

To be informed of the names and functions of all health care professionals providing you with personal care;

To receive free of charge, aids and services for people with disabilities, to communicate effectively, such as written information in other formats including large print and electronic;

To receive, as soon as possible, the services of a qualified interpreter, free of charge, if you need one, to help you communicate with your medical team. Please request these services from any member of your healthcare team. Written information in other languages is also provided upon request;

To receive, upon request, Englewood Hospital’s written policies and procedures regarding life-saving methods and the use or withdrawal of life support;

To receive, upon request, information about how to gain access to and participate in the ethical resolution process surrounding your care;

To be advised in writing of Englewood Hospital rules regarding the conduct of patients and visitors;

To receive a summary of your patient rights that includes the name and telephone number of the staff member to whom you can direct questions or complaints about possible violations of your rights. If at least 10% of Englewood Hospital service area speaks your native language, you can receive a copy of your rights in your native language if requested;

Cost of Hospital Care

To receive a copy of Englewood Hospital payment rates, an itemized bill, if requested, and an explanation of the charges. To appeal any charges, and receive an explanation of the appeals process;

To be informed by Englewood Hospital if part or your entire bill will not be covered by insurance. Englewood Hospital is required to help you obtain public assistance and private health care benefits to which you may be entitled;

Medical Records

To have prompt access to the information in your medical record. If your physician feels that this information is detrimental to your health, your next of kin or guardian has a right to see your record;

To obtain a copy of your medical record, at a reasonable fee, within 30 days after a written request to Englewood Hospital;

Discharge Planning

To receive information and assistance from your attending physician and other health care providers if you need to arrange for continuing health care after your discharge from Englewood Hospital;

To receive sufficient time before discharge to arrange for continuing health care needs;

To be informed by Englewood Hospital about any appeal process to which you are entitled by law if you disagree with your discharge;

Pain Management

To receive information about pain and pain relief measures from concerned staff who are committed to pain prevention;

To health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain and practice state-of-the-art pain management;

Transfers

If you are an inpatient, to be transferred to another facility only when you or your family has made the request, if you are mentally incapacitated; or in instances where Englewood Hospital is unable to provide you with the care you need;

To receive, in advance, an explanation from a physician of the reasons for your transfer and possible alternatives;

Personal Needs

To be treated with courtesy, consideration and respect for your dignity and individuality;

To have access to storage space for private use. Englewood Hospital must also have a system to safeguard your personal property;

If you are an inpatient, to contract directly with a NJ licensed registered professional nurse of your choosing for private professional nursing care during your hospitalization;

Freedom from Abuse and Restraints

To freedom from physical and mental abuse and harassment;

To freedom from restraints, unless they are authorized by a physician for a limited period of time to protect the safety of you and others, and other less restrictive measures have been taken. Seclusion and restraints may only be used in combination in an emergency situation to ensure your physical safety and must be monitored continually. Drugs and other medications shall not be used for discipline of patients or for convenience of facility personnel;

To access protective services in cases of abuse or neglect;

To not be required to perform work for the facility unless the work is part of your treatment and is performed voluntarily by you. Such work shall be in accordance with local, State and Federal laws and rules;

Privacy and Confidentiality

To have physical privacy during medical treatment and personal hygiene functions, unless you need assistance;

To confidential treatment of information about you;

To be treated with courtesy, consideration, respect and recognition of your dignity, individuality and right to privacy, including, but not limited to, auditory and visual privacy. Privacy shall also be respected during staff discussions;

Legal Rights

To treatment and medical services without discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, domestic partnership or civil union, gender identity or expression, disability, diagnosis, including pregnancy, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery from childbirth or related medical condition, ability to pay, or source of payment;

To exercise all of your constitutional, civil and legal rights; 

To exercise spiritual beliefs and cultural practices, including the right to independent personal decisions, as long as these do not interfere with treatments or harm others. No religious beliefs or practices, or any attendance at religious services shall be imposed upon any patient;

To not be discriminated against because of age, race, religion, sex, nationality, or ability to pay, or deprived of any constitutional, civil and/or legal rights solely because of receiving services from the facility;

Visitation Rights

To receive the visitors designated by the patient, including but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner, another family member, or a friend. Also included is the right to withdraw or deny such visitation at any time;

To have a family member, friend, or other individual to be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of the stay, unless the individual presence infringes on other’s rights, safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated.

Patient Responsibilities

To provide accurate and complete information about your present complaints, past illnesses, treatments, medications, hospitalizations and other matters relating to your health;

To report any changes in your condition to your healthcare provider;

To make it known whether you understand a course of action and what is expected of you;

To accept responsibility for refusing to accept a treatment or failing to follow the physician’s advice;

To ask your doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management;

To discuss pain relief options with your doctor or nurse;

To work with your doctor and nurse to develop a pain management plan;

To ask for pain relief when pain first begins;

To help the doctor and nurse measure your pain;

To tell the doctor or nurse if your pain is not relieved;

To arrive on time and to keep appointments or to notify Englewood Hospital in advance if you are unable to keep appointments;

To assure that your financial obligations to Englewood Hospital are met in a timely manner;

To follow all Englewood Hospital rules and regulations relating to patient care and conduct;

To be considerate of the rights of other patients;

To be courteous and respectful to all Englewood Hospital staff members.

Questions and Complaints/Grievances

You have the right to present questions or grievances to a designated Englewood Hospital staff member and to receive a response in a reasonable period of time.

We would appreciate an opportunity to answer any questions or resolve any concerns directly. You may contact a Patient Representative by dialing extension 3368 or from outside Englewood Hospital at 201-894-3368.

Englewood Hospital must provide you with an address and telephone number of the NJ Department of Health agency that handles questions and complaints for this facility. You may contact the NJ State Department of Health Complaint Hotline at 800-792-9770 or:

• U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights:
  Telephone: 800-368-1019
  Centralized Case Management Operations
  US Department of Health and Human Services
  200 Independence Ave, S.W.
  Room 509F HHH Bldg.
  Washington D.C. 20201
  Website: www.hhs.gov/ocr
  Email: ocrcomplaints@hhs.gov
• Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing NJ State Department of Health:
  Telephone: 800-367-6543
  Fax: 609-943-3013
  New Jersey Department of Health
  Division of Health Facility Survey and Field Operations
  PO Box 367
  Trenton, NJ 08625-0367
  Website: https://nj.gov/health
• State of NJ Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly:
  Telephone: 877-582-6995
  Fax: 609-943-3479
  PO Box 852
  Trenton, NJ 08625-0852
  Website: www.nj.gov/ooie
  Email: ombudsman@ltco.nj.gov

For information concerning Medicare coverage, call 800-MEDICARE or contact:

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services:
  Telephone: 877-267-2323
  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  7500 Security Blvd
  Baltimore, MD 21244

For information concerning Medicaid coverage, contact the Bergen County Board of Social Services Representative located in the hospital or call 201-894-3513.

You have the right to report any safety concerns to The Joint Commission at:

• Telephone: 800-994-6610, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Central Time, weekdays
  Fax: 630-792-5636
  Office of Quality and Patient Safety (OQPS)
  The Joint Commission
  One Renaissance Boulevard
  Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
  Email: patientsafetyreport@jointcommission.org
  Website: www.jointcommission.org – use the “Report a Patient Safety Event” Link in the “Action Center” on the Home Page

Reports of patient safety events to The Joint Commission must include the health care organization’s name, street address, city and state.