Your Rights & Responsibilities

Standards for Privacy/Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Because of our belief in dignity and value of each person, we at MercyOne affirm that each patient will receive accessible, respectful, skillful and compassionate care without discrimination as to race, color, creed, gender, marital status, beliefs, national origin, age, disability, diagnosis or ability to pay.

You have the right:

To make informed decisions regarding your own health care, and to be involved in the development of care planning and implementation of treatment.
To compassionate, competent and respectful care of body, mind and spirit provided in a collaborative and interdisciplinary manner by qualified individuals at all times.
To personal privacy and confidentiality of health information.
To spiritual counseling.
To education regarding your condition, its causes and treatment.
To know your rights, exercise your rights and have access to a grievance process for unresolved complaints.

You have the responsibility:

To participate in your plan of care, and cooperate and follow the care prescribed or recommended for you by your physician, nurses or allied health personnel.
To accept the consequences for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow the instructions of your caregivers.
To provide your caregivers with accurate and complete information about symptoms, complications and side effects, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters relating to your health care.
To notify your physician or nurse if you do not understand your diagnosis, treatment or prognosis.
To accept the financial obligations associated with your care and to fulfill these obligations as promptly as possible.
To know and to follow rules and regulations of the medical center.
To protect your valuables by sending them home with family members or having them placed in the medical center safe.
To inform the medical center personnel of your Advanced Directive Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or Living Will and to provide the medical center with a copy.
To sign required consents and releases for care.
To advise your nurse, physician or other caregivers of any dissatisfaction you may have in regard to your care at the medical center.
To be considerate of the rights of other patients and the medical center personnel and to assist in the control of noise and the number of visitors you receive.

Questions?

If you have questions about your rights and responsibilities when in the medical center, please dial "O" for switchboard and ask for the nursing supervisor.

Advance Directives

You have the right to refuse or accept medical treatment after being informed of the procedures’ benefits and risks. You also have the right to appoint someone to make these decisions for you should you become unable to do so. A brochure entitled “Advance Directives for Health Care” was offered to you upon admission. Please review the brochure and discuss the issues with your family. If you need assistance, contact your physician, nurse, spiritual care provider, social worker or your attorney for information. If you need an additional copy of the brochure, contact MercyOne North Iowa Patient Registration at 641-428-7236 or MercyOne New Hampton Patient Registration at 641-394-4121.

Tobacco Free

MercyOne North Iowa is tobacco free for your health. All our facilities and grounds are tobacco free, inside and out. This provides a safer environment for everyone who comes here to work.

No Balloons

MercyOne North Iowa does not allow balloons (latex or Mylar) within the hospital. People have developed allergies towards latex, which can lead to serious illness and in some incidents, even death. While Mylar balloons do not contain latex, it is hard to distinguish between the two materials as new designs/products are available that look very similar to each other.

Medications

While hospitalized, patients receive all medications from the medical center pharmacy so that staff can closely monitor and control medications taken by patients. Medications brought to the medical center are noted on the patient record and then sent home with a relative when possible or stored in the medical center. If your medications are stored, please remember to take these home when you are discharged.

Lost and Found

If you lose an item during hospitalization, please contact the unit clerk of the nursing unit from which you were discharged. Contact MercyOne North Iowa Ambassadors at 641-428-7649 for items misplaced in public areas such as waiting rooms, restrooms and the cafeteria. For the lost and found at MercyOne New Hampton, please call 641-394-4121.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are available on all nursing units but getting in and out of them without assistance can be hazardous. Please ask for help from a member of the hospital staff.