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Your Rights & Responsibilities

Patient Rights

You Have the Right To:

  • Compassionate and respectful care, and to be free from any form of abuse, neglect or harassment
  • Know what rules and regulations apply to you as a patient
  • Have your personal privacy respected, and your individual dignity and comfort preserved
  • Reasonable access to care, without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, diagnosis, handicap, ability to pay or source of payment, within the capacity of the hospital
  • Reasonable accommodations shall be made for those with communication impairments and those who are Limited English Proficient persons to ensure that meaningful access to programs and services is not denied.
  • Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center’s ethical standards as specified in “The Ethical and Religious Directives For Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs).” and to be informed of the medical consequences of your decision
  • Discuss with your physician your diagnosis and prognosis, the treatment prescribed for you, and any instructions required for follow-up care
  • Receive from your physician the information necessary to give informed consent prior to any procedures and/or treatment
  • Have clinical decisions regarding your treatment based solely on your identified health care needs
  • Formulate an advance directive and appoint a durable power of attorney. MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center will not honor advanced directives in the outpatient setting.
  • Refuse to participate in research projects, and to full disclosure of the procedures, risks, benefits,and alternatives if you decide to participate
  • Request a consultation or second opinion from another physician or specialist
  • Change physicians and/or hospitals
  • Reasonable continuity of care
  • Know the names and professional status of the physicians, nurses and staff responsible for your care
  • Make decisions regarding your own health care, and to be involved in the development and implementation of your treatment plan, including the management of your pain
  • Appropriate assessment and management of your pain
  • The confidentiality of all communications and records pertaining to your care
  • Access the information contained in your medical record
  • Obtain information about any relationship the hospital and physicians have with other institutions and physicians insofar as your care is concerned
  • Examine, and receive an explanation of, your bill.
  • Receive visitors of your choice and right to designate a support person to assist while in the hospital. Visitation may be limited based on your condition and/or specific department policies for visitation
  • Have your spiritual needs addressed, either by the Spiritual Care staff or by having your pastor of faith community contacted at your request
  • Reasonable safety, and to access protective services, during your stay
  • Be free from physical restraint, seclusion, and drugs used as a restraint, unless your medical condition warrants such use and other, less restrictive interventions have been deemed ineffective.  Be free of any restraint used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation
  • File a grievance/complaint with hospital administration (712-279-2010)
  • File a complaint with the Office of Quality Monitoring, The Joint Commission at (800) 994-6610 or www.jointcommission.org
  • Iowa Clinics and Hospital: the info on DIA; Iowa Dept. of Inspections and Appeals, Division of Health Facilities, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines IA 50319; telephone (515) 281-4115
  • Nebraska Clinics: the info regarding Nebr DHSS; Nebraska Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit, PO Box 94986, Lincoln, NE 68509; telephone (402) 471-0316
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