Patient and Visitor Guide
Rights and Responsibilities
CHRISTUS Hospital is committed to providing care and service of the highest quality for children and adults, and to ensuring that the basic human rights of expression, decision making, and personal dignity are preserved. We are also committed to treating our patients with respect, understanding and Christian love. We realize that this commitment involves much more than attending to your medical needs. To keep your needs in focus, the following guidelines have been established to promote a better hospital/patient relationship. By doing this we are able to establish reference points for policy information and expectations of conduct in keeping with the Mission, Vision and Core Values of CHRISTUS Hospital.
Patient Rights
Access to Care. You have the right to impartial access to treatment or accommodations that are available or medically indicated, regardless of your race, creed, color, gender, age, disability, national origin or sources of payment.
Respect and Dignity. You have the right to considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of your personal dignity, values and beliefs.
Privacy and Confidentiality. You have the right, within the law, to personal and informational privacy. You have the right to access information contained in your clinical record within a reasonable time frame.
Personal Safety. You have the right to expect to receive care in a safe setting and to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
Protective Services. You have the right to access protective services and individuals or agencies authorized to act on your behalf.
Informed Consent. You have the right to reasonable, informed participation in decisions involving your health care.
Identity. You have the right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service to you and to know which physician or other practitioner is primarily responsible for your care.
Information. You have the right to obtain complete and current information about your diagnosis (to the degree known), the treatment prescribed, including risks, benefits, alternatives and any known prognosis from the health care professional responsible for coordinating your care.
Notification of Family and Physician. You have the right to have a family member or representative of your own choice and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.
Consultation. You have the right to consult with a specialist.
Refusal of Treatment. You may refuse treatment, including life-sustaining procedures, to the extent permitted by law and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, and you should be informed of the medical consequences of this action.
Transfer and Continuity of Care. You may not be transferred to another facility or organization unless you have received a complete explanation of the need for the transfer and of the alternatives to such a transfer.
Hospital Charges. Regardless of the source of payment for your care, you have the right to request and receive an itemized and detailed explanation of your total bill for services rendered in the hospital.
Hospital Rules and Regulations. You have the right to be informed of hospital rules and regulations that apply to your conduct as a patient.
Communication. You have the right to access people outside the hospital through visits and verbal and/or written communication and to know that any restrictions will be evaluated with your participation for their therapeutic effectiveness.
Restraints and Seclusion. You have the right to be free from restraints or confinement of any form that is not medically necessary or is used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.
Advance Directives. You have the right to prepare and present advance directives, such as a Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates, or a Medical Power of Attorney and to know that the terms of your directives will be followed in accordance with the law and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
Ethical Issues. You and your representatives have the right to know about hospital resources and to participate in the consideration of ethical issues that arise during your care.
Patient Responsibilities
Consideration. All patients are responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and comfort and for being considerate of the rights of others while in the hospital.
Giving Information. You are responsible for providing accurate and complete information about your health and for reporting changes in your condition.
Following Instructions. You are responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by your doctors, nurses and other caregivers and for reporting to your doctor the side effects of any treatments.
Financial Responsibility. You are responsible for ensuring that the financial obligations of your health care are fulfilled.
How to Report Problems and Concerns
Representatives from our Guest Services department are available to work with you if you experience any conflicts, problems, concerns, questions or unmet needs regarding your hospitalization, and to clarify policies and procedures pertaining to hospital services, including your rights and responsibilities as a patient. The presentation of such issues shall not compromise current access to care or services and/or future access to care. A Guest Services representative may be reached by calling:
- CHRISTUS Hospital-St. Elizabeth, 409.899.8155.
- CHRISTUS Hospital-St. Mary, 409.989.5106.
If you are unable to receive satisfaction through the guest services department and/or have a grievance to report, you may contact: Texas Department of State Health Services, 1100 W. 49th St., Austin, Texas 78756-3199. You may call the Department of Health at 1-888-973-0022 or (512) 458-7111.
* The public may contact the Joint Commission’s Office of Quality Monitoring to report any concerns or register complaints about a Joint Commission–accredited health care organization by either calling 1-800-994-6610 or e-mailing complaint@jcaho.org.
* Effective January 1, 2006.
Convenient, free parking is available at all CHRISTUS Hospital—St. Elizabeth and St. Mary locations, and complimentary valet parking is available at St. Elizabeth's main entrance.
