Riverview Hospital - Patient Rights

Your Right to Know

Riverview Hospital Standard of Care

Riverview Hospital is a member of the Indiana Health and Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association, and is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. This confirms that the hospital meets the highest standards of patient care.

Patient Satisfaction

Soon after your discharge from Riverview Hospital, you may receive a Patient Satisfaction survey in the mail. For us to exceed our customers’ expectations, we need your feedback. Please return the survey at your earliest convenience. If you have concerns you wish to be addressed immediately, please talk with your caregiver.

Quality Improvement

The Organizational Improvement Department at Riverview monitors the quality of care

provided to our patients to ensure that current standards of care are being met as required

by hospital policy and procedures, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, State Department of Health, and other professional organizations. Questions on quality of care may be referred to extension 7497.

Medical Ethics Committee

Riverview’s Medical Ethics Committee serves primarily in an advisory role to physicians, patients and families in matters of withholding, withdrawing or continuing life-sustaining medical care, and adherence to prevailing ethical and legal standards. For more information, please contact your nurse.

Patient Bill of Rights

Because of our concern for you, we would like you to have an understanding of your rights and responsibilities as a Riverview patient.

As a patient, you have the right:

To be informed about the outcomes of care including unanticipated outcomes that differ significantly from the anticipated outcomes.
To be informed of your patient rights in advance of receiving or discontinuing care.
To be free from restraints of any form that are not medically necessary or are used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff.
To have a family member or representative of your choice and your physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.
To have considerate and respectful care and to know that efforts will be made to respect your personal privacy.
To make decisions regarding your healthcare in collaboration with your physician.
To accept medical care or refuse treatment to the extent as allowed under state law and be informed of the medical consequences of such refusal.
To formulate Advance Directives and appoint a surrogate to make healthcare decisions on your behalf to the extent permitted by law.
To obtain information necessary to enable you to make treatment decisions that reflect your wishes.
To participate (you or your designated representative) in the consideration of ethical issues which arise in the care of the patient.
To be informed of any human experimentation or other research or educational projects affecting your care or treatment.
To have personal privacy and confidentiality of information within limits of the law.
To have the guardian, next of kin, or legally authorized person to exercise, as allowed under state law, the rights delineated on your behalf if you have been adjudicated incompetent in accordance with law, have been found by the physician to be medically incapable of understanding the proposed treatment, are unable to communicate wishes regarding treatment, or if you are a minor.
To receive upon discharge, information concerning your continuing healthcare needs. If you are being transferred to another facility you will be informed of the need for and alternatives to such a transfer.
To know that all communications and records concerning your care will be treated as confidential; your permission in writing is necessary for your medical records to be released to any persons, except as otherwise provided by law or third party payment contract.
To receive upon request an explanation of your bill, regardless of the payment source.
know that in most circumstances you may, upon proper identification, inspect your medical records and for a reasonable fee, obtain copies.
To pain relief which includes appropriate assessment and management of pain.

Your Rights as a Hospital Medicare Patient:

You have the right to receive necessary hospital services covered by Medicare, or covered by your Medicare Health Plan ("your Plan") if you are a Plan enrollee.
You have the right to know about any decisions that the hospital, your doctor, your Plan, or anyone else makes about your hospital stay and who will pay for it.
Your doctor, your Plan, or the hospital should arrange for services you will need after you leave the hospital. Medicare or your Plan may cover some care in your home (home healthcare) and other kinds of care, if ordered by your doctor or by your Plan. You have a right to know about these services, who will pay for them, and where you can get them. If you have any questions, talk to your doctor or Plan, or talk to other hospital personnel.

Complaint or Grievance Procedure is in Place:

To discuss concerns or complaints regarding any aspect of your care, treatment, or stay while in the Hospital and you are encouraged to discuss such concerns or complaints with the Department Manager, person in charge, Administration or the Vice President of Organizational Improvement.
To be assured that your complaints will receive prompt attention.
To be assured that your care will not be compromised because a complaint has been made.
To be informed that all complaints are viewed as opportunities to improve patient care.
To be informed that your complaint regarding your care be referred to the department involved for review and resolution immediately by department manager or person in charge.
To be informed that if the verbal or written complaint cannot be resolved satisfactorily at the department level, the complaint becomes a grievance and will be referred to the Vice President of Organizational Improvement and in his/her absence to the Administrator for further review and resolution. The patient/family will be contacted within 5 business days after receipt of the complaint.

As a Patient, You Have the Responsibility:

To wear an identification armband at all times.
To provide complete and accurate information about your health.
To report effects of the treatment you receive while a patient on the patient care unit.
To report pain accurately to your care provider.
To participate in the development of your treatment plan.
To attend therapy sessions and participate in activities prescribed by your care provider.
To be considerate of the rights of other patients.

How to be an Active Member of Your Healthcare Team

Always tell your physician or other healthcare providers about all medications you are currently taking (including prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, dietary/herbal supplements, vitamins, minerals, laxatives, pain relievers, sleeping aids, etc.).
Always inform the physician or other healthcare providers about allergies or any adverse medication reactions you have experienced before accepting any new medication.
Request information about all medications prescribed in terms that you and your caregivers can understand (this includes both prescription and over-the-counter medications). Know what you’re taking and what it’s been prescribed for.
Before accepting any new medication from the pharmacy, insist that the container be clearly labeled with its name (generic/brand), the directions for its use and how it should be stored. Be sure that you can read the handwriting on the prescription.
Take notes on what you learn at your doctor’s office and pharmacy. You may want to have a friend or family member with you to write down information. Plan a follow-up visit with your doctor or pharmacist if you do not have time to discuss all of your concerns and ask all of your questions. Remember, your healthcare providers will be glad you want to know about your medicines and care.

Have a concern? We're here to help.

Patients have the right to address concerns or complaints regarding any aspect of their care, treatment, or stay while at Riverview. Please discuss them with the Department Manager or Director, or the Nursing Supervisor at (317) 773-0760 or 1-800-523-6001.

If your concerns have not been resolved by addressing the issue through these channels, contact the Indiana State Department of Health at 1-800-246-8909, or the Joint Commission's Office of Quality Monitoring at 1-800-994-6610, or email to: complaint@jcaho.org.

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