KNOWING PATIENT RIGHTS
Going to a doctor or a hospital? Why do people have fear-and what do they fear? “Don’t Harm Me – Heal Me – Be Nice to Me”, that’s what our patients want and in that order. When it comes to safety in health care, the only acceptable goal is zero events of harm and negligence.
Patient rights? When we patients access healthcare, we do so expecting we have certain rights- “Do it Right…the First Time…Every Time…”. The definition of Quality, as it relates to patient rights in health care, is conformance to the established requirements or standard of any organization. Unfortunately, the value of these indispensable healthcare ideals is appreciated only when you or your loved one is in the midst of a severe illness and you are visiting any hospital.
How good is Your-Doctor and Hospital? One of the ways is to inquire whether independent verification QPS (quality and patient safety) standards are sought through any National or international accreditation body? In absence of accreditation making your choice here which comes first – the Doctor/Hospital reputation, affordability or your safety? When we talk about patient safety, it is fundamental to our healing mission and the foundation of the exceptional patient experience- A best practice standards establishes uniformity, consistency and continuity in care across multiple individuals and levels, where receivers or providers both can expect to be respected, involved, satisfied and above all safe and appropriate care based on an individual’s needs, not on personal characteristics, or social status.
One of requirements for recognition by any national or international accreditation body is its performance indicators on adherence to its policy of patient and family rights. These rights have to be tailored to its available resources, local customs displayed clearly and boldly by the organizational leadership in the languages which the local population easily understands at each and every entry point of the hospital. A good hospital displays and does it all along with the staff education on patient and family responsibilities.
It may not be out of place to appreciate efforts of some hospitals in private sector to have accreditation from NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare) in this direction to implement these standards in certain hospitals. In a Governmental setup that’s what any ordinary patient would expect from a care provider, while a tech savvy patient or any Medical Professional would expect his/her treatment on the evidence based clinical best practice guidelines and protocols. In a private sector where patients are considered as clients- apprehensions on financial implications, “Heal me without exploitation,” are always there. You have the right to know about hospital rules that affect you and your treatment and about charges and payment methods.
Though the list of patient rights varies from country to country, most of the rights encompass legal and ethical issues in the provider-patient relationship, including a person’s right to privacy. The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care along with recognition of their individuality and personal needs. You have the right to expect that the hospital will give you necessary health services to the best of its ability. Every patient has the right to be informed and understand all of the procedures, treatments and/or alternatives to treatments to be performed while in the hospital. This includes the right to know if the hospital proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation or other research/educational projects which may affect the patient’s care or treatment.
You have the right to know about hospital methodology and resources, such as patient representatives (counselors, social workers) or ethics committees that can help you resolve problems, questions and about your hospital stay, staff and care. In case of violation of these rights you have the right to complain through official channels or through OVA (Occurrence, Variation, Accidents) reporting system- by clearly mentioned contact details on display boards.
Gap analysis
Every day, undoubtedly thousands of valleyites receive health care that helps to maintain or restore their health. However, too many of us are dissatisfied. Is it because of the overcrowded and unsafe conditions there, or is it an attitude problem, or such anxieties arising out of stories of adverse events, (hospital blunders,) hitting news headlines revealing terrible inadequacies in care and the sorry state of the overall system of healthcare accountability. Assuredly, most of the care providers are very good. There is a perception in general public; many of us can’t get proper Medical care unless you are carrying recommendations (sifarish) of any political, social authority, or Physician’s private prescription slip. Such apprehensions need re institution of trust by introducing “standards of patient and family rights” in hospitals at its earliest.
Patient and family responsibility
Quality in health care is everybody’s responsibility. A smooth working atmosphere in an institution is always a prerequisite to professional compliance. Nobody wants demoralized staff caring for them. Since being ill can make even the most assertive person feel vulnerable, we need a little help from the community too. Eliminating disruptive behavior is essential to creating a culture of safety in Hospitals. The wiser patients also realize that along with those patient’s rights, we have responsibilities, too. It’s not uncommon for people to react to that stress in a very hostile, aggressive fashion. Compromised standards, lack of clear protocols, sub-standard essentials, spurious drugs and malfunctioning machinery often mean the staff or building or ambulances; have to face the wrath of attendants/crowd on streets including media trials.
Our hospital staff usually makes every effort to treat everyone, as we would like to be treated. All Patients – infants, children, adolescents and adults – have the right to considerate and respectful care, regardless of his/her status or the patient’s ability to pay for services provided. Most of our problems arise in the expectation zone. Can we actually restore to have the same old faith in the Physician’s nobility by introducing Patient and family rights and responsibilities in our institutions?
The Patients are the most important part of the Health Care Team. Redesigning the patient experience for safer care and to rebuild patient-physician relationship with positive consequences, it is important to know your rights and responsibilities as a patient.
(Author is Acute Care Surgeon, healthcare policy analyst and works as consultant Surveyor on Health Care Quality improvement and Standard’s. He can be reached at: [email protected])
