Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Wesley Medical Center is dedicated to you and your family and will protect your rights as a patient. Honoring these rights is an important part of respecting and caring for you as a whole person.
We will provide care in a manner which is respectful of your personal values and beliefs and sensitive to racial, religious and other differences. We will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or source of payment. You are important to us and we want to work with you to provide the best health care possible.
2. You have the right to receive from your physician information about procedures and treatments, including the medically significant risks involved and the length of time you will need care. This is called informed consent. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist or when you request information about medical alternatives, your physician will also provide this information. Except in emergencies, such information is given before any procedure or treatment is provided. You also have the right to know the name of the person responsible for your procedures and treatment.
3. We will respect your privacy, confidentiality and dignity at all times. This includes discussing your care only with those persons who are responsible for your care. You may request to be a "confidential admission." We respect your decision to wear personal, religious and other symbolic items, as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.
We will interview you and provide your care and exams in surroundings designed for reasonable privacy. Doors will be closed and curtains used to maintain your privacy. Quiet rooms and private spaces are provided for family members for consultations and serious discussions.
4. At your request, you may be transferred to another room if a patient or visitor is disruptive to you. At your request, you may also be transferred to another facility when a transfer is medically indicated, legally permissible and accepted by the receiving facility.
5. We believe all patients have a right to have evaluation and treatment for their pain and all uncomfortable symptoms. We will do our best to reduce these symptoms in a safe way. Staff will respect, support and coordinate activities and resources to assure that pain and all uncomfortable symptoms are recognized and cared for.
6. You have the right to accept or refuse any procedure, drug or treatment, including research and experimental care. We will explain the potential results of your decisions and any alternatives to you. (When the patient does not speak or understand the English language, an interpreter will be provided.)
7. We will make sure you clearly understand if your care includes research or experimental methods. You will be informed of the expected benefits and potential discomforts and risks of these methods. We will also inform you of any alternative treatments that might help your condition. You and your family will be given choices and participate in your plan of care.
8. If you need assistance in protection from any form of neglect, abuse, harassment, violence or sexual harassment, our staff will take the proper action. This also includes protection from other patients and care providers. We will strive to ensure you are safe in our hospital.
9. You have the right to be free from any form of restraint used for medical or surgical care, unless clinically needed. Restraints will not be used as a means of coercion, discipline or for the convenience of the staff. Patient and staff safety are considered in making any decisions related to restraints.
10. You have the right to have visitors and support persons of your choice, and the right to withdraw that consent. We will not limit or deny visitation based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. You have the right to request a support person of your choice be present during clinical interventions. There will be times when the presence of a support person is not in the best interest of patient safety. The inability to accommodate this request will be discussed with the patient. Any restrictions regarding patient visitation will be discussed with the patient and documented by the hospital staff in the medical records.
We will provide care in a manner which is respectful of your personal values and beliefs and sensitive to racial, religious and other differences. We will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or source of payment. You are important to us and we want to work with you to provide the best health care possible.
Your Patient Rights
1. You will be given equal and fair access to reasonable care, treatment and accommodation. We will consider your unique psychological, spiritual and cultural needs as we plan your care with you. Pastoral and spiritual care are available to both you and your family, at your request. You have the right to have your family or a representative and your admitting physician notified promptly upon your admission.2. You have the right to receive from your physician information about procedures and treatments, including the medically significant risks involved and the length of time you will need care. This is called informed consent. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist or when you request information about medical alternatives, your physician will also provide this information. Except in emergencies, such information is given before any procedure or treatment is provided. You also have the right to know the name of the person responsible for your procedures and treatment.
3. We will respect your privacy, confidentiality and dignity at all times. This includes discussing your care only with those persons who are responsible for your care. You may request to be a "confidential admission." We respect your decision to wear personal, religious and other symbolic items, as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.
We will interview you and provide your care and exams in surroundings designed for reasonable privacy. Doors will be closed and curtains used to maintain your privacy. Quiet rooms and private spaces are provided for family members for consultations and serious discussions.
4. At your request, you may be transferred to another room if a patient or visitor is disruptive to you. At your request, you may also be transferred to another facility when a transfer is medically indicated, legally permissible and accepted by the receiving facility.
5. We believe all patients have a right to have evaluation and treatment for their pain and all uncomfortable symptoms. We will do our best to reduce these symptoms in a safe way. Staff will respect, support and coordinate activities and resources to assure that pain and all uncomfortable symptoms are recognized and cared for.
6. You have the right to accept or refuse any procedure, drug or treatment, including research and experimental care. We will explain the potential results of your decisions and any alternatives to you. (When the patient does not speak or understand the English language, an interpreter will be provided.)
7. We will make sure you clearly understand if your care includes research or experimental methods. You will be informed of the expected benefits and potential discomforts and risks of these methods. We will also inform you of any alternative treatments that might help your condition. You and your family will be given choices and participate in your plan of care.
8. If you need assistance in protection from any form of neglect, abuse, harassment, violence or sexual harassment, our staff will take the proper action. This also includes protection from other patients and care providers. We will strive to ensure you are safe in our hospital.
9. You have the right to be free from any form of restraint used for medical or surgical care, unless clinically needed. Restraints will not be used as a means of coercion, discipline or for the convenience of the staff. Patient and staff safety are considered in making any decisions related to restraints.
10. You have the right to have visitors and support persons of your choice, and the right to withdraw that consent. We will not limit or deny visitation based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. You have the right to request a support person of your choice be present during clinical interventions. There will be times when the presence of a support person is not in the best interest of patient safety. The inability to accommodate this request will be discussed with the patient. Any restrictions regarding patient visitation will be discussed with the patient and documented by the hospital staff in the medical records.
In order to provide safe, quality medical care, it may become necessary to restrict your visitors, mail, telephone calls or other forms of communication. Should this occur, we will work with you and your family to help you and your family understand the reasons for these restrictions. We will evaluate with you the therapeutic effectiveness of these restrictions. You may also make this request based on your personal needs for confidentiality.
11. We will answer any questions you may have about who is involved in your care and what their relationship is to Wesley Medical Center. You may request and receive consultation with additional physicians who are credentialed by Wesley Medical Center.
12. We will support your right to choose your continuing care providers when you are dismissed from our hospital.
13. Upon request, we will review your medical chart with you, to help you understand the information it contains. If you wish, copies may be obtained from our records department following your dismissal. Patients and, when appropriate, families, are informed about the results of care, including unexpected outcomes.
14. We will explain and respect your right to appoint someone of your choosing to make your medical decisions for you or tell us what you want us to do if you become so ill you are not able to communicate your wishes. This may include withholding resuscitation services and withdrawing or not beginning life-sustaining treatments, according to your Advance Directives (Living Will and Power of Attorney for Health Care).
If you need assistance with completing your Advance Directives, we will provide this service. The lack of Advance Directives will not influence your access to care. We provide respectful and sensitive care to all patients who are dying. We manage dying patient's pain aggressively and effectively, responding to psychological, social, emotional, spiritual and cultural concerns of the patient and family.
We will respect your wishes regarding organ and tissue donation.
15. If you or your family have ethical concerns, you may request to visit with Wesley’s Ethics Committee. Ask your nurse for further information about Wesley’s Ethics Committee.
16. Regardless of the source of payment for your care, you may request an itemized and detailed explanation of your hospital bill.
17. You have the right to treatment, care and services within the capacity and mission of Wesley Medical Center and in compliance with laws and regulations.
Patient Responsibilities
1. It is your responsibility to communicate to the best of your ability any information about your current or past conditions, when you are admitted and throughout your hospital stay. As your care is planned, we ask that you advise our staff if you do not clearly understand any action taken.2. It is in your best interest to follow the treatment plans as directed by your physician and carried out by our health care providers.
3. We ask your consideration in following hospital rules and regulations, respecting other patients and hospital personnel.
4. It is your responsibility to request pain relief measures when pain first develops, assisting your physician and nurse in evaluating pain and developing a personal pain management plan for you.
5. You will be expected to meet your financial obligations to the medical center as promptly as possible.
Your Right to Complain or File a Grievance
As a patient or family member of a patient in our hospital, you have the right to present complaints concerning the quality of care, either verbally or in writing, to a patient representative, a supervisor, a department manager or to nursing, medical or administrative staff.Complaints will not in any way compromise your care now or in the future. If you feel our staff has not responded properly, you have the right to file a grievance.
A grievance may be made directly to a hospital supervisor or to a Wesley Patient Representative at (316) 962-2100. If you choose, you may also file your grievance on our Web site (wesleymc.com) or directly with one of the following:
Billing Customer Service
866-656-8778
Ethics and Compliance Officer
Wesley Medical Center
550 North Hillside
Wichita, KS 67214
(316) 962-2463 (316) 962-2075 TDD
Privacy Official
Wesley Medical Center
550 N. Hillside
Wichita, KS 67214
(316) 962-2500
Kansas Foundation for Medical Care (Medicare only)
2947 SW Wanamaker Drive
Topeka, KS 66614-4193
800-432-0407 (Medicare Helpline)
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Customer Service
1 Renaissance
Oak Brook Terrace, IL 60181
800-994-6610
Office for Civil Rights
601 East 21 Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816) 426-7277 (voice) (816) 426-7065 (TDD)
Kansas Department of Health and Environment Complaint Hotline
800-842-0078
