Your Patient Rights

As a West Boca patient, you are entitled to participate in your own healthcare plan. That means you have certain rights as well as certain responsibilities. Our goal is to provide the information you need to effectively communicate your desires. Here’s what you should know.

This section provides a full explanation of your rights on the following:

Patient Bill of Rights

A patient has the right to impartial access to medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, source of payment, age, ethnicity, culture, language, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression veteran status or other characteristic protected by law.
To treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
The patient has the right to choose who may and may not visit regardless of whether the visitor meets the traditional definition of family to include domestic partners (including same sex partners) and friends of the patient. Where appropriate, this right may be exercised by the patient’s support person on the patient’s behalf.
To expect quick response to pain and pain relief measures. To expect a concerned staff committed to pain prevention, pain management, and pain education.
To receive from his/her physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment. Except in emergencies, such information for informed consent should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the specific procedure or treatment, the medically significant risks involved, and the probable duration of incapacitation. The patient has the right to information concerning medical alternatives.
To have access to complete and current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis including alternatives and risks in terms the patient can reasonably be expected to understand.
To know the identity and professional status of the personnel providing medical services and who is responsible for his/her care.
To have a support person of his choice present during his stay except in circumstances that would present a risk to patient safety, infringe on the rights of other patients or is medically contraindicated.
To expect that all communications and records pertaining to his/her care will be treated as confidential.
To have optimum comfort and dignity in terminal stages of his/her care and to refuse any treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of his/her action.
To express spiritual beliefs and cultural values that do not harm others.
To know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give consent or refusal to participate in such experimental research.
To expect reasonable response to the request of a patient for services. When medically permissible, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she has received complete information and explanation concerning the needs for and alternatives to such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.
Grievance: To express complaints regarding any violations of his/her rights, through our patient satisfaction procedure. To discuss a concern, please call 561-470-6415.
To know what patient services are available in the facility, which would facilitate continuity of care and promote the discharge process.
To be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources fro his/her care.
To examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill regardless of source of payment.
To know how the hospital rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct as a patient.
To expect delivery of safe patient care, and the disclosure of outcomes of care.
To formulate Advance Directives, a Living Will, or to appoint a health care surrogate to make decisions on his/her behalf to the extent permitted by law.
To expect considerate, courteous, and respectful care with every consideration of his/her privacy

Patient Responsibilities

According to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, hospitals have the right to expect behavior on the part of the patients and their relatives and friends, which, considering the nature of their illness, is reasonable and responsible.

West Boca Medical Center believes the following basic responsibilities to be reasonably applicable to our hospital.

Refusal of Treatment: The patient is responsible for his/her actions if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow the practitioner’s instructions.

Provision of Information: A patient has the responsibility to provide accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his/her health. He/she has the responsibility to report unexpected changes in his/her condition to the responsible practitioner.

Hospital Charges: The patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his/her health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

Hospital Rules and Regulations: The patient is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

Respect and Consideration: The patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors. The patient is responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital.

Pain Management: A patient is responsible to ask his/her doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management, to discuss pain relief options with his/her doctors and nurses, and to work with the doctor or nurse to develop a pain management plan. A patient is responsible to ask for pain relief when pain first begins, to help his/her doctor and nurse assess his/her pain, and to tell the doctor or nurse his/her pain is not relieved. A patient is responsible to tell the doctor or nurse about any worries he/she have about taking pain medication.

Advance Directives/Living Wills

We support your right and need to choose someone who will make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so for yourself. A pamphlet about Advance Directives was given to you upon admission. Your admission and care will not be affected if you have not completed an Advance Directive. For help with the forms, please contact your nurse or social worker.

If you have a Living Will or other Advance Directives you would like to place in your medical record, please contact the Health Information Department at ext. 8440.

Ethics Committee

The focus of the hospital’s Ethics Committee is to gather information pertaining to medical and ethical issues referred for review.

The committee is responsible for, but not limited to, the following functions: serving in a advisory capacity and/or as a resource to persons involved in medical ethical decision-making; retrospectively reviewing decisions having medical ethical implications; serving as an institutional resource for development and revision of institutional policies related to medical ethical issues; evaluating compliance with hospital policies related to medical ethical issues; directing educational programs on medical ethical issues; and providing forums for discussion between hospital and medical professionals and other medical ethical issues.

Any patient, significant other, surrogate, proxy, legally appointed guardian, physician, nurse, or other health care provider who is directly involved in a patient’s care may request a consultation from the Ethics Committee.

Privacy Policy

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Who Presents this Notice

This Notice describes the privacy practices of West Boca Medical Center (the “Hospital”) and members of its workforce, as well as the physician members of the medical staff and allied health professionals who practice at the Hospital. The Hospital and the individual health care providers together are sometimes called "the Hospital and Health Professionals" in this Notice. While the Hospital and Health Professionals engage in many joint activities and provide services in a clinically integrated care setting, the Hospital and Health Professionals each are separate legal entities. This Notice applies to services furnished to you at hospital and all off-campus outpatient departments as a Hospital inpatient or outpatient or any other services provided to you in a Hospital-affiliated program involving the use or disclosure of your health information.

Privacy Obligations

The Hospital and Health Professionals each are required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information ("Protected Health Information" or "PHI") and to provide you with this Notice of legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your Protected Health Information. The Hospital and Health Professionals use computerized systems that may subject your Protected Health Information to electronic disclosure for purposes of treatment, payment and/or health care operations as described below. When the Hospital and Health Professionals use or disclose your Protected Health Information, the Hospital and Health Professionals are required to abide by the terms of this Notice (or other notice in effect at the time of the use or disclosure).

Permissible Uses and Disclosures Without Your Written Authorization

In certain situations your written authorization must be obtained in order to use and/or disclose your PHI. However, the Hospital and Health Professionals do not need any type of authorization from you for the following uses and disclosures:

Uses and Disclosures for Treatment, Payment and Health Care Operations. Your PHI may be used and disclosed to treat you, obtain payment for services provided to you and conduct “health care operations” as detailed below:

Treatment. Your PHI may be used and disclosed to provide treatment and other services to you--for example, to diagnose and treat your injury or illness. In addition, you may be contacted to provide you appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you. Your PHI may also be disclosed to other providers involved in your treatment. For example, a doctor treating you for a broken leg may need to know if you have diabetes because if you do, this may impact your recovery.
Payment. Your PHI may be used and disclosed to obtain payment for services provided to you--for example, disclosures to claim and obtain payment from your health insurer, HMO, or other company that arranges or pays the cost of some or all of your health care (“Your Payor”) to verify that Your Payor will pay for health care. The physician who reads your x-ray may need to bill you or your Payor for reading of your x-ray therefore your billing information may be shared with the physician who read your x-ray.
Health Care Operations. Your PHI may be used and disclosed for health care operations, which include internal administration and planning and various activities that improve the quality and cost effectiveness of the care delivered to you. For example, PHI may be used to evaluate the quality and competence of physicians, nurses and other health care workers. PHI may be disclosed to the Hospital Compliance & Privacy Office in order to resolve any complaints you may have and ensure that you have a comfortable visit. Your PHI may be provided to various governmental or accreditation entities such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to maintain our license and accreditation. In addition, PHI may be shared with business associates who perform treatment, payment and health care operations services on behalf of the Hospital and Health Professionals.

Use or Disclosure for Directory of Individuals in the Hospital. Hospital may include your name, location in the Hospital, general health condition and religious affiliation in a patient directory without obtaining your authorization unless you object to inclusion in the directory. Information in the directory may be disclosed to anyone who asks for you by name. Your religious affiliation may be given to a member of the clergy, such as a priest or minister, even if they do not ask for you by name. If you do not wish to be included in the facility directory, you will be given an opportunity to object at the time of admission.

Disclosure to Relatives, Close Friends and Other Caregivers. Your PHI may be disclosed to a family member, other relative, a close personal friend or any other person identified by you who is involved in your health care or helps pay for your care. If you are not present, or the opportunity to agree or object to a use or disclosure cannot practicably be provided because of your incapacity or an emergency circumstance, the Hospital and/or Health Professionals may exercise professional judgment to determine whether a disclosure is in your best interests. If information is disclosed to a family member, other relative or a close personal friend, the Hospital and/or Health Professionals would disclose only information believed to be directly relevant to the person’s involvement with your health care or payment related to your health care. Your PHI also may be disclosed in order to notify (or assist in notifying) such persons of your location or general condition.

Public Health Activities. Your PHI may be disclosed for the following public health activities: (1) to report health information to public health authorities for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability; (2) to report child abuse and neglect to public health authorities or other government authorities authorized by law to receive such reports; (3) to report information about products and services under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; (4) to alert a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease or may otherwise be at risk of contracting or spreading a disease or condition; and (5) to report information to your employer as required under laws addressing work-related illnesses and injuries or workplace medical surveillance.

Victims of Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence. Your PHI may be disclosed to a governmental authority, including a social service or protective services agency, authorized by law to receive reports of such abuse, neglect, or domestic violence if there is a reasonable belief that you are a victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.

Health Oversight Activities. Your PHI may be disclosed to a health oversight agency that oversees the health care system and is charged with responsibility for ensuring compliance with the rules of government health programs such as Medicare or Medicaid.

Judicial and Administrative Proceedings. Your PHI may be disclosed in the course of a judicial or administrative proceeding in response to a legal order or other lawful process.

Law Enforcement Officials. Your PHI may be disclosed to the police or other law enforcement officials as required or permitted by law or in compliance with a court order or a grand jury or administrative subpoena. For example, your PHI may be disclosed to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person or to report a crime or criminal conduct at the facility.

Correctional Institution. You PHI may be disclosed to a correctional institution if you are an inmate in a correctional institution and if the correctional institution or law enforcement authority makes certain requests to us.

Business Associates. Your PHI may be disclosed to business associates or third parties that the Hospital and Health Professionals have contracted with to perform agreed upon services.

Decedents. Your PHI may be disclosed to a coroner or medical examiner as authorized by law.

Organ and Tissue Procurement. Your PHI may be disclosed to organizations that facilitate organ, eye or tissue procurement, banking or transplantation.

Research. Your PHI may be used or disclosed without your consent or authorization if an Institutional Review Board approves a waiver of authorization for disclosure.

Health or Safety. Your PHI may be used or disclosed to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to a person’s or the public’s health or safety.

Specialized Government Functions. Your PHI may be disclosed to units of the government with special functions, such as the U.S. military, the U.S. Department of State under certain circumstances such as the Secret Service or NSA to protect, for example, the country or the President.

Workers’ Compensation. Your PHI may be disclosed as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with state law relating to workers' compensation or other similar programs.

As Required by Law. Your PHI may be used and disclosed when required to do so by any other law not already referred to in the preceding categories; such as required by the FDA, to monitor the safety of a medical device.

Appointment Reminders. Your PHI may be used to tell or remind you about appointments.

Fundraising. Your PHI may be used to contact you as a part of fundraising efforts, unless you elect not to receive this type of information.

USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRING YOUR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION

Use or Disclosure with Your Authorization. For any purpose other than the ones described above, your PHI may be used or disclosed only when you provide your written authorization on an authorization form (“Your Authorization”). For instance, you will need to execute an authorization form before your PHI can be sent to your life insurance company or to the attorney representing the other party in litigation in which you are involved.

Marketing. Your written authorization (“Your Marketing Authorization”) also must be obtained prior to using your PHI to send you any marketing materials. (However, marketing materials can be provided to you in a face-to-face encounter without obtaining Your Marketing Authorization. The Hospital and/or Health Professionals are also permitted to give you a promotional gift of nominal value, if they so choose, without obtaining Your Marketing Authorization). The Hospital and/or Health Professionals may communicate with you in a face-to-face encounter about products or services relating to your treatment, case management or care coordination, or alternative treatments, therapies, providers or care settings without Your Marketing Authorization.

In addition, the Hospital and/or Health Professionals may send you treatment communications, unless you elect not to receive this type of communication, for which the Hospital and/or Health Professionals may receive financial remuneration.

Sale of PHI. The Hospital and Health Professionals will not disclose your PHI without your authorization in exchange for direct or indirect payment except in limited circumstances permitted by law. These circumstances include public health activities; research; treatment of the individual; sale, transfer, merger or consolidation of the Hospital; services provided by a business associate, pursuant to a business associate agreement; providing an individual with a copy of their PHI; and other purposes deemed necessary and appropriate by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Uses and Disclosures of Your Highly Confidential Information. In addition, federal and state law require special privacy protections for certain highly confidential information about you (“Highly Confidential Information”), including the subset of your PHI that: (1) is maintained in psychotherapy notes; (2) is about mental illness, mental retardation and developmental disabilities; (3) is about alcohol or drug abuse or addiction; (4) is about HIV/AIDS testing, diagnosis or treatment; (5) is about communicable disease(s), including venereal disease(s); (6) is about genetic testing; (7) is about child abuse and neglect; (8) is about domestic abuse of an adult; or (9) is about sexual assault. In order for your Highly Confidential Information to be disclosed for a purpose other than those permitted by law, your written authorization is required.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

Right to Request Additional Restrictions. You may request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your PHI (1) for treatment, payment and health care operations, (2) to individuals (such as a family member, other relative, close personal friend or any other person identified by you) involved with your care or with payment related to your care, or (3) to notify or assist in the notification of such individuals regarding your location and general condition. While all requests for additional restrictions will be carefully considered, the Hospital and Health Professionals are not required to agree to these requested restrictions.

You may also request to restrict disclosures of your PHI to your health plan for payment and healthcare operations purposes (and not for treatment) if the disclosure pertains to a healthcare item or service for which you paid out-of-pocket in full. The Hospital and Health Professionals must agree to abide by the restriction to your health plan EXCEPT when the disclosure is required by law.

If you wish to request additional restrictions, please obtain a request form from the Medical Records or Health Information Management Office and submit the completed form to Director, Health Information Management West Boca Medical Center, 21644 State Road 7, Boca Raton, FL 33428. A written response will be sent to you.

Right to Receive Confidential Communications. You may request, and the Hospital and Health Professionals will accommodate, any reasonable written request for you to receive your PHI by alternative means of communication or at alternative locations.

Right to Revoke Your Authorization. You may revoke Your Authorization, Your Marketing Authorization or any written authorization obtained in connection with your PHI, except to the extent that the Hospital and/or Health Professionals have taken action in reliance upon it, by delivering a written revocation statement to the Hospital Medical Records or Health Information Management Office identified below.

Right to Inspect and Copy Your Health Information. You may request access to your medical record file and billing records maintained by the Hospital and Health Professionals in order to inspect and request copies of the records. Under limited circumstances, you may be denied access to a portion of your records. If you desire access to your records, please obtain a record request form from the Hospital Health Information Management Office and submit the completed form to the Hospital Health Information Management Office. If you request copies of paper records, you will be charged in accordance with federal and state law. To the extent the request for records includes portions of records which are not in paper form (e.g., x-ray films), you will be charge the reasonable cost of the copies. You also will be charged for the postage costs, if you request that the copies be mailed to you. However, you will not be charged for copies that are requested in order to make or complete an application for a federal or state disability benefits program.

Right to Amend Your Records. You have the right to request that PHI maintained in your medical record file or billing records be amended. If you desire to amend your records, please obtain an amendment request form from the Hospital Health Information Management Office and submit the completed form to the Hospital Health Information Management Office. Your request will be accommodated unless the Hospital and/or Health Professionals believe that the information that would be amended is accurate and complete or other special circumstances apply.

Right to Receive an Accounting of Disclosures. Upon request, you may obtain an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI made during any period of time prior to the date of your request provided such period does not exceed six years and does not apply to disclosures that occurred prior to April 14, 2003. If you request an accounting more than once during a twelve (12) month period, you will be charged for the accounting statement.

Right to Receive Paper Copy of this Notice. Upon request, you may obtain a paper copy of this Notice, even if you have agreed to receive such notice electronically.

For Further Information or Complaints. If you desire further information about your privacy rights, are concerned that your privacy rights have been violated or disagree with a decision made about access to your PHI, you may contact the Hospital Compliance & Privacy Office. You may also file written complaints with the Director, Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Upon request, the Hospital Compliance & Privacy Office will provide you with the correct address for the Director. The Hospital and Health Professionals will not retaliate against you if you file a complaint with the Hospital Privacy Office or the Director.

Effective Date and Duration of This Notice

Effective Date. This Notice is effective on September 23, 2013.

Right to Change Terms of this Notice. The terms of this Notice may be changed at any time. If this Notice is changed, the new notice terms may be made effective for all PHI that the Hospital and Health Professionals maintain, including any information created or received prior to issuing the new notice. If this Notice is changed, the new notice will be posted in waiting areas around the Hospital and on our Internet site at www.westbocamedctr.com

You also may obtain any new notice by contacting the Hospital Compliance & Privacy Office.

HOSPITAL CONTACTS:

You may contact the Hospital Compliance & Privacy Office at:

Corporate Compliance & Privacy Office
Tenet Healthcare
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1400
Dallas, Texas 75202
E-mail: [email protected]
Ethics Action Line (EAL): 1-800-8-ETHICS (1-800-838-4427)

You may contact the Medical Records or Health Information Management Office at:

Medical Records & Health Information Management Office
West Boca Medical Center
21644 State Rd 7
Boca Raton, FL 33428
Telephone Number: 561-218-8440

Effective September 23, 2013