Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Patients at Milton Hospital are guaranteed specific rights under
the law. We have provided a summary of these rights. For a complete
copy of the law (General Law, Chapter 111, Section 70E) or the
hospital's Patient Information Guide, please call the hospital's
patient advocate at extension 1360.
Patient Rights
You have the right to:
• be treated with compassion, dignity, respect and protected
from all forms of abuse or harassment;
• know the names and specialties of the physicians treating
you;
• receive care in a safe setting;
• privacy during your medical care;
• request and receive all information concerning your
diagnosis,prognosis and treatment in terms you understand;
• have informed voluntary consent in all decisions pertaining
to your care;
• consult with a specialist, at your own expense;
• refuse treatment and to be informed of the consequences
of such an action;
• keep confidential all medical records pertaining to
your care, except where the law requires disclosure;
• refuse to participate in research studies, without
placing your care at risk;
• receive, upon request, an explanation of the relationship
between this hospital and any other health care organization;
• receive an itemized and detailed explanation of your
hospital bill;
• receive timely and detailed information about discharge
planning;
• receive interpreter services if requested;
• communicate a complaint/grievance and to be provided
with a written resolution, should you so request;
• appropriate assessment of management of pain;
• freedom from inappropriate use of restraints;
• request and receive information concerning Advanced
Directives;
• participate in the development and implementation
of your
plan of care, or designate someone to act on your
behalf, and
• be informed about the outcomes of care, including
unanticipated outcomes.
Patient Responsibilities
As a patient of Milton Hospital, you have the following responsibilities:
• provide accurate information about your medical history,
current health status including pain, and any previous hospitalizations,
and the name and dosage of all prescriptions you are currently
taking;
• let your caregivers know that you understand any treatment
prescribed for you;
• comply with the prescribed treatment program;
• meet your financial obligations regarding your hospitalization,
and,
• respect the rights of other patients and to respect
hospital rules and regulations.
Ethics Committee
The Milton Hospital Ethics Committee is an interdisciplinary group
that develops and promotes educational programs for patients,
staff, and the community. The Ethics Committee also performs case
review and policy development for the hospital. For additional
information about the Ethics Committee, or for a copy of “Making
Healthcare Decisions: A Matter of Choice,” a patient and family
education brochure about making health care choices, please call
the hospital's patient advocate at extension 1360.
Medicare Rights
Medicare recipients will receive a letter stating their rights
as Medicare patients. If you have questions, please call the Admitting
Department at extension 1211.
Patient Advocacy
If you have questions or concerns about your hospital ization,
you may want to speak with the hospital's patient advocate. While
you are hospitalized, the patient advocate is your personal representative,
acting as a liaison between you and the hospital staff. You may
reach the patient advocate by calling 617-696-4600, ext. 1360.
From a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) call 617-696-7929.
Quality Management
Milton Hospital proudly participates in a hospital-wide quality
management program. The objective of the Quality management Department
is to ensure that every patient at Milton Hospital receives the
very best health care, a philosophy consistent with the hospital's
mission. If you have questions or concerns regarding the quality
of care you receive, contact the director of quality management
at 617-696-4600, ext. 1053 or 1830.
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