Your Rights as a Patient

It is the responsibility of the Hanover and District Hospital to ensure the best quality of care for all patients.  This will be done through a patient centered approach to care wherein patient safety and the use of evidence based practices are the cornerstones of care.

The Hanover and District Hospital believes that hospital personnel should be a community of caring and competent persons. We recognize the following fundamental rights of patients and are committed to maintaining an environment that fosters and protects these rights.

1. To receive considerate, respectful care and assistance. To receive appropriate nursing/medical assessment and treatment regardless of race, colour, creed, religious belief, sexual orientation, or financial status. To be free from mental and physical abuse.
   
   
2. To have your condition, care, and treatment explained clearly in lay terms to the best of the hospital’s ability to you, or your authorized decision maker, and to participate in your care plan.
   
   
3. To receive ongoing information concerning one’s diagnosis, treatment, and any known prognosis.
   
   
4. To have your personal and medical records entrusted to the hospital, kept in confidence, and available only to those for whom the information is essential.
   
   
5. To refuse and/or accept medical treatment and medication, if mentally competent. It is however, your responsibility to follow mandatory rules for safety reasons, and to be informed of the possible medical consequences of any refusal.
   
   
6. To be introduced to and be informed of the professional status of individuals providing care and service.
   
   
7. To be accommodated in a safe and clean environment, ensuring that your privacy is protected.
   
   
8. To receive a complete explanation of the need to transfer to another facility, and of the alternatives to such a transfer.
   
   
9. To receive information regarding health care requirements when planning for discharge from the hospital.
   
   
10. To have access to a mechanism to express personal feelings, criticisms and grievances that will include access to the President and Chief Executive Officer if desired, and that will exclude any fear of reprisal, discrimination or deprivation.
    
    
11. To be provided with palliative care with dignity.

Your Responsibilities as a Patient

The Hanover and District Hospital is committed to promoting health care which addresses the needs of each person and to provide compassionate and quality care to those we serve. We believe that patients should participate in their treatment and be given the opportunity to make decisions regarding their health. We also believe that patients have certain responsibilities, including:

1. To be considerate and respectful of Health Care providers.
   
   
2. To provide accurate information to appropriate personnel, and to report any unexpected changes in your condition.
   
   
3. To be considerate of other patients by respecting their privacy.
   
   
4. To observe the hospital’s regulations, including isolation policy, health and safety regulations, smoking restriction and visiting hours.
   
   
5. To keep appointments, or to contact the hospital, when this is not possible.
   
   
6. To follow the treatment plan as discussed and mutually agreed by you and your physician, including cooperating with other health care providers implementing physician orders.
   
   
7. To make appropriate and timely arrangements for leaving the hospital, upon discharge by your physician.
   
   
8. To assure that any personal financial obligations for your health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.