Patient rights

• You have the right to the most appropriate medical treatment regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, newborn status, handicap or source of payment.
• You have the right to emergency treatment even if you cannot pay.
• You will not be transferred to another facility, except in some emergencies, unless you are told the reason for the transfer, and another hospital has agreed to accept you as a patient and provide continuing medical care for you.

• You will be treated with respect and courtesy and will be free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
• You have the right to privacy in treatment.
• Your health care information will be treated as private and confidential, including your medical care program and medical records, including all computerized medical records.

• You have the right to know about hospital and health system policies and procedures.
• Communication will be effective and understandable and tailored to the patient's age, language, and ability to understand, including the provision of interpreting and translating services.
• You will receive complete and current information concerning diagnosis, treatment and possible outcome in understandable terms.
• We will explain your health status to you and encourage you to participate in planning your care and treatment, including managing your pain.

• You have the right to be involved in decisions about your health care and to agree to treatment before it is given, except in emergencies. When you are asked to agree to treatment, you will be told about your condition, the planned procedures or treatment, alternative treatments, the risks and side effects, what could happen if you don't get treatment for your condition, and how likely it is to be successful.
• You may choose not to be treated. Your doctor will tell you what could happen if you don't get treatment. You are responsible for the results if you choose not to be treated or if you do not follow your doctor's instructions.
• We will inform you about the outcomes of your care, including unexpected outcomes.
• You have the right to complete a Power of Attorney (POA) for Healthcare or Living Will (known as advance directives) if you are at least 18 years old. These legal documents tell us your wishes for future health care; the POA for Healthcare also allows you to appoint someone to make your health care decisions if you should become unable to do so. It is the policy of Mercyhealth to follow advance directives to the extent permitted by law.
• You may refuse to participate in research and experimental treatment.
• You have the right to participate in discussion of ethical issues related to your care. Such issues might include stopping or not starting life-sustaining medical treatment, and questions about research or clinical trials you might be involved in.
• We will inform you as to any relationship of the health system to other health care and educational institutions, insofar as your care is concerned. You have the right to obtain the name, position and professional relationship of all individuals who are treating you. The teaching program is one of the great strengths of any hospital. The patient may refuse participation in any of these educational programs.

• When you are admitted, we will tell a family member and your personal physician of your admission.
• We will tell you the name of the physician or other professional responsible for your care.
• You have the right to decide who may or may not visit you during your stay. You have the right to be informed of clinical limitations or restrictions concerning visitors.
• We will make every effort to provide care that meets your emotional, spiritual and cultural needs. While in the hospital, you may perform cultural or spiritual practices as long as they do not harm others or interfere with medical treatment.
• You have the right to receive care in a safe setting.
• Your medical treatment will not include seclusion or restraints unless your medical condition requires it, or it is necessary because of aggressive or violent behavior.
• With your participation, we will assess and manage your pain.
• You will have access to protective services, such as guardianship, when needed.

• You may look at your medical and billing records.
• You may request copies of your medical records in a reasonable time at a reasonable cost.
• You have a right to receive information about the health system's Community Care program that provides financial assistance to patients who qualify.

Each Mercyhealth employee/partner is available to address any questions or concerns associated with your visit. We encourage our patients and their families to report all concerns related to care, treatment, services and patient safety to any Mercyhealth employee/partner.

• You may make a complaint about your care or service to the Customer Relations Department, 1000 Mineral Point Ave., Janesville, WI 53548, 608.756.6810. Complaints will be reviewed promptly and resolved within 7 to 15 business days when possible.
• If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your complaint, you may file a formal grievance. Please contact our Customer Relations Department.
• You may also file a complaint with the following organizations:
  • The State of Wisconsin, Department of Health & Family Services, Division of Quality Assurance, Bureau of Health Services
    P.O. Box 2969, Madison, WI 53701-2969
    800.642.6552
  • Illinois Department of Public Health Office of Healthcare Regulation
    525 W. Jefferson St., 5th floor, Springfield, IL 62761-0001
    217.782.2913
  • The Joint Commission, Office of Quality Monitoring
    One Renaissance Blvd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
    Phone: 800.994.6610
    Fax 630.792.5636
    complaint@jointcommission.org
• If you are a Medicare patient and have a quality of care complaint or think you are being discharged from the hospital too soon, you may file an appeal with these quality improvement organizations (QIOs):
  • Wisconsin:
    MetaStar
    2909 Landmark Place, Madison, WI 53713
    800.362.2320
  • Illinois:
    Illinois Foundation of Quality HC
    2625 Butterfield Road, Suite 102E, Oakbrook, IL 60521
    630.928.5811
• You may file a formal service delivery discrimination complaint at:
  • Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Enterprise Services, Office of Civil Rights Compliance
    PO Box 7850
    1 W. Wilson, Room 561, Madison, WI 53707
    608.266.9372
    TTY/TDD 888.701.1251
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, Region V
    233 Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601
    312.886.2359
    TTY/TDD 312.353.5693
• A guardian or next of kin or other authorized representative may exercise these rights on behalf of a patient who is not capable of making decisions.