LifeBridge Health complies with applicable federal civil
rights laws and prohibits discrimination based upon race,
color, national origin, culture, language, religion,
physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, age,
gender/sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or
expression, or ability to pay.
We want to encourage you, as a patient at LifeBridge Health,
to speak openly with your health care team, take part in
your treatment choices, and promote your own safety by being
well informed and involved in your care. Because we want you
to think of yourself as a partner in your care, we want you
to know your rights as well as your responsibilities during
your stay at our hospital. We invite you and your family to
join us as active members of your care team.
YOUR RIGHTS
You have the right to receive considerate, respectful and
compassionate care in a safe setting regardless of your
race, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or
mental disability, religion, language, or ability to pay.
You have the right to receive care treatment and services
that are adequate, appropriate and in compliance with state,
local, and federal law and regulation.
You have the right to be provided care in a safe environment
free from all forms of abuse and neglect, including verbal,
mental, physical and sexual abuse.
You have the right to have a medical screening exam and be
provided stabilizing treatment for emergency medical
conditions and labor.
You have the right to be free from restraints and seclusion
unless needed for safety.
You have the right to be called by your proper name and to
be in an environment that maintains dignity and adds to a
positive self-image.
You have the right to be told the names and jobs of the
health care team members involved in your care if staff
safety is not a concern.
You have the right to have respect shown for your personal
values, beliefs and wishes.
You have the right to be provided a list of protective and
advocacy services when needed.
You have the right to receive information about your
hospital and physician charges and ask for an estimate of
hospital charges before care is provided and as long as
patient care is not impeded.
You have the right to receive information from your doctor
or other health care practitioners about your diagnosis,
prognosis, test results, outcomes of care and unanticipated
outcomes of care.
You have the right to have a family member or designated
representative and your own physician notified promptly of
your admission to the hospital.
You have the right to be involved in your plan of care,
including the right to refuse treatment to the extent
permitted by law. You may include family and friends, with
your permission in these decisions. If you leave the
hospital against the advice of your doctor, the hospital and
doctors will not be responsible for any medical consequences
that may occur.
You have the right to be screened, assessed, and treated for
pain. You have the right to be involved in decisions about
treating your pain.
In accordance with hospital visitation policies, you have
the right to have an individual of your choice remain with
you for emotional support during your hospital stay, choose
the individuals who may visit you and change your mind about
the individuals who may visit.
You have the right to appoint an individual of your choice
to make health care decisions for you, in the event that you
are unable to do so.
You have the right to make or change an advance directive.
If you do not have an advance directive, we can provide you
with information and help you complete one.
You have the right to give informed consent before any
non-emergency care is provided, including the benefits and
risks of the care, alternatives to the care, and the
benefits and risks of the alternatives to the care.
You have the right to agree or refuse to take part in
medical research studies, without the agreement or refusal
affecting your care.
You have the right to allow or refuse to allow
picture-taking for purposes other than for your care.
You have the right to withdraw consent up until a reasonable
time before the photo is used.
You have the right to expect privacy and confidentiality in
care discussions and treatments. You may ask for an escort
during any type of exam.
You have the right to be involved in your discharge plan.
You can expect to be told in a timely manner of your
discharge, transfer to another facility or transfer to
another level of care. Before your discharge, you can expect
to receive information about follow-up care that you may
need.
You can expect that all communication and records about your
care are confidential, unless disclosure is permitted by
law. You have the right to see or get a copy of your medical
records. You may add information to your medical record by
contacting the Health Information Management Department. You
have the right to request a list of people to whom your
personal health information was disclosed.
You have the right to access your medical records in
accordance with HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
You have a right to be provided a copy of the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Notice of
Privacy Practices. Please see this page.
If you or your family member needs to discuss an ethical
issue related to your care, a member of the Ethics Committee
is available to assist. You may request a consultation.
You have the right to spiritual services. Chaplains are
available to help you directly or to contact your own
clergy.
You have the right to receive information in a manner that
is understandable by the patient, which may include: i) Sign
and foreign language interpreters; ii) Alternative formats,
including large print; braille; audio recordings; and
computer files; and iii) Vision, speech, hearing, and other
temporary aids as needed without charge.
The hospital provides free language services to people whose
primary language is not English, such as:
If you need these services, contact your nurse or care
provider.
If you believe that LifeBridge Health has failed to provide
these services or discriminated in another way, you can file
a grievance with the director of Guest Relations for whom
contact information is provided below.
You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil
Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights
Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov
/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf,
or by mail or phone at:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)
Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov
/ocr/office/file/index.html
You have a right to file a complaint about care and have the
complaint reviewed without the complaint affecting the
patient's care.
If you have a problem or complaint, you may talk with your
doctor, nurse, manager or other department manager. If you
wish to talk to someone outside the department, you may also
contact the Patient Experience Department.
Patient Representative
Patient Relations Department
Carroll Hospital
200 Memorial Avenue
Westminster, MD 21157
410-871-7099
(phone)
410-871-6237 (fax)
patientrelations
@lifebridgehealth.org
Patient Advocate
Grace Medical Center, a Sinai Hospital Facility
2000 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21223
410-362-3546
(phone)
410-362-3577 (fax)
gracemedicalcenterpatientadvocat
e@lifebridgehealth.org
Director of Service Excellence
Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital
2434 West Belvedere Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-601-1079
(phone)
410-601-2700 (fax)
LevindaleGuestRelations
@lifebridgehealth.org
Director of Guest Relations
Guest Relations/Patient Experience Department
Northwest Hospital
5401 Old Court Road
Randallstown, MD 21133
410-701-4447
(phone)
410-496-6458 (fax)
NorthwestHospitalGuestRelations
@lifebridgehealth.org
Director of Guest Relations
Patient Experience Department
Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
2401 West Belvedere Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215-5216
410-601-8778
(phone)
410-601-8940 (fax)
PatientFamilyServices
@lifebridgehealth.org
You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax or email.
If you need help filing a grievance, the director of the
Patient Experience/Guest Relations/Patient Advocate
Department is available to help you.
If your concern is not resolved to your satisfaction, you
may also contact:
Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Office of Healthcare Quality
7120 Samuel Morse Drive, 2nd Floor
Columbia, MD 21046
410-402-8015
The Joint Commission
To report a patient safety concern:
Use the “Report a Patient
Safety Concern” link on the home page of the
website, www.jointcommission.org
Send a fax to
630-792-5636
Send mail to:
The
Office of Quality and Patient Safety (QOPS),
The Joint Commission,
One Renaissance Boulevard,
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
Reports of patient safety events to The Joint Commission
must include the health care organization’s name, street
address, city and state.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
You are expected to provide complete and accurate
information, including your full name, address, home
telephone number, date of birth, Social Security number,
insurance carrier and employer when it is required.
You should provide the hospital or your doctor with a copy
of your advance directive if you have one.
You are expected to provide complete and accurate
information about your health and medical history, including
present condition, past illnesses, hospital stays,
medicines, vitamins, herbal products and any other matters
that pertain to your health, including perceived safety
risks.
You are expected to ask questions when you do not understand
information or instructions. If you believe you cannot
follow through with your treatment plan, you are responsible
for telling your doctor. You are responsible for outcomes if
you do not follow care, treatment and service plans.
You are expected to actively participate in your pain
management plan and to keep your doctors and nurses informed
of the effectiveness of your treatment.
You are asked to please leave valuables at home and bring
only necessary items for your hospital stay. The hospital is
not responsible for valuables or belongings that you keep
with you during your stay.
You are expected to treat all hospital staff, other patients
and visitors with courtesy and respect; abide by all
hospital rules and safety regulations; and be mindful of
noise levels, privacy and number of visitors.
You are expected to provide complete and accurate
information about your health insurance coverage and to pay
your bills in a timely manner.
You have the responsibility to keep appointments, be on time
and call your health care provider if you cannot keep your
appointments.
Consistent with Maryland law, patients and their families
and friends are responsible for obtaining the consent of all
participants before recording or videoing a conversation of
them in person or on the phone. Physicians, nurses and all
other staff are legally entitled to decline being recorded.
