Patient Bill of Rights & Responsibilities

The following Rights and Responsibilities of patients may be exercised by all voluntary patients or by their legal guardians or agents appointed through a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare Document.

Patient Rights

1. You have the right to:
   • Be respected as an individual
   • Have your needs for confidentiality, privacy, and security respected
   • Be informed about your diagnosis and treatment
   • Be involved in planning your care
   • Refuse care, treatment, and services
   • Pain management
2. You have the right to make choices and participate in your plan of care, in a language you can understand.
3. If you have an Advance Directive or choose to create one, you can expect the practitioners and staff to provide care based upon it and in accordance with hospital policy.
4. You have the right to receive care in a place where you feel safe. This includes the right to be free from all forms of abuse, harassment, neglect, avoidable harm, and unnecessary restraints or seclusion.
5. You have the right to see and read your medical records. You also have the right to receive copies of your medical record information within a reasonable time frame and at a reasonable copy fee.
6. You have the right to have your complaints addressed in a timely, reasonable and consistent manner. You may discuss your concerns regarding care or safety with the Department/Unit Manager or Director, or the Patient Experience Office at 573.815.6047. If you would prefer to submit your feedback in writing, please send to:Patient Experience Office (Box 87)
   Boone Hospital Center
   1600 E. Broadway
   Columbia, MO 65201If you prefer to discuss your concerns with someone other than hospital staff, you may contact:
   • Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Health Services Regulation at 573.751.6303 or P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
   • The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at 1.877.696.6775.
   • The Joint Commission, a national healthcare organization accrediting agency, at 1.800.994.6610.
7. If you have ethical concerns, you may request a visit with the hospital’s Ethics Team by calling the hospital switchboard at 573.815.8000, and asking for the “Ethics Team Contact Person,” or simply by asking your nurse to contact them for you.
8. You have the right to know if any part of your treatment involves research, investigation, or a clinical trial, and have the absolute right to refuse this option, without fear of endangering your further care. Questions about such concerns may be answered by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Coordinator.
   Call 573.815.8000 to be connected.
9. You have the right to choose your visitors as guaranteed by federal law including:
   • The right to consent to and receive visitors whom you designate including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), other family members or friends.
   • The right to withdraw or deny such consent to visitation at any time.
   • Visitation privileges will not be restricted, limited or denied on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
   • All visitors will enjoy full and equal visitation privileges consistent with patient preferences.

Patient Responsibilities

1. You are responsible for informing a hospital staff member regarding any questions or concerns about your care, treatment, or safety.
2. You are responsible for providing information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, current medications, allergies and other matters related to your own health.
3. You are responsible for giving the hospital a copy of your Advance Directive(s) when you have one. When you are unable to provide it, your guardian and/or family is responsible for ensuring that the hospital has a copy of your current Advance Directive(s).
4. You are responsible for communicating your level of pain to staff. (A hospital-wide pain scale of 0 to 10 is being utilized, with 0 = no pain to 10 = worst possible pain.)
5. You are responsible for decisions about your treatment and participating in your plan of care.
6. You are responsible for participating and asking questions about your discharge plan.
7. You are responsible for paying your medical bills and for contacting the Patient Assistance Department at 573.815.3305 if you have questions or need financial assistance with your medical bills.
8. You are responsible for understanding what treatments and providers your health insurance covers.
9. You are responsible for following hospital rules, regulations, and precautions.
10. You are responsible for participating in the plan of care, including restraints and family supervision for patients who are at risk for harm if left alone.
11. You are responsible for personal belongings you bring to the hospital. You are also responsible for alerting staff of valuables you want locked in security.
12. You are responsible for notifying hospital staff before leaving a patient care area.

Notice of Privacy Practices

See our Notice of Privacy Practices here.

Health Information Exchange (HIE)

See more information on the HIE here.