Kennedy Health System

As a patient at Kennedy, you have the following patient rights under state law and regulations. This list is an abbreviated summary of the current New Jersey law and regulations governing the rights of hospital patients.

Medical Care

• The right to receive the care and health services that the hospital is required by law to provide.
• The right to receive an understandable explanation from your physician of your complete medical condition, recommended treatment, expected results, risks involved, and reasonable medical alternatives. If your physician believes that some of this information would be detrimental to your health or beyond your ability to understand, the explanation must be given to your next of kin or guardian, unless prohibited in accordance with federal law.
• The right to give informed, written consent prior to the start of specified, non-emergency medical procedures or treatments. Your physician should explain to you—in words you understand—specific details about the recommended procedure or treatment, expected results, any risks involved, time required for recovery, and any reasonable medical alternatives.
• If the patient is incapable of giving informed, written consent, consent shall be sought from the patient’s next of kin or guardian or through an advance directive, to the extent authorized by law. If the patient does not give written consent, a physician shall enter an explanation in the patient’s medical record.
• The patient or his or her representative has the right to make informed decisions regarding his or her care, be informed of his or her health status, and be involved in care planning and treatment.
• The right to formulate advance directives and to have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives.
• The right to refuse medication and treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of this act.
• The right to be included in experimental research only if you give informed, written consent. You have the right to refuse to participate.
• The right to receive pain relief. The right to an appropriate assessment and management of your pain. You have a right to be educated about pain, pain relief measures, and to be included in setting goals for relieving identified pain.

Communication and Information

• The right to be informed of the names and functions of all physicians and other healthcare professionals providing you with personal care.
• The right to receive, as soon as possible, the services of a translator or interpreter if you need one to help you communicate with the hospital’s healthcare professionals, at no expense to you.
• The right to know the relationship(s) of the hospital to other persons or organizations participating in the provision of his/her care.
• The right to be informed of the names and functions of any outside healthcare and educational institutions involved in your treatment. You may refuse to allow their participation.
• The right to receive, upon request, the hospital’s written policies and procedures regarding life-saving methods and the use or withdrawal of life support mechanisms.
• The right to be advised in writing of the hospital’s rules regarding the conduct of patients and visitors.
• The right to receive a summary of your patient rights that include the name and phone number of the hospital professional to whom you can ask questions or complain about any possible violation of your rights.
• The right to be informed about the outcomes of care, treatment, and services, including unanticipated outcomes.

Medical Records

• The right to have prompt access to the information in your medical record. If your physician feels that this access is detrimental to your health, your next of kin or guardian has a right to see your record, subject to limitations imposed by federal law.
• The right to obtain a copy of your medical record, at a reasonable fee, within 30 days after a written request to the hospital.

Cost of Hospital Care

• The right to receive a copy of the hospital payment rates. If you request an itemized bill, the hospital must provide one. In addition, the hospital must answer any questions you have regarding your bill. You have a right to appeal any charges.
• The right to be informed by the hospital, if part or your entire bill will not be covered by insurance. The hospital is required to help you obtain any public assistance and private healthcare benefits to which you may be entitled.
• The right to be informed of the source of the hospital’s reimbursement for his/her services, and of any limitations which may be placed upon his/her care.

Discharge Planning

• The right to receive information and assistance from your attending physician and other healthcare providers if you need to arrange for continuing healthcare after your discharge from the hospital.
• The right to have sufficient time before discharge to arrange for continuing healthcare needs.
• The right to be informed by the hospital about any appeal process to which you are entitled by law if you disagree with the hospital’s discharge plans.

Transfers

• The right to be transferred to another facility only when you or your guardian has made the request, or in instances where the transferring hospital is unable to provide you with the care you need.
• The right to receive an advance explanation from a physician of the reasons for your transfer and possible alternatives.

Personal Needs

• The right to be treated with courtesy, consideration, and respect for your dignity and individuality.
• The right to have access to storage space in your room for private use. The hospital must also have a system to safeguard your personal property.
• The right to contract directly, at the patient’s expense, with a NJ licensed registered professional nurse to provide nursing care during your hospitalization. The hospital, upon request, shall provide a list of local non-profit nursing agency registries to patients requesting private nursing care during their hospitalization.

Freedom from Abuse and Restraints

• The right to freedom from physical and mental abuse.
• The right to freedom from restraints, unless they are authorized by a physician for a limited period of time to protect the safety of you and others.

Privacy and Confidentiality

• The right to have physical privacy during medical treatment and personal hygiene functions, unless you need assistance.
• The right to confidential treatment of information about you. Information in your records will not be released to anyone outside the hospital without your approval, unless, it is required by law.

Legal Rights

• The right to treatment and medical services without discrimination based on race, age, religion, national origin, sex, sexual preferences, handicap, diagnosis, ability to pay, or source of payment.
• The right to exercise all of your constitutional, civil, and legal rights.
• The patient’s family has the right of informed consent of donation of organs and tissues.

Questions and Complaints

• The right to present questions or grievances to a designated hospital staff member and to receive a response in a reasonable period of time.
• The hospital must provide you with the address and telephone number of the New Jersey Department of Health agency that handles questions and complaints. You may directly contact the NJ Department of Health Complaint Hotline at 1-800-792-9770.

New Jersey Patient Bill of Rights