The mission of The Methodist Hospital is to provide the best medical care and service in a spiritual environment. In order for the hospital to fulfill this mission, the hospital Medical Staff and the patient/parent(s)/guardian(s) must acknowledge the existence of shared obligations based upon patients' fundamental rights and responsibilities. These patient rights are:
- The right to a reasonable response to their requests and needs for treatment or service, within the entity’s capacity, mission, and applicable laws and regulations;
- The right to know how Methodist is required and permitted by law to use and disclose their health information;
- The right to know their health information rights, including the right to access and request amendment of their health information and to obtain an accounting of disclosures regarding their health information as permitted under applicable law;
- The right to and need for effective communication;
- The right to considerate and respectful care, including the consideration of developmental age, sensory impairment, psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural variables, and the comfort and dignity of dying patients by addressing and treating symptoms that respond to medically appropriate treatment as desired by the patient or surrogate decision maker;
- The right to know the name of the physician who has primary responsibility for coordinating the care and the names and professional relationships of other physicians and non-physicians who will see the patient;
- The right to receive information about the illness, course of treatment, and prospects for recovery in terms that the patient can understand;
- The right, in collaboration with their physicians, to make decisions involving their health care, including the acceptance or refusal of treatment and the use of advance directives;
- The right to receive, at the time of hospital admission, in a language or method that the patient understands, information about Methodist’s patient rights policy, and the mechanism for initiation, review, and when possible, resolution of patient complaints regarding quality of care;
- The right to voice a concern to the appropriate entity personnel or to the Texas Department of State Health Services;
- The right to voice a concern about any healthcare provider licensed by the State of Texas;
- For concerns regarding health information privacy, the right to voice the concern to appropriate entity personnel or to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services;
- The right to participate in, or have their qualified personal representative participate in, the consideration of ethical issues arising in their care;
- The right to participate or not to participate in any human experimentation, research, or education projects for which the patient is eligible;
- The right, within legal limits, to personal privacy and confidentiality of information. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. The patient has the right to be told the reason for the presence of any individual during these events;
- The right to consent or refuse to consent to recording or filming (photographic, video, electronic or audio material) or use of any personal identifiable information for purposes other than the identification, diagnosis, or treatment of the patient.
- The right, within legal limits, to access, or have their qualified personal representative access information contained in their medical records;
- The right of their guardian, next of kin, or qualified personal representative to exercise, to the extent permitted by law, the rights delineated on their behalf if they are incapable of understanding treatment, unable to communicate their wishes, are judged incompetent, or are minors;
- The right to be informed, along with their family, when appropriate, of the outcomes of care including unanticipated outcomes;
- The right to have their pain managed effectively;
- The right to receive a high standard of patient safety;
- The right to be free from restraint or seclusion of any form, imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation by staff;
- The right to an environment that preserves dignity and contributes to a positive self-image;
- The right to be free from mental, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
- The right to access protective and advocacy services;
- The right to be informed of continuing health care needs following discharge from the hospital;
- The right to exercise the above rights without regard to sex, economic status, educational background, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, or the source of payment for care;
Patient Responsibilities
In turn, patients should accept certain responsibilities, including:
- The responsibility to identify themselves, for providing reasonably accurate and complete information about their medical history and unexpected changes in their current condition, and for asking questions when they do not understand medical information they have received;
- The responsibility for complying with the directions and instructions of their health care providers unless they have exercised their right to refuse treatment;
- The responsibility to recognize the effect of their lifestyle on health;
- The responsibility for respecting the rights of others, including, but not limited to, other patients and health care providers;
- The responsibility to know the extent and limitations of their health care benefits;
and - The responsibility for assuring that the financial obligations associated with their care are met in a timely fashion.
Tobacco-Free Environment
To help ensure a safe and healthy environment for patients, guests and others, the use of all tobacco products is prohibited on the hospital campus, except in designated areas. The hospital's public smoking area is the courtyard off Fannin Street between Dunn Tower and the Fondren-Brown Building.
Handgun Policy
The Methodist Hospital is a gun-free zone as outlined by Texas Penal Code. Weapons of any kind are strictly forbidden while on campus. This applies to patients, visitors, guests and employees.
Cellular Phones
Cell phones are not allowed to be on or in use in any patient areas. These areas include: nursing units, intensive care unites, catheterization units, the Emergency Department and diagnostic testing areas. Cellular phones can be used in all other areas.
