Patient bill of rights

 Medical care

• To receive the care and health services that the hospital is required by law to provide.
• To receive care in a safe setting.
• To participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care. 
• 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.
• To give informed 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, any risks and/or benefit involved, expected results, time required for recovery, and any reasonable medical alternatives.
• To refuse medication, procedure, or treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of this decision.
• To expect and receive appropriate assessment, management and treatment of pain as an integral component of your care.
• To be included in experimental research only if you give informed written consent. You have the right to refuse to participate.
• To contract directly with a New Jersey licensed registered professional nurse of your choosing for private professional care during your hospitalization.

 Communication & information

• To have a family member or representative and your practitioner notified promptly of your hospitalization.
• To be informed of the names and functions of all health care professionals providing you with personal care.
• To receive, as soon as possible, the services of a translator or interpreter if you need one to help you communicate with the hospital health care personnel.
• To receive information in a manner that meets your needs if you have vision, speech, hearing, or cognitive impairment.
• To be informed of the names and functions of any outside health care and educational institutions involved in your treatment. You may refuse to allow their participation.
• To receive, upon request, the hospital’s written policies and procedures regarding lifesaving methods and the use or withdrawal of life-support mechanisms.
• To be advised in writing of the hospital’s rules regarding the conduct of patients and visitors.
• To receive a summary of your patient rights that includes the name and phone number of the hospital staff member to whom you can ask questions or complain about possible violation of your rights.

 Medical records

• 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.
• 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

• To receive a copy of the hospital payment rates. If you request an itemized bill, the hospital must provide one and explain any questions you may have. You have the right to appeal any charges.
• To be assisted in obtaining public assistance and the private health care benefits to which you may be entitled.

 Discharge planning

• To be informed and receive assistance from your attending physician and other health care providers if you need to arrange for continuing health care after your discharge from the hospital.
• To receive sufficient time before discharge to arrange for continuing health care needs.
• To be informed by the hospital about any appeal process to which you are entitled by law if you disagree with your discharge plan.

Transfers

• To be transferred to another facility only when you or your next of kin or guardian has made the request, or in instances where the transferring hospital is unable to provide you with the care you need.
• To receive explanation from a physician of the reasons for your transfer, possible alternatives, verification of acceptance from the receiving facility, and assurance that you will not be at risk for substantial or unnecessary deterioration due to the transfer. This explanation of the transfer will be given in advance, except in a life-threatening situation where immediate transfer is necessary.

 Personal needs

• To be treated with courtesy, consideration, and respect for your dignity and individuality.
• To have access to storage space in your room for private use. The hospital must also have a system to safeguard your personal property, if you are unable to assume responsibility for your personal items.
• To receive visitors, including but not limited to spouse, domestic partner (including same-sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend and to withdraw or deny consent for visitors at any time.
• To be accompanied by a support person in the Emergency Department and during your hospitalization in areas where communication with hospital staff would normally take place.
• To protective services such as guardianship, advocacy services, and child/adult protective services.

Freedom from abuse & restraints

• To be free from harassment, neglect, exploitation, and verbal, mental, physical, and sexual abuse.
• To freedom from restraints, unless they are authorized by physician for a limited period of time for the safety of you or others.

Privacy & confidentiality

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

Legal rights

• To treatment and medical services without discrimination based on race, age, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, culture, language, socioeconomic status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual preference/orientation, gender identity or expression, handicap, diagnosis, ability to pay or source of payment.
• To exercise all your constitutional, civil, and legal rights to which you are entitled by law.

Questions & complaints

To present questions or grievances to a designated hospital staff member and to receive a response in a reasonable period of time.   Grievances may be presented to the physician practice/hospital Patient Relations office:

Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center - 973-971-5142

Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center - 908-522-5273

Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center - Union Campus 908-522-5273

Atlantic Health Newton Medical Center - 973-579-8430

Atlantic Health Chilton Medical Center - 973-831-5157

Atlantic Health Hackettstown Medical Center - 973-579-8430

Atlantic Health CentraState Medical Center - 732-294-2707

Atlantic Health - 973-660-3592

You may also contact The Joint Commission Office of Quality Monitoring at 1-800-994-6610 or complaint@jointcommission.org or the NJ Department of Health Complaint Hotline at 1-800-792-9770.

This list of Patient Bill of Rights is an abbreviated summary of the current New Jersey laws and regulations governing the rights of hospital patients. For complete information, consult the NJ Department of Health regulations N.J.A.C. 8:43G-4.1 or Public Law 1989-Chapter 170.