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Your Rights & Responsibilities

As a home care patient, you have the right to be informed of your rights and responsibilities before the initiation of care/service. when a patient has been judged incompetent, the patient's family or guardian may exercise these rights as described below as they relate to:

RESPECT AND CONFIDENTIALITY

you have the right:

1. To be treated with consideration, respect, and dignity, including the provision of privacy during care.

FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF CARE

you have the right:

1. To be informed of the extent to which payment of the hospice services may be expected from Medicare, Medicaid, or any other payer.

SELF DETERMINATION

you have the right:

1. To refuse all or part of your care/treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the expected consequences of said action.

COMPLAINTS

1. To voice concerns about patient care or safety to the organization's management.

2. To voice complaints about care or treatment, or lack of respect for property without reprisal or discrimination, and to be informed of the procedure for voicing complaints.

Complaints or questions may be registered with the Administrator of Gulf Coast Hospice of Houston by phone at 713-772-2700, in person at 9555 W. Sam Houston Parkway S, Ste 333, Houston, TX 77099, or in writing via mail or fax at 713-772-2708.

The organization investigates the complaint and resolution of same.

3. To be informed of the toll-free State Hotline. The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) also has a State Hotline for complaints or questions about local hospice agencies as well as to voice concerns regarding advance directives.

The State Hotline number is 1-800-458-9858 and the days/hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m ., or by mail at 701 W. 51st Street, P.O. Box 149030, Austin, TX 78714-9030.

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

As a home care patient, you have the responsibility:

1. To provide complete and accurate information about illness, hospitalizations, medications, pain and other matters pertinent to your health; any changes in address, phone or insurance/payment information; and changes made to advance directives.

2. To inform the organization when you will not be able to keep your home care appointment.

3. To treat the staff with respect and consideration.

4. To participate in and follow your plan of care.

5. To provide a safe environment for care to be given.

6. To cooperate with staff and ask questions if you do not understand instruction or information given to you.

7. To assist the organization with billing and/or payment issues to help with processing third party payment.

8. To inform the organization of any problems (including issues with following the plan of care), dissatisfaction with services or recommendations for improvement.