Patient Information

Welcome and thank you for choosing Silver Cross Hospital. No matter what the reason for your visit, we promise to care for you and your loved ones with respect, compassion, encouragement and the utmost concern for your safety.

If at any time throughout your stay you have questions or concerns about your care, please reach out to one of your care team members. Our No. 1 priority is our patients, and our goal is to provide you with an exceptional Silver Cross Experience every time.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

As a patient, you have the right to respectful and considerate care. In addition, there are specific rights and responsibilities you have during your hospital stay.

1. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to expect privacy and dignity in treatment in all medical and psychiatric care. (As such, care discussions, consultations, examinations, and treatment should be conducted discretely in a manner to protect the patient’s privacy.)

2. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to professional language interpretive services, when indicated or requested.

3. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to be informed of hospital policies and practices that relate to patient care, treatment, and patient/parent(s)/guardian responsibilities and conduct while a patient is in the hospital.

4. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to be informed of the nature of the patient’s condition, proposed treatment/procedure (including medically indicated pain management), risks, benefits, and prognosis including any continuing healthcare requirements after discharge.

5. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to receive access to medical treatment or accommodations regardless of race, sex, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, physical/mental disability, limited English proficiency, or sources of payment. This includes the patient's right to be acknowledged by their preferred identified pronoun.

6. At all times and in all circumstances, the patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to considerate and respectful care in a safe setting free from any type of abuse, harassment, retaliation, neglect, financial, or other exploitation.

7. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to exercise cultural values and spiritual beliefs to the extent that it does not interfere with the wellbeing of others, the planned course of any medical care or violate hospital safety policies.

8. The patient has the right to be free of restraints and seclusion in any form used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation.

9. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to have access to professionals to assist with emotional and/or spiritual care.

10. Except in emergencies when the patient lacks decision-making capacity, and the need for treatment is urgent to prevent a threat to life or permanent disability, the patient/parent(s)/guardian is entitled to the opportunity to discuss, ask questions, and request information related to the specific procedures and/or treatments, the risks involved, the possible length of recuperation, and the medically reasonable alternatives and their accompanying risks and benefits. (Informed Consent)

11. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed by physicians and other caregivers of available and realistic patient care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate.

12. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to know the identity and professional status of those involved in their care including physicians/providers, nurses, and other caregivers, as well as students, residents, or other trainees. This includes the right to know who is authorizing and performing their procedures or treatments.

13. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to participate in their plan of care and to make informed decisions about their plan of care prior to and during the course of treatment.

14. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy and to be informed of the medical consequences of this action. (In case of such refusal, the patient is entitled to other appropriate care and services that the hospital provides or transfer to another hospital. The hospital should notify the patient/parent(s) of any hospital policy or law which may affect their choice.)

15. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to be informed of available medical alternatives for care or treatment.

16. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to participate in the discussion of ethical issues regarding their care that may arise during their hospitalization.

17. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to know the immediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices.

18. The patient/parent(s)/legal guardian has the right to have and/or formulate advance directives (i.e. living will or durable power of attorney for healthcare) concerning treatment or designating a surrogate decision maker with the expectation that the hospital will honor the intent of that directive to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy. (Healthcare institutions must advise the patient/parent(s)/guardian of their rights under state law and hospital policy to make informed medical choices, ask if the patient has an advance directive, and include that information in patient records. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to timely information about hospital policy that may limit its ability to implement fully a legally valid advance directive.)

19. The patient has the right to every consideration of privacy in the release of their medical information as required by law. (As such, all communications and records pertaining to the patient’s care will be treated as confidential by the hospital, except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards when reporting is permitted or required by law. The hospital will emphasize the confidentiality of this information when it releases it to any other parties entitled to review information in these records.)

20. The patient/parent(s)/legal guardian has the right to access information contained in the patient’s clinical records,  according to hospital policy, and to have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by law. The medical record must be provided to the patient/parent(s) in a reasonable time frame and at a reasonable cost.

21. The patient/parent(s)/legal guardian has the right to expect that, within its capacity and policies, a hospital will make a reasonable response to the request of a patient/parent(s) for appropriate and medically indicated care and services within the hospital’s capacity, mission, and applicable laws. The hospital must provide evaluation, service, and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the patient’s condition. When medically appropriate and legally permissible, or when a patient/parent(s)/legal guardian has so requested, a patient may be transferred to another facility. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer. The patient/parent(s)/legal guardian must also have the benefit of complete information and explanation concerning the need for, risks, benefits, and alternatives to such a transfer. (See EMTALA.)

22. The patient/parent(s)/legal guardian has the right to be informed of the hospital’s charges for services and available payment methods and has the right to examine and receive a reasonable explanation of the services provided regardless of source of payment.

23. The patient/parent(s)/legal guardian has the right to ask and be informed of the existence of business relationships  among the hospital, educational institutions, other healthcare providers, or payers that may influence the patient’s treatment and care.

24. The patient/parent(s)/legal guardian has the right to consent to or decline to participate in proposed research studies or human experimentation affecting care and treatment or requiring direct patient involvement, and to have those studies fully explained prior to consent. A patient/parent(s)/legal guardian who declines to participate in research or experimentation is entitled to the most effective care that the hospital can otherwise provide.

25. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to have a family member or representative of their choice and their physician notified promptly of their admission to the hospital.

26. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to be provided care in a safe environment. As a result, weapons, contraband, smoking/vaping and alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the hospital. 

27. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the right to access protective and advocacy services.

28. The patient/parent(s)/legal guardian has the right to be informed of the hospital’s rules and regulations as they apply to their own conduct and that of their family/visitors.

29. The patient/parent(s)/legal guardian has the right to express concerns regarding any of these rights in accordance with the grievance process without fear of retaliation. As such, the patient/parent(s) has the right to be informed of available resources for resolving disputes, grievances, and conflicts, such as ethics committees, patient representatives, or other mechanisms available in the institution. 

Pediatric Specific Rights:

In addition to the rights above, Silver Cross understands that pediatric/infant and neonate patients and their parent(s)/legal guardian have unique needs. Therefore, these additional rights as provided by Silver Cross Hospital and subject to all applicable laws.

1. All pediatric/infant and neonate patients have the right to family-centered, bio-psychosocially, and developmentally appropriate care provided by healthcare professionals trained to care for children/infants and neonates.

2. The pediatric/infant and neonate patient has the right to care that supports growth and development. (As such, Silver Cross Hospital will work in partnership with families to learn what is best for their families, to keep to children’s schedules/activities as normal to them as possible, and to keep the parent(s)/guardian informed of changes.)

3. Parent(s)/guardian has the right to receive information about parent/patient rights.

4. Parent(s)/guardian has the right to ask for a second opinion and/or specialist consult (as available).

5. During most medical treatments/bedside procedures, the pediatric/infant and neonate patient may have a parent/guardian present, as appropriate.

6. Parent(s)/guardian and other family members are welcome in the hospital according to the visiting policy. One parent/guardian will be provided with a space to spend the night with their child, as appropriate.

7. Parent(s)/guardian will be informed of applicable community services, if needed.

Patient Responsibilities Include:

1. A patient/parent(s)/guardian has the responsibility to provide, to the best of their knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to the patient’s health.

2. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the responsibility to report unexpected changes in their condition to the responsible practitioner.

3. The patient/parent(s)/guardian has the responsibility to ask questions or acknowledge when they do not understand the treatment course or care decision.

4. A patient/parent(s)/guardian is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for the care  of the patient. This may include following the instructions of nurses and allied health personnel as they carry out the coordinated plan of care, implement the responsible practitioner’s orders, and enforce the applicable hospital rules and regulations.

5. The patient/parent(s) and/or guardian is responsible for keeping scheduled appointments and, when unable to do so for any reason, is responsible to notify the responsible practitioner or the hospital.

6. The patient/parent(s)/guardian is responsible for their own actions if refusing medically recommended treatment or chooses to not follow the practitioner’s instructions.

7. The patient/parent(s)/guardian is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of the patient’s health care is fulfilled as promptly as possible.

8. The patient/parent(s)/guardian is responsible for following hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

9. The patient/parent(s)/guardian is responsible for being considerate of the rights of others. This includes mutual respect by maintaining civil language and conduct in interactions with staff and licensed independent practitioners, courtesy to other patients by assisting in the control of noise, and the number of visitors.

10. The patient/parent(s)/guardian is responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the hospital. Weapons, contraband, and alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the hospital. The hospital reserves the right to search a patient’s room and personal belonging of the patient/parent(s)/guardian, if reasonable suspicion exists, may confiscate, and dispose of items as appropriate, and may involve law enforcement, if indicated.

11. The patient/parent(s)/guardian is responsible for the safekeeping and storage of all personal property and belongings.

Informed Consent

The process of Informed Consent entitles you to complete information concerning the course of treatment, risks, benefits, and possible alternatives, providing an opportunity for you and/or your family to ask questions and participate in decision making about your care. These are questions best answered by your physician. Be advised, all physicians are independent contractors and are NOT employed by the hospital.

At the time you are admitted, you or your authorized representative must sign a form to acknowledge that you had an opportunity to have enough knowledge to make a good decision about care and treatment. This form becomes a permanent part of your medical record at the hospital.

Power of Attorney for Health Care - English [PDF]

Power of Attorney for Health Care - Spanish [PDF]