We want to meet both your needs and your wishes while you are under our care. To ensure that the hospital understands both, we ask that you look over the following explanations for advance directives and the Patients Bill of Rights.
If you already have an advance directive, please bring it with you at the time of admission to the hospital. If you would like to make one, forms are available online below and through TRH.
Advance Directives—If You Are Unable to Decide for Yourself
Advance Directives are legal documents that clearly state your wishes for treatment or no treatment should you be unable to voice them. TRH highly encourages you to discuss these matters with your physician and your family before you enter the hospital. When you do enter the hospital, you will be asked (as required by state law) about advance directives (living will, healthcare power of attorney, etc.). If you have an advance directive, please bring it with you, so we can copy it and place it in your file. If you’d like to make a directive, we have forms on file or you can click below for more information:
- Advance Directives
- Mental Health Advance Directive | Download PDF
- Living Will Form | Download PDF
- Health Care Power of Attorney | Download PDF
- www.putitinwriting.org - an excellent source of information
Ethics Committee & Chaplain’s Office
Should you need help with any decisions about your healthcare, TRH has both an ethics committee and a chaplain. The ethics committee can be reached at 828-883-5497, the chaplain at 828-883-5497.
The Patients’ Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
The Right to Information.
Patients have the right to receive accurate, easily understood information to assist them in making informed decisions about their health plans, facilities and professionals.
The Right to Choose.
Patients have the right to a choice of healthcare providers that is sufficient to assure access to appropriate high-quality healthcare including giving women access to qualified specialists such as obstetrician-gynecologists and giving patients with serious medical conditions and chronic illnesses access to specialists.
Access to Emergency Services.
Patients have the right to access emergency health services when and where the need arises. Health plans should provide payment when a patient presents himself/herself to any emergency department with acute symptoms of sufficient severity including severe pain that a prudent layperson could reasonably expect the absence of medical attention to result in placing that consumer's health in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
Being a Full Partner in Healthcare Decisions.
Patients have the right to fully participate in all decisions related to their healthcare. Consumers who are unable to fully participate in treatment decisions have the right to be represented by parents, guardians, family members, or other conservators. Additionally, provider contracts should not contain any so-called "gag clauses" that restrict health professionals' ability to discuss and advise patients on medically necessary treatment options.
Care Without Discrimination.
Patients have the right to considerate, respectful care from all members of the healthcare industry at all times and under all circumstances. Patients must not be discriminated against in the marketing or enrollment or in the provision of healthcare services, consistent with the benefits covered in their policy and/or as required by law, based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, current or anticipated mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or source of payment.
The Right to Privacy.
Patients have the right to communicate with healthcare providers in confidence and to have the confidentiality of their individually-identifiable healthcare information protected. Patients also have the right to review and copy their own medical records and request amendments to their records.
The Right to Speedy Complaint Resolution.
Patients have the right to a fair and efficient process for resolving differences with their health plans, healthcare providers, and the institutions that serve them, including a rigorous system of internal review and an independent system of external review.
Taking on New Responsibilities.
In a healthcare system that affords patients rights and protections, patients must also take greater responsibility for maintaining good health.
