Patient Responsibilities & Safety Tips
To assist us in providing you with the quality of health care and services you expect and deserve as a patient at Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center, you have the responsibility to:
Patient Responsibilities
- Provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about your current health, symptoms, medications, past illnesses, hospitalizations and other matters relating to your health and health care.
- Provide information about Advance Health Care Directives that instruct us about your preferences for future medical care and the identity of anyone you may want to make health care decisions on your behalf should you later become incapable of making such decisions on your own.
- Inform us if you do not understand a proposed course of action or what is expected of you.
- Ask questions about your treatment, diagnosis and expected outcomes.
- Follow the directions of your doctor and treatment team.
- Inform us immediately if you believe that you are given a medication or being provided with a treatment that is incorrect or intended for someone else.
- Ask for pain relief when pain first begins; help the staff assess your pain; work with the staff to develop a pain management plan; and advise staff if your pain is not relieved.
- Report unexpected changes in your condition to a member of the staff.
- Accept responsibility for your actions should you refuse treatment or should you choose not to follow the prescribed treatment plan.
- Learn what you can do to improve your ability to care for yourself, if appropriate.
- Know and follow hospital rules and regulations, including those related to hospital care unit, noise control, smoking and visitors.
- Respect the rights, privacy and confidentiality of other patients and staff.
- Never bring a weapon into the hospital.
- Never hurt or threaten anyone at the hospital.
- Never bring alcohol or non-authorized drugs into the hospital.
- Use only the medications prescribed for you in the amount specified.
- Show respect for the property of others and the hospital.
- Leave your personal valuables and property at home.
- Satisfy your financial obligations for care and treatment by providing us with correct information about your health insurance or other source of payment.
- Talk with a member of the staff immediately if you are dissatisfied with the care or service.
Back to top
Patient Safety Tips
Research shows that patients and families who are actively involved with their team of doctors, nurses and other health care staff have safer care and better outcomes. Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center requests that you:
Please Ask ─ About Your Medications
Medication errors are the most common health care mistakes.
- Ask why you are being given the medications and about common side effects
- If you do not recognize a medication, ask to make sure that it is for you.
- Know the time of day you usually receive a medication. If you are not given a medication when you expect to take it, please ask.
- It is important that you understand the care that your doctor is planning. Ask questions and if you still don’t understand, ask again.
- Ask about the risks and benefits of any procedure that your doctor recommends.
- Ask for information about your condition. Good sources are your doctor, www.pamf.org and related websites.
- Ask about the kind of care you will need when you leave the hospital.
Your rights and responsibilities were provided to you on admission. If you have questions, please speak with a member of your health care team.
Please Ask ─ About Your Safety
- Make sure that members of your health care team confirm your identity before administering medication or treatments. If they do not, please ask.
- Expect health care staff to introduce themselves and wear a hospital identification badge. If they do not, please ask.
Hand cleansing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections. Your health care team should clean their hands before caring for you. If you did not see them do this, it is okay to ask them to do so.
Back to top
