North Sunflower Medical Center has established written policies and procedures regarding the rights and responsibilities of it’s patients. These policies and procedures are available to patients, guardians, next of kin, sponsoring agency, or representative payee of each individual patient. Copies of these policies and procedures can be made available to the public, upon request, and are posted throughout the facility. The Facility Administrator is responsible for development, adherence, and implementation of these policies and to make sure that staff of the facility is trained and involved in the implementation of these policies and procedures.
Each patient is fully informed, prior to or at the time of admission and throughout their stay, in writing and verbally, of services available in the facility, and of related charges including any charges for services covered or not covered under Title XVIII (Medicare) and Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act or by the facility’s basic premium rate (daily charge for room, board, and basic care).
Each patient must be informed of items and services that are included in the nursing facility services under the State Plan and for which the patient may not be charged.
Each patient must also be informed of items and services that the facility offers and for which the patient may be charged, as well as, the amount of charges for the services.
If, at any time during the patient’s stay at the facility, he/she becomes eligible or entitled to benefits, including Medicaid, they will be informed of those benefits in writing at the time of eligibility.
Each patient, unless adjudged incompetent or otherwise found to be incapacitated under the laws of the State of Mississippi, is fully informed by a physician of his/her medical condition unless medically contraindicated (as documented by a physician in his/her medical record) and is afforded the opportunity to participate in the planning of his/her medical treatment and to refuse to participate in experimental research.
Each patient has the right to be fully informed (in advance), in language that he or she can understand, of their total health status, including but not limited to, their medical condition, about their care, and treatment, and of any changes in that care or treatment that may affect the patient’s well being.
Each patient has the right to choose a personal attending physician.
Each patient has the right to formulate an advance directive, if they so desire.
Each patient is transferred or discharged only for medical reasons, or for his/her or other patient’s welfare, or for non-payment of their stay (except as prohibited by Medicare and Medicaid sections of the Social Security Act) and is given reasonable advanced notice to ensure orderly transfer or discharge. Such actions must be documented in the patient’s medical record.
Each patient has the right to be free from mental and physical abuse and free from chemical and (except in emergencies) physical restraints except as authorized in writing by a physician for a specified and limited period of time. Restraints can be used only to protect the patient from injury to him/her or to others, to treat a patient’s medical symptoms, or to assist the resident to their highest level of independent functioning.
Each patient has the right to be free from verbal, sexual, physical and mental abuse, corporal punishment, and involuntary seclusion. The facility will not employ individuals who have been found guilty of abusing, neglecting, or mistreating a patient, or who had a finding entered into the State Nurse Aid Registry concerning abuse, neglect, mistreatment, or misappropriation of a patient’s property.
North Sunflower Medical Center has developed and implemented written policies and procedures that prohibit mistreatment, neglect, and abuse of patients, as well as, the misappropriation of a patient’s property.
Each patient is assured of confidential treatment of his/her personal and clinical records and may approve or refuse their release to any individual outside the facility, except, in case of the patient’s transfer to another facility, or as required by law or third party payment contract.
North Sunflower Medical Center policy has defined personal privacy to include accommodations, medical treatments, written and telephone communications, personal care, visits, and meeting of family and resident groups. Providing private rooms for each patient is not part of the facility policies and is not required by Federal or State law (except as defined by patient’s specific medical condition). No patient will be required to perform services for the facility that are not included for therapeutic purpose and included on the individual patient’s plan of care.
Each patient may associate and communicate privately with persons of his/her choice, and send and receive mail unopened unless medically contraindicated (as documented by a physician in the medical record). Any patient may request assistance with sending and receiving mail, including opening and reading said mail. (This request must also be documented in the patient’s medical record).
North Sunflower Medical Center will provide immediate access, when present in the facility, to the immediate family or to other relatives of the resident who the resident wishes to see. Reasonable restrictions apply and the resident may deny or withdraw consent with anyone to visit, at any time desired.
Each patient will be given access to stationary, postage, and writing implements at the patient’s own expense.
Each patient may retain and use his/her personal clothing and possessions as space permits, unless to do so would infringe upon the rights of other patients or be medically contraindicated (as documented by a physician in the medical record).
Each patient has the right to share a room with his/her spouse when married couples are both patients at North Sunflower Medical Center. Both spouses must consent to the arrangement. Privacy will also be given to couples where one spouse is a patient in the facility, and one is a resident of a community outside the facility.