Patient Rights

Houston Physicians’ Hospital adopts and affirms as policy the following bill of rights of patients/clients who receive services from our Facility. The Facility will provide the patient, the patient’s representative, or surrogate verbal and written notice of such rights in advance of the procedure in accordance with 42 C.F.R. § 416.50 Condition for Coverage- Patient Rights. The patient rights are as follows:

• Treatment without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political belief, or handicap. It is our intention to treat each patient as a unique individual in a manner that recognizes their basic human rights.
• Considerate and respectful care includes consideration of psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural variables that influence the perceptions of illness.
• Be free from any act of discrimination or reprisal against the patient merely because he or she has exercised their rights.
• Receive, upon request, the names of physicians directly participating in your care and of all personnel participating in your care.
• Obtain from the person responsible for your health care complete and current information concerning your diagnosis, treatment, and expected outlook in terms you can reasonably expect to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to you, the information shall be made available to an appropriate person on your behalf.
• The patient may wish to delegate his/her right to make informed decisions to another person, even though the patient is not incapacitated. To the extent permitted by State law, the ASC must respect such delegation.
• Receive the information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment, except for emergency situations. This information shall include as a minimum an explanation of the specific procedure or treatment itself, its value and significant risks, and an explanation of other appropriate treatment methods if any.
• The patient may elect to refuse treatment. In this event, the patient must be informed of the medical consequences of this action. In the case of a patient who is mentally incapable of making a rational decision, approval will be obtained from the guardian, next-of-kin, or another person legally entitled to give such approval. The Facility will make every effort to inform the patient of alternative facilities for treatment if we are unable to provide the necessary treatment.
• The Facility will provide the patient or, as appropriate the patient’s representative or surrogate with written information concerning its policies on advance directives, including a description of applicable State health and safety laws and, if requested, official State advance directive forms, if such exist. Access to health care at this Facility will not be conditioned upon the existence of an advance directive.
• You may appoint a patient representative or surrogate to make health decisions on your behalf, to the extent permitted by law
• Privacy to the extent consistent with adequate medical care. Case discussions, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly.
• Privacy and confidentiality of all records pertaining to your treatment, except as otherwise provided by law or third-party payment contract.
• A reasonable response to your request for services customarily rendered by the Facility, and consistent with your treatment.
• Expect reasonable continuity of care and be informed, by the person responsible for your health care, of possible continuing health care requirements following discharge, if any.
• The identity, upon request, of all health care personnel and health care institutions authorized to assist in your treatment.
• Refuse to participate in research or be advised if your personal physician and/or Facility propose to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting his/her care or treatment. Refusal to participate or discontinuation of participation will not compromise the patient’s right to access care, treatment, or services.
• Upon patient request, examine and receive a detailed explanation of your bill including an itemized bill for services received, regardless of sources of payment.
• Know the Facility’s rules and regulations that apply to your conduct as a patient.
• Be advised of the Facility grievance process. The investigation of all grievances made by a patient, the patient’s representative, or the surrogate regarding the treatment of care that is (or fails to be) furnished. Notification of the grievance process includes: who to contact to file a grievance and that the patient, the patient’s representative, or surrogate will be provided with written notice of the grievance determination that contains the name of the contact person, the steps taken on his or her behalf to investigate the grievance, the results of the grievance, and the grievance completion date.
• Complaints or criticisms will not serve to compromise future access to care at this Facility. Staff will gladly advise you of procedures for registering complaints or to voice grievances including but not limited to grievances regarding treatment or care that is (or fails to be) furnished.
• Access and copy information in the medical record at any time during or after the course of treatment. If the patient is incompetent, the record will be made available to his/her representative and/or surrogate.
• Expect to be cared for in a safe setting regarding patient environmental safety, infection control, security, and freedom from abuse or harassment.
• Receive care free of restraints, unless medically reasonable issues have been accessed and pose a greater health risk without restraints.
• Participate in the development, implementation, and revision of his/her care plan.

Grievance Procedure

Houston Physicians’ Hospital has adopted an internal grievance procedure that provides for a prompt and equitable resolution of a patient complaint involving patient services or patient care issues while in the Facility.

We encourage patients, their representatives, or surrogates to first review any issues with the staff present and taking care of the patient at the time of the event or situation or to immediately ask to discuss the situation with the Director of Nursing or Administrator to help resolve matters while the patient is in the Facility.

A grievance is a formal or informal, written or verbal complaint that is made to the Facility by a patient, the patient’s representative, or a surrogate when a patient issue cannot be resolved promptly by staff present at the time of the event, issue, or occurrence. Patient grievances also may include messages left by voicemail; sent by email; received by staff calling after the patient is discharged from the Facility; or as part of a patient satisfaction questionnaire.

If requested, the Facility can provide a formal “Patient Grievance Report” for completion, but this form is not required to submit a grievance. Grievances may be related to the patient’s care; abuse or neglect; or compliance with federal regulations from the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS).

All grievances received by any employee, staff member, or physician will be documented and forwarded to the Quality Director. You may also send them to Belle Davis, Quality Director at 281-534-7891, via email at BDavis@HPHTX.org or :

Houston Physicians’ Hospital
Attn: Belle Davis
333 N. Texas Ave.
Ste. 1000
Webster, TX 77598

or submit to the Administrator within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of the event.

A grievance must contain the name, address, phone number, and email contact (if available) of the patient (the “grievant”). The information received must state the issue, complaint, concern or problem to be addressed.

Grievances about situations that endanger the patient, such as neglect or abuse, will be reviewed immediately, given the seriousness of the allegations and the potential for harm to the patient. Each signed grievance will receive a response within 24 hours, acknowledging receipt of the grievance. This may be done by direct phone contact, email, or mail. The Administrator will review all information and complete a full investigation, and a written response, action plan, or resolution will be issued no later than seven (7) calendar days after receipt of the grievance.

If more time is needed for the investigation, the seven (7) day letter will state the timeline for a final response, no longer than thirty (30) days from the receipt of the grievance. The grievant may appeal the decision received from the Administrator by filing an appeal in writing, addressed to the “Facility Board of Managers” within ten (10) calendar days of receiving the response from the Administration. This appeal must state the elements of dissatisfaction with the response received and further resolution requested.

The Board of Managers will conduct a separate investigation and review and will issue a written decision in response to the appeal within seven (7) calendar days or with an extension of no more than thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the appeal. This is the same timeframe as provided for the original grievance response. The Administrator will not participate in the review and decision-making process for this appeal.

If a patient has filed a grievance and returns to the Facility for additional care before the grievance is resolved, he/she will not be cared for by the alleged staff member or physician involved in the grievance complaint.

Patients, patient representatives, or surrogates may log a grievance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – directly, regardless of whether he/she has first used the Facility’s grievance process. You may file a written grievance with the Health and Human Services Commission Civil Rights Office, 5424 Polk, MC 174-7, PO Box 16017, Houston, TX 77222-6017, Phone (713) 767-2382 or through www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/index.html. Patients may log a grievance with the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman directly, regardless of whether he/she has first used the Facility’s grievance process. Medicare may be contacted at www.medicare.gov  or 1-800-633-4227.

Complaints

Complaints may be directed to the following Facility Contact: Belle Davis, Privacy Officer by calling (281) 534-7891. Complaints may be directed to the following State Agency: Health and Human Services Commission Civil Rights Office, 5424 Polk, MC 174-7, PO Box 16017, Houston, TX 77222-6017, Phone (713) 767-2382. Web site for the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman: 1-800-633-4227. Complaints may be directed to the following Facility Contact: Amie Tucker, Privacy Officer by calling (281) 557-5607. Complaints may be directed to the following State Agency: Health and Human Services Commission Civil Rights Office, 5424 Polk, MC 174-7, PO Box 16017, Houston, TX 77222-6017, Phone (713) 767-2382. Web site for the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman: 1-800-633-4227.