Patient Rights and Responsibilities

At SMH, we believe that we are partners in your healthcare and our first priority is patient safety and satisfaction. We also believe that when you are well informed, participate in treatment decisions, and communicate openly with your doctor and other health professionals; you help make your care as effective as possible. SMH encourages respect for the personal preferences and values of each individual.

As the patient, you have the right:

  • To be treated with dignity and respect with consideration for your privacy.
  • To be informed about your illness, possible treatments, and likely outcome, with or without
  • treatment and to discuss this information with your physician.
  • To know the names and roles of the people caring for and treating you.
  • To consent to or refuse a treatment, as permitted by law, throughout your hospital stay.
  • To have an advanced directive, such as a living will or health care proxy.
  • To release medical information about yourself in accordance with the law. Exact treatment
  • records will be kept confidential unless released according to the law
  • To review your medical records with your physician and to have the information explained,
  • except when restricted by law.
  • To request a change of caregiver and/or physician.
  • To expect the hospital to administer health care services to the best of its ability. And,
  • Whenever another facility and physician will accept you for a higher level of care, you have
  • The right to be transferred or refuse such with knowledge of the expected outcome.
  • To know if the hospital has a relationship with outside parties that may influence your
  • Treatment of care.
  • To consent or decline to take part in research affecting your care.
  • To receive information regarding realistic care alternatives when the hospital care is no
  • Longer appropriate.
  • To know about hospital rules and government regulations that affects your treatment, as well
  • As, about charges and payment methods.
  • To know about hospital resources, such as the ethics committee.
  • To expect assessment and management of his/her pain.
  • The patient has a responsibility:
  • To treat the staff of Shelby Memorial Hospital with respect.
  • To provide the hospital with a copy of your written advance directive or to share verbally its
  • Contents.
  • To provide the hospital with complete and accurate health information.
  • To provide complete insurance and financial information.
  • To sign required consents for insurance billing.
  • To remains under a doctor's care.
  • To participate in your care as appropriate. .
  • To comply with the safety and infection control rules of the hospital as they are provided to
  • you.
  • To respect the dignity and privacy of the other patients that shares the environment with you.
  • To share anticipated care problems with your physician and caretaker as they may arise.
  • To recommend changes in policies and services.
  • To voice concerns with your care to administration.

*If you have complaints or grievance, please call Shelby Memorial Hospital Administration at 217.774.3961, ext. 2661. If you prefer, you may call the Illinois Hotline At 1.800.252.4343 or the Hospital Accreditation Organization (JCAHO) at 630.792.5800

An Important Message from Medicare About Your Rights

As a Hospital Inpatient, You Have the Right to:

Receive Medicare covered services. This includes medically necessary hospital services And services you may need after you are discharged, if ordered by your doctor. You have a Right to know about these services, who will pay for them, and where you can get them. Be involved in any decisions about your hospital stay, and know who will pay for it. Report any concerns you have about the quality of care you receive to the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) listed here, Illinois Foundation for Quality Health Care 1. 800.647.8089 or TTY: 1.877.486.2048.

Your Medicare Discharge Rights

Planning For Your Discharge: During your hospital stay, the hospital staff will be working with you to prepare for your safe discharge and arrange for services you may need after you leave the hospital. When you no longer need inpatient hospital care, your doctor or the hospital staff will Inform you of your planned discharge date.

If you think you are being discharged too soon:

  • You can talk to the hospital staff, your doctor and your managed care plan (if you belong to
  • one) about your concerns.
  • You also have the right to an appeal, that is, a review of your case by a Quality
  • Improvement Organization (QIO). The QIO is an outside reviewer hired by Medicare to look
  • At your case to decide whether you are ready to leave the hospital.
  • If you want to appeal, you must contact the QIO no later than your planned discharge-date and before you leave the hospital.
  • If you do this, you will not have to pay for the services you receive du-ring the appeal (except for charges like co-pay and deductibles).
  • If you do not appeal, but decide to stay in the hospital past your planned discharge date, you may have to pay for any services you receive after that date.
  • Step by step instructions for calling the QIO and filing an appeal are on page 2.
  • To speak with someone at the hospital about this notice, call 217.774.3961 and ask for Utilization Management.