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Patient rights and responsibilities

As a patient of Columbia Basin Hospital, you have both rights and responsibilities. Both are of great importance to us, and we would like you to fully understand what they include. If you are the parent or guardian of a child under 18 years of age or you are the patient's representative, you also have rights and responsibilities on behalf of their care.

You have the right to be notified in writing of your rights and obligations before treatment begins. The patient's family, guardian, or power of attorney for healthcare may exercise the patient's rights when the patient has been judged incompetent. Columbia Basin Hospital has an obligation to protect and promote the rights of patients, including the following:

Patient rights

You have the right to:

  • Not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation or handicap.
  • Receive care in a safe setting.
  • Personal privacy.
  • Care that protects your values, beliefs, culture and spiritual practices.
  • Be protected from all forms of abuse, neglect or harassment.
  • Confidentiality of your clinical records.
  • Access to information contained in your clinical records.
  • Be free from restraints of any form, for any reason, that are not medically necessary.
  • File a grievance/complaint about your care with Administration, through Rosalinda Kibby, from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or with the Department of Health, without a fear of retribution or refusal of care:
    • Department of Health
      Facilities and Services Licensing
      Investigation Complaint Unit
      P.O. Box 47852
      Olympia, WA 98504-7852
      800.633.6828
  • Have a family member or representative of your choice and your physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital.
  • Know which physician is primarily responsible for your care and who will be performing treatments and procedures.
  • Know the identity of staff providing care and their role at Columbia Basin Hospital.
  • Participate in the development and implementation of our care plan.
  • Be involved in all aspects and make informed decisions regarding your care, including resolving problems with care decisions.
  • Request or refuse treatment.
  • Be aware of anticipated outcomes if treatment is refused.
  • A second opinion.
  • Be part of decisions about not using or withdrawing lifesaving and/or life-sustaining treatment or end-of-life care.
  • Formulate directives and to have hospital staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives.
  • Donate organs and other tissues, including medical staff input and direction by family or surrogate decision-makers.
  • An itemized bill for services rendered.
  • A timely notice if Columbia Basin Hospital discovers insurance coverage has been denied.
  • Be informed of charges that will not be covered by Medicare.

Patient responsibilities

  • Provide accurate and complete health information to the hospital.
  • Provide accurate financial information.
  • Check preauthorization requirements of your insurance plan.
  • Ask questions and take part in healthcare decisions.
  • Respect the rights of others.
  • Inform the hospital of the existence of or changes made to your advance directives.