Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Your Rights as a Patient

As a patient at Riley Children’s Health, you or your child have the right:

• To adequate, equitable and compassionate care
• To be treated in a dignified and respectful manner
• To be respected of cultural and personal values, beliefs and preferences
• To religious and other spiritual services
• To have a family member, friend or other individual present for emotional support
• To not be discriminated based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression
• To receive effective communication and information in a manner tailored to your or your child’s age, language and ability to understand; this includes language interpretation and translation services, and services for vision, speech, hearing or cognitive impairments
• To participate in decisions about care, treatment and services, which may include family and loved ones, as permitted by the patient or decision maker; this includes the development and implementation of an inpatient treatment or care plan, outpatient treatment or care plan, pain management plan and discharge plan
• To be informed of outcomes of care, treatment and services, including unexpected outcomes
• If unable to make decisions, to have a decision maker as defined in Indiana law; your or your child’s decision maker then has the right to refuse care, treatment or services in accordance with law and regulation
• To have family, a physician or other licensed practitioner promptly notified about admission to or discharge or transfer from the hospital
• To give or withhold informed consent
• To have rights protected and respected during research, investigation and clinical trials n To know who is providing the care, treatment and services
• To have decisions addressed about care, treatment and services at the end of life
• To be free from neglect, exploitation and verbal, mental, physical and sexual abuse
• To have patient and family complaints reviewed by the hospital and be informed of the hospital’s decision
• To access protective and advocacy services

Access to your medical records

Generally, you have the right to read your medical record while you or your child are a patient in the hospital, if a physician or designated healthcare professional is present.

After discharge, you have the right to obtain copies of your or your child’s complete medical record unless your physician does not think this is medically advisable for you. Your complete medical record will not be available for one week after discharge. You may obtain information about access to your medical records by contacting the Health Information Management department at 317.962.8670.

You can also access limited portions of your or your child’s medical record through the My IU Health patient portal. To receive an invitation to create a Patient Portal account, please contact the support team at 317.963.1661 or myiuhealth@iuhealth.org.

Confidentiality of records

Communication and records about your or your child’s care will be treated confidentially.

You have the right to authorize in writing who may receive copies of your or your child’s medical record, except as required by law.

Privacy: personal and informational

• You are entitled to privacy in treatment and in caring for your or your child’s personal needs. This includes the right to be interviewed and examined in a surrounding designed to assure reasonable privacy.
• You have a right to an environment which preserves your dignity and contributes to a positive self-image.
  You have the right to talk privately with anyone you wish (subject to hospital visiting regulations) unless your or your child’s physician does not think this is medically advisable and has documented this reason in your medical record.
• You have the right to take part in religious and/or social activities while in the hospital, unless your physician thinks these activities are not medically advisable.
• You have the right to have a family member, friend or other individual be present for emotional support during the course of your stay. You also have the right to refuse to see visitors.

Continuity of care

You will be instructed about how to continue your or your child’s healthcare routine after you leave the hospital.
If transfer to another healthcare facility is necessary, you will receive an explanation as to why the transfer is required. You will be given assistance in making arrangements for transfer.

Information about your hospital bill

• You have the right to receive an explanation of your hospital bill except where prohibited by law.
• Whenever possible, you will be notified when you or your child are no longer eligible for insurance.
• You may ask hospital staff to give you information about financial help for your hospital bill.

Riley Children’s Health Community Agreement

At Riley Children’s Health, we take care of each other always, ensuring everyone feels accepted and valued. We ask that all patients, team members, visitors and vendors follow the Riley Children’s Health Community Agreement. This agreement serves as a guide to how we treat one another when in Riley Children’s facilities and/or when Riley services are being provided.

As a patient, team member, visitor and/or vendor at Riley Children’s Health, I will give and receive:

• Truthful words
• Care and concern
• Compassion
• Dignity and respect

I am responsible for what I say and how I act. If I do not uphold this agreement, someone will connect with me to discuss options for my departure.