Patient Rights

St. Francis Hospital respects the rights of all our patients.  To help patients recognize these rights, the following policies have been established. A more detailed description of these policies will be communicated in writing (or verbally if necessary) upon admission to the hospital. 

Patients have the right to: 

• Receive care focused on their individual needs consistent with Catholic and Christian teaching on human dignity
• Be involved in decisions about care, treatment and services provided whenever possible
• Have their wishes addressed related to end of life decisions
• Be informed about outcomes of care, including unanticipated outcomes
• Work with the hospital staff and the physicians who care for them to help facilitate a healing environment at the hospital

Patient Responsibilities 

In addition to these rights, patients also have a certain level of responsibility for the outcome of their care. This includes the following guidelines:

• Bring to the attention of the appropriate person in the hospital, those occasions when in his/her opinion, his/her rights have not been respected
• Follow hospital rules and regulations affecting his/her care and conduct
• Cooperate in the treatment program specified by his/her physician by answering questions honestly and completely and telling those who are caring for him/her how he/she feels about the treatment and the effects of the treatment on him/her, including pain management
• Provide a complete and accurate medical history
• Provide the hospital with accurate and timely information concerning his/her source of payment and ability to meet financial obligations
• Comply with instructions of his/her physician and others caring for him/her, to assure the continuity of his/her care after being released from the hospital
• Be considerate of the rights and concerns of the other patients, hospital property and personnel

In the case of the minor or incompetent patient, all patient rights and responsibilities will be forwarded to the parent(s), guardian or surrogate decision maker.

For more information, please contact (217) 324-8490. You may also click here to view a copy of our Patient Rights and Responsibilities online.