Boise Memorial Hospice

As a patient and family receiving care and services from Boise Memorial Hospice you have the following rights:

1. To be fully informed, in advance of receipt of services, of the types of services available from the hospice, including contracted services and specialized services for unique patient groups.
2. To be fully informed of any charges to you for those services.
3. To be fully informed of all hospice rules and regulations governing patient and family responsibilities.
4. To be informed of any significant change in the patient's needs or status.
5. To be informed of the hospice's criteria for discharging a patient from the program.
6. To designate a family member to act on behalf of the family as the family spokesperson.
7. To express a complaint or recommend changes to agency policies, without fear of reprisal. This may be done by:
1. Contacting the Hospice Director or designee at 938-4100.  All complaints will be documented and investigated.
2. Contacting the State Department of Health and Human Services/Civil Rights Office at 1-800-362-1710.
3. Contacting the State of Idaho Hot-line at 1-800-345-1453.
8. To participate in planning care and in planning changes in care.
9. To select or refuse services.
10. To confidential treatment of personal and health care record information and to approve or refuse release of information to any individual outside the hospice, except in the care of transfer to another health care facility, or as required by laws or third party payment contract.
11. To request and receive an exact copy of one's healthcare record.
12. To be free from chemical and physical restraints except as authorized in writing by the attending physician to provide palliative care for a specified and limited period of time and documented in the plan of care.
13. To be treated with courtesy, respect, and full recognition of dignity and individuality and to choose physical and emotional privacy in treatment, living arrangements and the care of personal needs.
14. To privately and without restrictions communicate with others by mail, telephone and private visits.
15. To be permitted to receive visitors at any hour, including small children, and to refuse visitors.
16. To be free from mental and physical abuse incurred from acts or omissions of hospice employees.
17. To make known advance directives concerning care. If requested, the hospice social worker will assist the patient in completing a living will and/or a power of attorney for health care to clarify the patient's wishes with regard to future health care choices.
18. The right to express feelings and emotions about approaching death in your own way.
19. The right to expect continuing medical and nursing attention even though "cure" goals must be changed to "comfort" goals.
20. The right to have questions answered honestly without being deceived.
21. The right to die in peace and dignity.
22. The right to retain individuality and not be judged for decisions, which may be contrary to the beliefs of others.
23. The right to discuss religious and/or spiritual experiences, whatever these may mean to others.
24. The right to expect that the sanctity of the human body will be respected after death.
25. The right to be cared for by caring, sensitive, knowledgeable people.