In order to promote support and well-being of our patients, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center recognizes your rights while you are receiving medical care. We trust you will respect Lakewood Ranch Medical Center’s right to expect certain behavior of you while you are a patient at our facility. The following is a summary of your rights and responsibilities in accordance with the Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights and Federal Regulations.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of your individual dignity, and with protection of your need for privacy. 
• A prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests. 
• Know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for your care. 
• Know what patient support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available if you do not speak English. 
• Bring any person of your choosing to the patient-accessible areas of the healthcare facility or provider’s office to accompany you while you are receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment or consulting with your healthcare provider, unless doing so would risk your safety or health or the safety or health of other patients or staff, or unless your request cannot be reasonably accommodated by the facility or provider. 
• Know what rules and regulations apply to your conduct. 
• Be given by the healthcare provider information concerning diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis. 
• Appropriate assessment and management of pain.
• Designate a support person, determine who may visit, and understand there may be limitations placed on visits in accordance with clinical considerations.
• Refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law. 
• Be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for your care. 
• Know, upon request and in advance of treatment, whether the healthcare provider or healthcare facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate. 
• Receive, upon request, prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care. 
• Receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable itemized bill and, upon request, to have the charges explained. 
• Impartial access to medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment. 
• Treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment. 
• Know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give your consent or refusal to participate in such experimental research. 
• Express grievances regarding any violation of your rights, as stated in Florida law, through the grievance procedure of the healthcare provider or healthcare facility which served you and to the appropriate state licensing agency. 

Your Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

• Providing to the healthcare provider, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to your health. 
• Reporting unexpected changes in your condition to the healthcare provider. 
• Reporting to the healthcare provider whether you comprehend a contemplated course of action and what is expected of you. 
• Following the treatment plan recommended by the healthcare provider. 
• Keeping appointments and, when you are unable to do so for any reason, notifying the healthcare provider or healthcare facility.
• Your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow the healthcare provider’s instructions.
• Assuring that the financial obligations of your healthcare are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
• Following healthcare facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.