Patients' Rights and Responsibilities

Note: You, the patient, have the right to receive care and treatment regardless of race, culture, language, religion, sex, ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.

You, the patient, have the right to:

  • Have your family/representative and physician notified promptly of your admission, plan of care, and expected outcomes.
  • Exercise your rights while receiving care or treatment in the facility without coercion, discrimination, or retaliation.
  • Have your cultural, psycho-social, pastoral, spiritual, and personal values, beliefs, and preferences respected.
  • Considerate and respectful care, free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
  • Treatment, care, and services consistent with the hospital's mission and capacity and in compliance with law and regulations.
  • Access information contained in your clinical record with complete explanation from your physician, in understandable terms, of your diagnosis, plan of treatment, and prognosis. You have the right to: (1) accounting of disclosures of PHI (protected health information) outside of what is authorized for treatment, payment, and operations; (2) privacy restrictions to any or all parts of your medical record; and (3) request an amendment your health record.
  • Have your pain evaluated and addressed as part of your plan of care.
  • Receive from your physician the information needed for you to give your permission for any procedure or treatment.
  • Have, in accordance with the law and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards, all activities, conversations, and records related to your medical care kept confidential. Under HIPAA standards, you have the right to opt out of the facility directory and clergy list.
  • Refuse/forgo/withdraw treatment or resuscitative services as permitted by law and to be told what might happen because of your decision. This includes participation in any unusual experimental or research project without compromising your access to services.
  • Participate in developing and implementing a care plan.
  • Formulate an advance directive and have your advance directive honored.
  • Personal dignity and privacy.
  • Be examined; use the toilet, bathe, dress; receive treatments; and be interviewed in surroundings that assure reasonable visual and auditory privacy.
  • Refuse to see anyone not officially connected with your care.
  • Wear clothing and other symbolic items as long as they do not interfere with your care.
  • Appoint a surrogate (parent, legal guardian, person with medical power of attorney) to make health care decisions on your behalf when you are incapable of doing so, without coercion, discrimination, or retaliation.
  • Request a room change if you are dissatisfied.
  • Be cared for in an environmentally, physically, and emotionally safe setting.
  • A notice of non-coverage.
  • Know the name and professional status of your care giver and be provided the opportunity to select alternate providers if so desired.
  • Have visitors, make phone calls, and receive mail.
  • Have a family member, friend or other individual to be present for emotional support during the course of stay and allow for the presence of a support individual of the patient's choice, unless the individual's presence infringes onthe others' rights, safety, or is medically or therapeutically contraindicated. The individual may or may not be the patient's surrogate decision-maker or legally authorized representative.
  • Obtain, at your expense, another physician's opinion about your care.
  • To require consent prior to recording or filming made for purposes other than the identification, diagnosis, or treatment of your condition.
  • To access Case Management for transportation, protective, and advocacy services.
  • Receive an itemized copy and explanation of your bill.
  • Be free from unnecessary use of physical or chemical restraint and/or seclusion as a means of coercion, discipline, staff convenience, or retaliation.
  • Know what hospital rules apply to your conduct as a patient.
  • Make informed decisions and actively participate in your plan of care, as well as receive complete information about your diagnosis, health status, plan of treatment, and prognosis from your physician in terms you can understand.
  • Express a concern about your care or bill by calling the hospital patient representative office at (816) 380-5888, ext. 4140, or the clinic representative office at (816) 380-5888, ext. 4800.
  • Contact the State directly to express a concern regarding your care or bill:

          Missouri Department of Health
          912 Wildwood
          Jefferson City, MO  65109
          (573) 751-6400

You, the patient, have the responsibility to:

  • Give complete information about your medical history and the medications you are taking.
  • Ask questions about care and what is expected.
  • Let us know when you do not understand instructions.
  • Let your physician or nurse know of changes in your health.
  • Let us know your needs.
  • Show respect and consideration of staff.
  • Cooperate with the staff and other patients by following guidelines, which have been explained.
  • Respect the rights of other patients regarding visiting, noise, and language and abide by the smoking policy.
  • Tell the nursing staff when you have personal valuables with you. The hospital cannot be responsible for items not placed in the hospital safe.
  • Respect the property of others and the hospital.
  • Follow instructions as needed to follow the agreed upon care plan.
  • Accept consequences of not following instructions.
  • Pay your hospital bill and release information required for filing an insurance claim.
  • Follow hospital rules and regulations.

Important Information

Cass Regional Medical Center
Chief Executive Officer
2800 East Rock Haven Road
Harrisonville, MO  64701
(816) 380-3474

State Department of Health and Senior Services
P.O. Box 570
Jefferson City, MO  65102
(800) 392-0210

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Organization (JCAHO)
Customer Service
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oak Brook Terrace, IL  60181

State Foundation for Medical Care
113 Madison Street
P.O. Box 1028
Jefferson City, MO  65102

Office for Civil Rights
8930 Ward Parkway, Suite 2037
Kansas City, MO  64114

Advance Directives
Caring Conversations