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During Your Stay

Patients & Visitors > During Your Stay > Patient Rights
Patient Rights & Responsibilities
You have the right to report care and safety concerns.  To file a complaint or grievance, contact the LMH Process Improvement Hotline at (220) 564-4641.

Questions regarding Patient Rights & Responsiblities should be directed to the Process Improvement Center at (220) 564-4354.
Patient Rights
You or your designee have the right to:
  • Access medically necessary care, no matter your age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, income level, job, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.
  • Make informed decisions (consent and refusal) about your care by knowing the risks, benefits and choices for treatment, as permitted by law.
  • Receive written discharge information, including instructions for follow-up care.
  • Select someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to make those decisions.
  • Have your physician and family member/representative notified of your admission to the hospital.
  • Effective communication from your healthcare team.
  • Receive information during your stay, in a manner appropriate for you to understand, including the provision of interpreter services and vision and hearing accommodations.
  • Receive open, honest and prompt communication from your healthcare team about your condition and treatment, including unexpected outcomes related to serious medical events in accordance with privacy laws and hospital policy.
  • Access, review and request changes to your medical records, as permitted by law.
  • Personal privacy, which may be limited in situations where you must be continuously observed.
  • Have your cultural, spiritual, and religious values, beliefs and preferences respected, as permitted by law.
  • Create or change your advanced directives, including a healthcare power of attorney, living will, and Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order.
  • Know the names and roles of your caregivers.
  • An environment that is safe and secure and assists with access to protective and advocacy services.
  • Be protected from abuse, neglect, and exploitation and be free from non-medically necessary restraints.
  • Have your pain managed.
  • Receive care in an environment that preserves your personal dignity and positive self-image.
  • Report concerns regarding your care and safety.
  • Receive visitors for emotional support, unless that person interferes with your other rights to care.
  • Privacy of your medical records, including pictures, recordings, or other images taken by staff, except as permitted by you and by law.
  • Elect to participate in experimental research.
  • Receive information about the cost of your treatment.

Complaints and Grievances:

You have the right to report care and safety concerns.  To address your concerns, you may:
  • Contact the LMH Process Improvement Hotline at (220) 564-4641.
  • Contact the LMH Laboratory Director at (220) 564-4156.
  • Contact the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Central Office, Division of Laboratory Services at (877) 267-2323 ext. 63531.
  • Contact the Ohio Department of Health by way of its Healthcare Facility Complaint Hotline at (800) 342-0553 or by writing to them                at 246 North High Street, Third Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
  • Contact the Joint Commission at complaint@jointcommission.org or by calling (800) 994-6610.
  • Contact DNV at https://www.dnvhealthcareportal.com/patient-complaint-report.
Additional Rights for Medicare Beneficiaries
If you are a Medicare beneficiary, you have the following rights in addition to those above:
  • You have the right to get information about Medicare that you can understand to help you make healthcare decisions. 
  • You have the right to have your questions about the Medicare program answered by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. 
  • You have the right to appeal decisions relating to your claims for Medicare benefits, including premature discharge. 
  • You may request assistance with filing an appeal by naming a family member, friend, advocate, attorney, physician or someone else to act on your behalf. 
  • You have the right to have health information that Medicare collects about you kept private. 
Patient Responsibilities
You or your designee have the responsibility to:
  • Provide accurate and complete information about your health and your contact information.
  • Understand your health condition, participate in your treatment goals, and follow your treatment plan.
  • Ask questions when you do not understand the information given to you.
  • Take responsibility for the consequences of not following your care and treatment instructions.
  • Understand that the right to treatment does not require Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) to provide medically unnecessary or inappropriate care.
  • Follow all LMH rules, policies and instructions, including the tobacco-free campus policy, to ensure a safe environment for everyone.
  • Be considerate to members of your healthcare team, fellow patients and visitors, including being mindful of your noise levels and the privacy of other patients.
  • Respect facility property and the property of others.
  • Understand that Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) is an equal opportunity employer and reserves the right to assign a competent caregiver with skills that meet your clinical needs.
  • Discontinue use of your own medication supply from home, unless approved by your doctor and verified by a pharmacist or nurse.  Any unverified medications will be either provided to a family member or locked securely until your discharge.
  • Maintain a drug-free environment by not possessing or using illegal drugs.
  • Remain in the area where your care is provided to ensure your safety.
  • Pay your bills and work with LMHS to meet the financial obligations associated with your care.
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1320 West Main Street, Newark OH 43055 • Telephone: (220) 564-4000