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Patients and Family Rights & Responsibilities

Patients and Family Rights & Responsibilities

We will try our very best to:

  • Listen to you and your parents.
  • Tell you and your parents the truth.
  • Tell you:
    • Who we are
    • What we do at the hospital
    • Why we have come into your room
    • Why you are here
    • What we think will help you
    • Try to explain all these things in ways you can understand.
  • Work with you and your parents to help us decide the best ways to take care of you.
  • Make you feel relaxed and comfortable so you can talk to us about anything.
  • Help you to tell us what you want or do not want, if you are afraid, angry, lonely or sad. It is ok to laugh and to cry.
  • Care for you no matter:
    • What color your skin is
    • What church/temple you may go to
    • If you are a boy or a girl
    • Where you were born
    • What you can and cannot do
    • What you look like.
  • Work with you and your parents to solve the problem. If you think we have not met your needs, tell your doctor, nurse or ask someone to call Patient Relations.
  • Keep you safe while you are here.
  • Be as gentle as possible when we have to touch you. We will keep your body covered up as much as possible.
  • Do what we can to help you feel better if you hurt.
  • Let you celebrate and observe your special traditions.
  • Let family and friends be with you when the hospital rules say it is ok. If you don't want visitors, we will help you control and limit their visits.
  • Let you know when your parents can take you home.
  • Help you and your parents learn how to take care of you after you leave the hospital.
  • Help you and your parents find another hospital or have another doctor see you if you wish. We will help you figure out how to do this safely.
  • Help you understand what we wrote about you in your medical history book, if you want to read it.
  • Let you and your parents say yes or no if we ask you to be part of an experiment or research.
  • Make sure you have places and times to play and learn. 

Patient Responsibilities

To help meet your needs as we care for you, please...

  • Be honest with us about:
    • Your health and what your health was like before now
    • Any changes that you or your parents notice about how you are feeling
    • Any medicines you take
    • Your family's needs or worries
    • Any special needs you or your family may have.
  • Help in your care by:
    • Telling us your ideas about how we are taking care of you
    • Following the directions of your doctors, nurses and other people taking care of you
    • Letting us know when you cannot follow our directions
    • Learning what you can do to take care of yourself
    • Keeping your appointments, being on time and letting us know if you must change your appointment
    • Telling us if you don't understand something.
  • Follow the hospital rules by:
    • Respecting other people at the hospital
    • Taking care of hospital property and supplies
    • Using only the medications your doctors say you should use
    • Taking financial responsibility for the hospital bill
    • Have only a few people visit at the same time
    • Have your visitors come during visiting hours
    • Keeping the volume of your TV, radio or compact disc player, and video games at a level that will not bother others
    • Leaving your valuables at home.
  • Ask us questions about:
    • The papers you or your parents are being asked to sign
    • Any words we use that you do not understand
    • Why you are here and what we are doing for you
    • How we can ease your pain
    • How to get where you want to go in the hospital.

This is a summarized version of the Patients Rights and Responsibilities policy for Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. For the complete and detailed policy, please contact the Patient Relations department.