Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities

While you are a patient at Fulton County Health Center, your rights include the following:

  • You have the right to considerate and respectful care.
  • You have the right to be well informed about your diagnosis, treatment and likely outcomes.
  • You have the right to know the names and roles of people treating you.
  • You have the right to consent to or refuse treatment as permitted by law.
  • You have the right to an advance directive such as a living will or Durable Power of Attorney for health Care. If you have a written advance directive, you need to provide a copy to the facility, your family and your doctor.
  • You have the right to privacy.
  • You have the right to confidentiality.
  • You have the right to review personal medical records with physician’s approval and to have the information explained.
  • You have the right to necessary health services.
  • You have the right to know if the facility has relationships with outside parties that may influence your treatment and care.
  • You have the right to consent or decline to take part in research affecting your care.
  • You have the right to be informed about realistic care alternatives.
  • You have the right to have pain assessed and effectively managed.
  • You have the right to know facility rules that affect you and your treatment and about charges and payment methods.
  • You have the right to be treated without regard to race, age, sex, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental ability, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.
  • You have the right to be informed about the outcomes of care, including unanticipated outcomes.
  • You have the right to designate an individual of the patient’s choice to be present at all times during the patient’s stay for  emotional support of the patient unless there is infringement on others’ rights or safety or it is medically or therapeutically contraindicated.

Your responsibilities as a patient include the following:

  • You are responsible for providing information about your health, including past illnesses, hospital stays and use of medicine.
  • You are responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by your health care providers and for asking questions when you do not understand information or instructions.
  • You are responsible for providing information for insurance and arranging payment as needed.
  • You are responsible for being considerate of needs of other patients, staff, and the hospital.
  • You are responsible for recognizing the effect of lifestyle on your personal health.
  • You are responsible for assisting your health care providers in effectively measuring and treating your pain.

Concerns about patient safety and quality of services at FultonCountyHealthCenter are addressed in the timeliest manner possible. If during your stay you have a specific concern or compliment regarding your safety and care, please tell the staff member caring for you or ask to speak to the Unit Manager. For concerns about patient safety and care that are not addressed during your stay, you may contact the Chief Compliance & Risk Officer at 419-330-2773 or email [email protected].

If Fulton County Health Center does not address your safety or care concern, it may be reported to The Joint Commission by utilizing one of the following methods:

– At www.jointcommission.org, using the “Report a Patient Safety Event” link in the “Action Center”  on the home page of the website.

– By fax to 630-792-5636

– By mail to:

Office of Quality and Patient Safety

The Joint Commission

One Renaissance Boulevard

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181

You may also contact the Ohio Department of Health at 246 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 or call the ODH Hotline at 1-800-342-0553.