Home Healthcare and Patient's Rights

Home healthcare in Illinois patients have the right to be notified, in writing, about their obligations and rights before their treatment begins. The family or guardian can exercise the patients' rights when the patients have been judged incompetent. Advocate Home Health Service has the obligation to both protect and to promote their patients' rights. These rights include the right to have dignity and respect: home healthcare patients and caregivers have the right not to suffer discrimination based upon race, sex, religion, age, place of national origin, or handicap.

Patients and caregivers have the right to dignity and mutual respect, which includes respect for their property. Advocate associates are not permitted to accept tips, gifts, or to borrow from patients. Patients have the right to receive care based upon honesty and ethical conduct. They have the right to be involved in resolving ethical issues about their home care. They have the right to be informed of complaint procedures they can follow to report problems involving the care being administered; and they have the right to know about disposition of their complaints. They have the right to voice grievances with no fear of reprisal or discrimination for doing so. They have the right to know the telephone number of the Illinois healthcare hotline which handles complaints and questions about home care agencies.

Patients have the right to be notified, in advance, about the type of care which will be given; the caregivers who will provide it; and the frequency of proposed visits. They have the right to be notified of any change in the care plan before that change is made. They have the right to be informed, in writing, about decisions regarding medical care, including the right to either accept or refuse a medical treatment, and the right to advance directives. They have the right to refuse treatment without fear of discrimination or reprisal, and to be involved in any decision to withhold resuscitation or withdraw life-sustaining care.

Chicagoland healthcare patients have the right to receive the Privacy Act Statement for Health Care Records. They have the right to confidentiality of their medical records, as well as information regarding their health, financial and social circumstances, and what happens in the home. They have the right to expect that the home healthcare provider will release information only as authorized by the patient or required by law. They have the right to be informed of what payment may be expected from Medicaid, Medicare, or other payers. They have the right to be informed of what charges Medicare does not cover, and for which they may be liable. They have the right to receive this information, in writing, prior to the initiation of care, and within thirty days of the date when the home health care provider becomes aware of any change. They have the right to access upon request all bills for services which the patient has received, regardless of whether these bills are paid by the patient or another party.

Home Healthcare in Illinois [riversidehealthcare.org/services/other-services/home-health-care.html] patients have the right to receive the highest quality care. riversidehealthcare.org Illinois healthcare providers have the obligation to assure that all Chicagoland healthcare is administered with the highest degree of sensitivity to the patients' needs and rights. For more information about Home Healthcare in Illinois, visit Riverside Medical Center.