Patient: A patient is any recipient of medical attention, care, or treatment.

The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, veterinarian or other health care professional, although one who attends a physician's visit for a routine check-up may also be viewed as a patient. Other terms that are sometimes used include health consumer, health care consumer or client Types of patients: There are two types of patients: i. Outpatient: An outpatient is a patient who is not hospitalized for 24 hours or more but who visits a hospital, clinic, or associated facility for diagnosis or treatment. Treatment provided in this fashion is called ambulatory care. ii. Inpatient: An inpatient on the other hand is "admitted" to the hospital and stays overnight or for an indeterminate time, usually several days or weeks .Treatment provided in this fashion is called inpatient care.

Dimensions of patient care:

 Respect for patients' values, preferences and expressed needs Patients indicate a need to be recognized and treated as individuals by hospital staff. They are concerned with their illnesses and conditions and want to be kept informed.
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An atmosphere respectful of the individual patient should focus on quality of life. Involve the patient in medical decisions. Provide the patient with dignity, and respect a patient's autonomy.

 Coordination and integration of care Patients report feeling vulnerable and powerless in the face of illness. Proper coordination of care can ease those feelings. Patients identified three areas in which care coordination can reduce feelings of vulnerability:

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Coordination of clinical care; Coordination of ancillary and support services; and Coordination of front-line patient care.

 Information and education Patients express a fear information is being withheld from them and staff is not being completely honest about their condition and prognosis. Based on patient interviews, healthcare organizations can focus on three communication items to reduce these fears:
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Information on clinical status, progress and prognosis; Information on processes of care; and Information to facilitate autonomy, self care and health promotion.

 Physical comfort The level of physical comfort patients report has a tremendous impact on their experience. Three areas were reported as particularly important to patients: y y y Pain management; Assistance with activities and daily living needs; and Hospital surroundings and environment.

 Emotional support and alleviation of fear and anxiety Fear and anxiety associated with illness can be as debilitating as the physical effects. Caregivers should pay particular attention to:
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Anxiety over physical status, treatment and prognosis; Anxiety over the impact of the illness on themselves and family; and Anxiety over the financial impact of illness.

 Involvement of family and friends Patients continually address the role of family and friends in the patient experience, and often express concern about the impact illness has on family and friends. Family dimensions of patient-centered care were identified as follows:
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Providing accommodations for family and friends; Involving family and close friends in decision making; Supporting family members as caregivers; and Recognizing the needs of family and friends.

 Continuity and transition Patients often express considerable anxiety about their ability to care for themselves after discharge. Meeting patient needs in this area requires staff to:
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Provide understandable, detailed information regarding medications, physical limitations, dietary needs, etc.; Coordinate and plan ongoing treatment and services after discharge; and Provide information regarding access to clinical, social, physical and financial support on a continuing basis.

 Access to care Patients need to know they can access care when it is needed. Focusing mainly on ambulatory care, the following areas were of importance to the patient:
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Access to the location of hospitals, clinics and physician offices; Availability of transportation; Ease of scheduling appointments; Availability of appointments when needed; Accessibility to specialists or specialty services when a referral is made; and Clear instructions provided on when and how to get referrals.

 Communication Open and honest communication is an integral part of the doctor-patient relationship. Patients have a right to know their past and present medical status and to be free of any mistaken beliefs concerning their conditions. Situations occasionally occur in which a patient suffers significant medical complications that may have resulted from the physician's mistake or judgment. In these situations, the physician is ethically required to inform the patient of all the facts necessary to ensure understanding of what has occurred. Only through full disclosure is a patient able to make informed decisions regarding future medical care. y y y y Try to remain professional and objective Always think before you say anything How you discuss the seriousness of a situation Know what not to say

 The Right to Informed Consent No reputable practitioner or facility that performs tests, procedures or treatments will do so without asking the patient or his guardian to sign a form giving consent. This document is called "informed consent" because the practitioner is expected to provide clear explanations of the risks and benefits prior to the patient's participation, although that does not always happen as thoroughly as it should

Informed consent involves the patients understanding of the following: o What the doctor is proposing o Whether the doctors proposal is a minor procedure or major surgery o The nature and purpose of the treatment o The risks and anticipated benefits involved o Intended effects versus possible side effects o All reasonable alternatives Some factors may make a patient incapable of providing competent consent either temporarily or permanently. Examples include the following:
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Mental illness or mental retardation Alcohol or drug intoxication Altered mental status Brain injury Being too young to legally make decisions concerning health care

 The Right to Health Care The basic right to have adequate health care: y Perform an appropriate medical screening examination by a qualified provider to determine whether an emergency condition exists y Provide further examination and treatment to stabilize the patient, and if necessary and appropriate, to arrange a transfer y Consider patients in labor unstable for transfer Medicare-participating hospitals screen anyone who is in active labor or is seeking emergency care. If such a screening reveals the presence of an emergency medical conditionsuch as severe pain, serious threat to life or limb, or active laborthe hospital is required to perform stabilizing treatment to the best of its capabilities.  Abandonment The doctor has the duty to continue a patient's health care after consenting to provide medical care unless the patient no longer requires treatment for the illness. The doctor must notify the patient and transfer care to another acceptable doctor if planning to withdraw care. The doctors may be charged with negligent abandonment for ending the relationship with the patient without appropriate referral, transfer, or discharge. Although doctors are free to choose which patients they will treat, doctors should offer optimal care for patients who need emergency first-aid treatment.

 Right to Refuse Care A person may refuse treatment and such refusal shall be verbal or in writing provided that such refusal does not endanger the health of others. Competent adult patients have the right to refuse health care, but exceptions do occur. Patients with an altered mental status because of alcohol, drugs, brain injury, or medical or psychiatric illness may not be able to make a decision.  The Right to Be Treated with Respect All patients, regardless of their means or health challenges, should expect to be treated respectfully and without discrimination by their providers, practitioners and payers. Patients are treated with respect, consideration, and dignity.  The Right to Obtain Your Medical Records Patients have a right to obtain their medical records, including doctors' notes, medical test results and other documentation related to their care.  Confidentiality and privacy Information concerning ones health, including information concerning treatment may only be disclosed with informed consent, except when required in terms of any law or an order of the court.  The Right to Make a Treatment Choice As long as a patient is considered to be of sound mind, it is both his right and responsibility to know about the options available for treatment of his medical condition and then make the choice he feels is right for him. This right is closely associated with the Right to Informed Consent  Be treated by a named health care provider Everyone has the right to know the person that is providing health care and therefore must be attended to by clearly identified health care providers  Knowledge of qualifications of physicians. Patients have the right to know the qualifications of the physicians.

 Knowledge about persons responsible for coordinating Patients have the right to know the person or persons responsible for coordinating his/her care.  complete information concerning their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis Patients are provided, to the degree known, complete information concerning their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. When it is medically inadvisable to give such information to a patient, the information is provided to a person designated by the patient or to a legally authorized person.  Informed of the facilities Patients have the right to be informed as to the facilities policy regarding advance directives/living wills.  The mechanism for continuing health care Patients have the right to be informed of the mechanism for continuing health care following discharge from The Surgery Centre.
 Know methods for expressing grievances and suggestions

Patients have the right to know methods for expressing grievances and suggestions to the Surgery Center.


Knowledge of the research Patients have the right to know if any research will be done during his/her treatment and have the right to refuse treatment.  Choice of providers and plans You have the right to choose health care providers who can give you high-quality health care when you need it.  Consistent with stated quality standards. Patients have the right to expect that care provided and services rendered are consistent with stated quality standards  Examine and receive an explanation of charges Patients have the right to examine and receive an explanation of his/her statement of charges regardless of the source of payment.

 Be referred for a second opinion Everyone has the right to be referred for a second opinion on request to a health provider of ones choice.  The Right to Make Decisions About End-of-Life Care The decisions they make about how their lives will end, including life-preserving measures such as the use of feeding tubes or ventilators.  Emergencies If you need urgent medical attention, you can go directly to the accident and emergency department of a hospital without needing to wait for authorization and without any financial penalty. If you need an ambulance to get to hospital in an emergency, it should arrive within a few minutes. It is the responsibility of the hospital providing the emergency treatment to meet the cost of treatment.  Violent patients If you are violent or abusive to hospital staff, you may be refused hospital treatment, or given a verbal or written warning before treatment is withheld or withdrawn. Violent or abusive behavior could include verbal abuse, threats, violence, drug or alcohol abuse in hospital, and destruction of property.  Discrimination. Health care providers must not discriminate against you because of race, sex, disability, religion or belief or sexuality when they decide what treatment to give you as a patient. It is not against the law for them to discriminate against you because of your age.  Complaints and appeals You have the right to a fair, fast, and objective review of any complaint you have against your health plan, doctors, hospitals or other health care personnel. This includes complaints about waiting times, operating hours, the actions of health care personnel, and the adequacy of health care facilities.  y y y y y Body Language Make good eye contact Lean forward when talking to a patient Avoid crossing your arms and legs Sit at the patients height or below Mirror the patients own body language whenever possible

Consumer responsibilities
Every patient or client has the following responsibilities:
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To advise the health care providers on his or her wishes with regard to his or her death. To comply with the prescribed treatment or rehabilitation procedures. To enquire about the related costs of treatment and/or rehabilitation and to arrange for payment. To take care of health records in his or her possession. To take care of his or her health. To care for and protect the environment. To respect the rights of other patients and health providers. To utilize the health care system properly and not abuse it. To know his or her local health services and what they offer. To provide health care providers with the relevant and accurate information for diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation or counseling purposes. Patients are responsible for providing information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other health-related matters. Patients must take responsibility for requesting additional information or clarification about their health status or treatment when they do not fully understand the current information or instructions. Patients are responsible for making sure that the health care institution has a copy of their written advance directive if they have one. Patients are responsible for informing their physicians and other caregivers if they anticipate problems in following prescribed treatment. Patients also should be aware that the hospital has to be reasonably efficient and equitable in providing care to other patients and the community. The hospitals rules and regulations are designed to help the hospital meet this obligation. Patients and their families are responsible for being considerate of and making reasonable accommodations to the needs of the hospital, other patients, medical staff, and hospital employees. Patients are responsible for providing necessary information for insurance claims and for working with the hospital as needed to make payment arrangements. A patients health depends on many more than health care services. Patients are responsible for recognizing the impact of their lifestyles on their personal health. It is the patient's responsibility to read and understand all permits and/or consents he/she signs. If the patient does not understand, it is the patient's responsibility to ask the nurse or physician for clarification. It is the patient's responsibility to read carefully and follow the post-operative instructions he/she receives from the physician(s) and/or nurses. This includes postoperative appointments. It is the patient's responsibility to contact his/her physician if he/she has any complications.

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It is the patient's responsibility to assure payments for services rendered are on a timely basis accepting ultimate responsibility as his/hers, regardless of whatever insurance coverage he/she may have.