Policies

            PATIENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We respect your rights as a patient and recognize that you are an individual with unique healthcare needs.  We want you to know your rights as a patient as well as your obligations to yourself, other patient, your physicians, and this hospital.
You Have the Right to:
Considerate and Respectful Care.  We respect your right to:
  • Expect quality treatment within the scope of our mission
  • Be treated with dignity, regardless of your age, religion, beliefs, cultural values, sex, or financial status
  • Be treated in the least restrictive environment consistent with your condition
  • Ask all personnel involved in your care to introduce themselves, state their role in your care, and explain what they are doing for you
  • Make care decisions, including managing pain effectively
Information About Treatment.  You can expect your healthcare team to explain:
  • Your condition and proposed treatments, concisely and in a manner that you understand
  • Your role in your care
  • The alternatives of treatment
  • The prognosis and problems related to recuperation
  • The benefits and risks of each alternative
It is your right to be informed of any experimental, research, educational, or training activities that may be involved in your treatment.  You will be asked if you wish to participate.
If limited English language skills or hearing problems inhibit your ability to communicate, help will be provided for you.  If you need this service, please let someone on the staff know.
You have the right to request that an in-network health care provider provide services at an in-network facility, if available.
Participate in Decisions About Your Care.  We respect your right:
  • To refuse a diagnostic procedure or treatment
  • To question who is involved with your care
  • To be informed about the results of care, including unanticipated outcomes
  • To have your reports of pain accepted and acted upon by healthcare professionals.
It is your right to decide whether you wish to be treated, and if you do, by which method of treatment.  If you elect to refuse treatment, you will be informed of the medical consequences of your decision.
Pastoral Counseling.  You have the right to request pastoral/spiritual counseling from a member of the clergy.
Advance Medical Directives.  You have the right to request information regarding Advance Medical Directives and to formulate an Advance Medical Directive (Living Will and/or Appointment of Agent to make Healthcare Decisions).  These documents allow you to give directions about future medical care or to legally designate another person or persons to make medical care decisions for you if you are unable to do so.  You will have access to care whether or not you have an Advance Medical Directive.
You have the right as a patient, if you are in the terminal stages of life, to be treated in a manner consistent with you or your surrogate’s desires or wishes.
Ethical Decisions.   We understand that you and your family may be faced with making difficult treatment choices while you are here.  We respect your right to make an individual decision that is based on your personal beliefs and values as well as on the available medical information.
Privacy.  You have the right to receive care and treatment that is respectful, recognizes personal dignity, and provides for personal privacy to the extent possible during the course of treatment.  Staff at this hospital strive to respect the privacy of all patients. Case discussions, examinations, and treatment are confidential and will be conducted discreetly.  In addition, you have the right to:
  • Choose who may visit you during your stay, regardless of whether the visitor is a family member, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), or other type of visitor, as well the right to withdraw such consent to visitation at any time.
  • Request no visitors, this may include restriction of phone calls and mail, if so desired
  • Request confidential status to protect you identity as a hospital patient
  • A safe and secure environment
Confidentiality.  You have the right to expect that all of your medical records are confidential unless you have given permission to release information or reporting is required or permitted by law.
Reasonable Response to Requests and Needs.  Should you need a service not provided by this hospital, you have the right to be assisted in transferring to another healthcare facility that can provide the needed service.  The need to transfer you to another facility will be explained to you; you will not be transferred until another facility agrees to accept you.
You have the right to examine your hospital bill and have it explained to you.
You have the right to be free from seclusion or restraints unless it is medically necessary.
You have the right to ask if this hospital has relationships with outside parties that may influence your treatment and care.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A PATIENT
Provide Complete Medical Information.  Provide, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about your health status, including your complete medical history, including illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, Advance Medical Directives, and other matters related to your health.
Ask for Clear Explanations.  If the explanation of your diagnosis, treatment, or your role in your care is not clear, ask questions until you understand.
Make Informed Decisions.  Rio Grande Hospital believes that you are entitled to make informed decisions regarding your medical care.  Medical staff, including nurses, clinicians and physicians, are either present at the Hospital or available “on-call” by telephone at all times.  However, a physician is not on-site 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  If a medical emergency arises when a physician is not on-site, the Hospital takes the following steps:  1)  The physician on-call shall be contacted by telephone and apprised of the emergency,  2)  Emergency room staff shall respond to the emergency and remain with the patient until the physician arrives.
Because you are responsible for the decisions you make about your care, we encourage you to gather as much information as you need to make your decisions.  Once you and your physician(s) have decided on a plan for treatment, be sure to advise your physician if you feel you are unable to follow the plan.  You may be asked to consent in writing to certain tests, procedures or operations.  Ask as many questions as you must to fully understand each document you are asked to sign.
Continue the treatment recommended by you physician after you leave the hospital.
Keep appointments or call the hospital when you cannot keep an appointment.
Report Changes.  Tell your physician about changes in your health.
Accept Financial Obligations.  Ensure that your financial obligations are fulfilled as promptly as possible.  Provide information for insurance and for working with the hospital to arrange payment.
Respect Other’s Privacy.  Be considerate of other patients by observing their right to privacy.  Maintain a quiet atmosphere.  Telephones, televisions, radios and lights should be used in a manner agreeable to others.
Follow Hospital Rules and Regulations.
Your Role in the Prevention of Medical Errors.  It is important that you know what treatment/medications are prescribed for you.  Ask questions to ensure your safety.
PATIENT GRIEVANCES
You have the right to voice complaints to the attention of any facility employee regarding the quality of care and services you receive.  If that employee cannot solve the problem, they will refer you to their Department manager or another manager within the hospital.  In addition, you may report you grievance directly to the Administrator/CEO.  Whenever you are admitted to the hospital, you will be informed of your rights, including the right to voice complaints.  If you have a complaint or feel your rights are not being respected, please let the staff know.  If you feel you are being asked to leave the hospital too soon or if you have a concern regarding the quality of care, please contact the patient Service Representative.  All concerns and grievances will be investigated and responded to within one week of reporting.  If your concern or grievance is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may contact the Colorado Department of Public Health at:  4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO  80222-1530 or call 1-800-886-7689 or 1-303-692-2800.  Medicare beneficiaries may contact the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC) at 1-303-695-3333 or 1-800-727-7086 or Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.  You also have the right to file a complaint with the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners, the State Board of Dental Examiners or the Colorado Podiatry Board if you have concerns with your physician, dental or podiatric patient care services, excluding fee disputes.

Khrystynn Cano, RN, CNM (719) 657-4090

Ellen Lane, RN, COO/CNO –  (719) 657-4120

Mission: With a smile and a helping hand, we provide quality care and service to our communities.

Vision: We will distinguish ourselves as the trusted healthcare destination.
We will provide compassionate healthcare and advocate wellness through innovative access, preventive medicine,
and collaborative partnerships within our diverse community.

OUR LOCATIONS

Rio Grande Hospital

310 County Road 14
Del Norte, CO 81132
Tel: 719-657-2510
Open: 24/7

Creede Family Practice

802 Rio Grande
Creede, CO 81130
Tel: 719-658-0929

Rio Grande
Hospital Clinic

310C County Road 14
Del Norte, CO 81132
Tel: 719-657-2418

Monte Vista Medical Clinic & Pharmacy

1033 2nd Avenue
Monte Vista, CO 81144
Tel: 719-852-8827
Pharmacy Tel: 719-628-0533

Rio Grande Hospital Clinic at South Fork

52 Jackson Street
South Fork, CO 81154
Tel: 719-873-5494