Mountain Trace Nursing Center

These resident’s rights ensure that, at least, each resident admitted to this facility will have……

1.   The right to be fully informed prior to or at the time of admission  to the facility of his/her rights and responsibilities as a resident and of all rules and regulations governing resident conduct and responsibilities, further, a written acknowledgement from the resident, guardian acknowledging  awareness of rights, responsibilities, conduct rules, and regulations is required.

2.   The right to be told of all services available and all costs, including those charges covered or not covered under Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and the per diem rate. The basic rate shall not be changed unless thirty days advance notice is given to the resident or, if the resident is unable to understand this information, to his legally appointed sponsor.

3.   The right to reside and receive services in the facility with reasonable accommodations of individual needs and preferences except when the health or safety of the individual or other residents would be endangered.

4.   The right to exercise his/her rights as a resident of the facility and as a citizen and resident of the United States of America. This includes, but is not limited to, your right to vote in local, state and federal elections.

5.   The right to a safe and clean homelike environment.

6.   The right to be treated at all times with courtesy and respect and full recognition of dignity and individuality, including privacy in care and treatment for his/her personal needs.

7.   The right upon admission and thereafter to adequate and appropriate medical treatment, nursing care and to other services that comprise necessary and appropriate care.

8.   The right to have all reasonable requests and inquiries responded to promptly.

9.   The right to have clothes and bed sheets changed as the need arises to ensure the residents comfort and sanitation.

10.  The right to rise and retire in accordance with his/her reasonable request.

11.  The right to obtain from the home on admission and later upon request, the name and specialty of any physician or other person responsible for residents care or coordination of care.

12.  The right to withhold payment for physician visitation if the physician did not visit the patient.

13.  The right to choose a personal attending physician of the residents choice.

14.  The right to communicate with the physician in planning the treatment or care and to obtain from the attending physician complete and current information concerning his/her medical condition, prognosis and treatment plan, in terms the resident can understand; the right of access of all information in the medical record; and the right to give and withhold informed consent for treatment after the consequences of that choice have been fully explained.

15.  The right to inspect and purchase photocopies of all records pertaining to the resident upon request and 24 hours notice to the facility.

16.  The right to participate in his/her multidisciplinary plan of care; planning treatment or changes and to attend multidisciplinary resident review meetings.

17.  The right to confidential treatment of personal and medical records, and the right to approve or refuse the release of these records to any individual outside the home, except in transfer to another home, hospital, or health care system, as required by the rule or law, or as required by a third party payment contract and is assured that this facility has written policies governing access to, duplication of, and dissemination of information in the residents records.

18.  The right to privacy during medical examination or treatment and in care of personal body needs.

19.  The right to have room doors closed and have them not opened  without knocking, except in the case of an emergency or unless not medically advisable as documented in his/her medical record by the attending physician.

20.  The right to unrestricted communications with his/her family, social worker and any other person, inclusive of private unrestricted communication with his/her attorney or physician. Private and unrestricted communication shall also include but are not limited to.

21.  The right to receive, send and mail sealed unopened correspondence.

22.  The right to access a telephone for private communications.

23.  The right to private visitation at any hour.

24.  The right to communicate privately with persons of his/her choice unless doing so would infringe on the rights of other residents.

25.  The right to assure privacy for visits by their spouse, or if both are residents of the same facility, they are permitted to share a room unless not medically advisable as documented by the attending physician.

26.  The right to be fully informed, by a physician, of his/her medical condition unless medically contraindicated (as documented by a physician in the medical record) and has the right to refuse to participate in experimental research.

27.  The right to be free from mental and physical abuse and free from chemical and physical restraints except as authorized in writing by the physician for a specified and limited length of time, or when necessary in an emergency to protect the resident from injury to him/herself or others.

28.  The right to be assured the facility has written policies regarding their use of chemical and physical restraint, the professional personnel who may authorize and supervise their use, and the mechanism for monitoring and controlling their use.

29.  The right to a pharmacist of the resident’s choice, as facility policy allows.

30.  The right to self-administer drugs unless the interdisciplinary team has determined for each resident that this practice is unsafe.

31.  The right to submit complaints and recommendations to the Administrator, or Co-Director of Nurses, if relevant to nursing care of services, either verbally or in writing without fear of threat of discharge or reprisals of any kind; further, procedures for handling complaints has been included in Resident Care Policies.

32.  The right to organize and participate in resident groups in the facility without interference.

33.  The right to meet with, and participate in activities of social, religious and community groups at his/her discretion, (unless medically contraindicated by the physician in his/her medical record).

34.  The right to consume a reasonable amount of alcoholic beverages at his/her own expense as approved by their physician.

35.  The right to retain personal clothing and a reasonable amount of possessions as space permits.

36.  The right to receive and examine a bill for nursing home charges at least on a monthly basis, itemizing charges not included in the basic rate.

37.  The rights to manage his/her personal financial affairs or, should the facility accept written delegation of this responsibility, to receive a quarterly (and on request) accounting statement of financial transactions made on his/her behalf.

38.  The right to have unrestricted access to his/her property on deposit at reasonable hours.

39.  The right to not be transferred or discharged from the center except for medical reasons, for his/her welfare or another resident’s, for non-payment of charges due the center, if the centers license is revoked, or if the facility is unable to meet the resident’s needs.

40.  The right to voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to the facilities staff, to employees of the Department of Health or to other persons not associated with the operation of the center, of the residents choice, free from restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal. This right includes access to a residents rights advocate, and the right to be a member, or to be active in and to associate with persons who are active in organizations assisting residents.

41.  The right to have his/her resident rights exercised by the person appointed under state law to act on the resident’s behalf if the resident is adjudicated incompetent.

42.  The right to be made aware of any changes in Resident Rights or in Medicare or Medicaid requirements or benefits.

43.  The right to be informed of bed reservation policy for hospitalization.

44.  The right to be informed of Medicaid “Hold Bed” days for hospitalization and therapeutic leaves of absence,

45.  The right to be informed of an impending transfer and for the prompt notification of legal sponsor or next of kin.