Patient Rights & Responsibility

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  • The COB HHCC establishes written policies and procedures regarding the rights of home care clients. This includes the promotion and protection of each client's right to receive necessary information, to be given reasonable choices and to be treated with dignity.
  • The COB HHCC will ensure that processes are in place to:
    • Ensure that clients understand their rights.
    • Help clients exercise their rights; and,
    • Investigate and resolve claims regarding a violation of client's rights.
  • Clients have the right to refuse service.
  • Clients have the right to live at risk.
  • Clients have the right to fully participate in the assessment process.
  • Clients have the right to participate in the service delivery and make personal choices within the parameters of services available.
  • Clients have the right to appeal service plan decisions.
  • Clients have the right to receive safe, appropriate and timely service.
  • Clients have the right to be referred to other
  • Clients have the right to participate in team conferences. Clients must be treated with consideration, respect and full recognition of their dignity and individuality.
  • Clients have the right to freedom from abuse, neglect or exploitation from home care staff.
  • Clients have the right to be assured of confidential treatment of their care records and personal information.
  • Clients, or the persons authorized to make health care decisions on behalf of the clients, have the right to have their concerns heard, reviewed and where possible, resolved.

Client's Responsibilities

  • The Regional Health Authority will ensure that clients understand their responsibility to:
    • Participate in developing and carrying out the service plan;
    • Be available at a given time for service, as agreed;
    • Notify the organization of any changes that may affect the provision of service;
    • Respect the human rights of the service provider (e.g. freedom from abuse, exploitation, and racism);
    • Maintain a safe working environment for the service provider;
    • Use equipment, which is necessary for staff/client safety, in a safe and proper manner;
    • Agree to using equipment as determined through the assessment process to ensure client/home care worker safety; and,
    • Ensure client/worker safety for equipment they have obtained privately by meeting the safety requirements of the manufacturer, maintaining the equipment and documenting preventive maintenance as required.
  • In situations where clients do not carry out their responsibilities, the COB HHCC will:
    • Communicate client responsibilities (as indicated in 1. above) to clients and staff;
    • Eliminate or minimize factors that contribute to inappropriate behaviour;
    • Teach positive or desirable behaviour;
    • Use restrictive actions only when all positive processes have failed;
    • Integrate these actions into the plan of service as necessary; and,
    • Document the situation and actions taken.