Patient Privacy
Patient Rights
As a patient at Montgomery General Hospital, you have a right:
- To considerate and respectful care.
- To be well informed about your illness, possible treatments, and likely outcome and to discuss this information with your physician.
- To consent to or refuse a treatment, as permitted by law. If you refuse a recommended treatment, you will receive other needed and available care.
- To expect that your statements about pain will be believed and that your pain will be managed appropriately.
- To remain free from restraints unless medically or behaviorally necessary to ensure a safe environment of care for you and others. For more information, see Patient & Family Guide to Restraints.
- To receive care in a safe setting and be free from all forms of abuse or harassment and to be provided protective services as requested or required. For more information, please call ext. 8655.
- To ask and be informed of the existence of business relationships among the Hospital, educational institutions, and other healthcare providers or payers which may influence your care or treatment. For more information, please call ext. 8762.
- To appoint a healthcare agent to speak in your behalf if you loose the ability to communicate your wishes regarding possible treatment alternatives and to expect that your advance directive will be followed. For more information, please call ext. 8998.
- To auditory and visual privacy to the extent possible with recognition of your personal dignity.
- To expect that your medical record will be held in the highest confidentiality and that only individuals involved in your care or those monitoring its quality will read your medical record.
- To expect equal medical treatment regardless of race, color, national origin, age, religion, handicap, sexual orientation, marital status, gender or economic status.
- To know the identity and professional status of individuals providing care and services and which physician or other practitioners are primarily responsible for your care.
- To be told of realistic care alternatives when Hospital care is no longer appropriate.
- To consent to or decline to take part in research affecting your care. If you choose not to participate, you will receive the most effective care the Hospital otherwise provides.
- To know about Hospital rules that affect you and your treatments well as information about charges and payment methods.
- To know about and access Hospital resources such as social work, pastoral care or the Ethics Committee that can help resolve questions and concerns about your Hospital stay and care. For more information, please call ext. 8998.
- If you feel you need to file a grievance or make a complaint while a patient at this hospital, know that you can do so without fear that your medical care will be affected. For more information, please call the Office of Performance Improvement at extension 8604; or you may contact the Maryland DHMH Office of Health Care Quality directly at Spring Grove Center, Bland Bryant Building, 55 Wade Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228, 410-402-8015 or 1-877-402-8218 (toll free). If you feel your concerns have not been resolved through the hospital, we encourage you to contact the Joint Commission's Office of Quality Monitoring to report your concerns or register a complaint by either calling 1-800-994-6610 or e-mailing complaint@jcaho.org.
- To review your medical records and have the information explained, except when restricted by law. For more information, please call ext. 8661.
- To an interpreter by verbal, written or signed communication when you do not speak the predominant language of the community.