Patient Rights and Responsibilities

• Receive safe, high quality patient care
• Be treated in a considerate, respectful manner regardless of race, culture, religion, sex, age, mental or physical ability, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, diagnosis, or legal status
• Receive complete and clear information about diagnosis, treatment and prognosis
• Express concern about the care or treatment received
• Maintain independence and make decisions about your care, unless you are unable, in which case information will be given to a guardian, attorney or substitute decision-maker
• As a capable patient, refuse treatment and be informed of the potential health risks of your decision
• Know the names and roles of your health care team
• Have your privacy protected and your personal information and health records kept confidential
• Have access to your health record
• Be informed of any financial obligations that will be incurred as a result of your care
• Ask members of your care team if they have washed their hands

• Behave in a respectful way toward your healthcare team
• Treat others in a considerate, respectful manner regardless of race, culture, religion, sex, age, mental or physical ability, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, diagnosis, or legal status
• Contribute actively to your healthcare and healthcare decisions to the extent you are able
• Participate in your treatment and rehabilitation at the level you choose
• Make informed choices about your participation in research and communicate your preferences to the healthcare team
• Respect that your healthcare team must prioritize their activities in order of urgency
• Contribute to the quality of your care by providing an accurate health history, information about current prescriptions, treatments, and follow provider recommendations
• Bring your medication (in the original containers) and/or an accurate list of medications with you to RVH (including over-the-counter medicines, herbal remedies, supplements, vitamins, and diet pills
• Respect other patients and their privacy and confidentiality
• Keep appointments or notify RVH when you are unable to keep your appointment
• Ensuring all expenses not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or private insurance are paid for
• Comply and ask others to comply with RVH infection control and safety policies

RVH is committed to providing safe, high quality care for patients and a positive experience for families. We count on visitors, as family members or friends, to assist us by:

• Respecting patients’ right to privacy
• Observing RVH property, rules and regulations
• Being considerate of the rights of patients, as well as staff, physicians and volunteers by treating them courteously and with respect
• Not visiting RVH if they are not feeling well, or if they have an illness which could spread to our
  patients (if visitors are unsure, they should check with a healthcare provider)
• Not smoking on RVH property – it is a smoke-free environment