emc-logo-width-300v2

Your Patient Rights

Your rights as a patient

You have the right to considerate and respectful care at Emanuel Medical Center. In addition to your rights, you have specific responsibilities during your hospital visit. Following are your rights and responsibilities.

You have the right to:

  • Expect privacy and dignity in treatment consistent with providing you with good medical and psychiatric care
  • Be informed of the hospital's rules and regulations as they apply to your conduct
  • Receive considerate, respectful care under all circumstances at all times
  • Know who is responsible for authorizing and performing your procedures or treatments
  • Expect prompt and reasonable responses to your questions
  • Know the identity and professional status of your medical team
  • Have access to your medical records according to our hospital policy
  • Know what patient support services are available including access to an interpreter if needed
  • Be informed of the nature of your condition; proposed treatment or procedure; risks, benefits and prognosis; and any continuing healthcare requirements after your discharge in terms you can understand.
  • Refuse treatment, except as otherwise provided by law, and to be informed of the consequences of your refusal
  • Be informed of medical alternatives for care or treatment
  • Receive access to medical treatment or accommodations regardless of race, gender identity or expression, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, physical handicap or sources of payment
  • Know if the medical treatment prescribed for you is for experimental purposes and to give your written consent to participate if you choose
  • Participate in the decision-making process related to the plan of your care.
  • Exercise your cultural values and spiritual beliefs as long as they do not interfere with the well-being of others or the planned course of any medical care
  • Have access to professionals to assist you with emotional and/or spiritual care
  • Participate in the discussion of ethical issues that may arise
  • Express concerns regarding any of these rights in accordance with the grievance process
  • Have a family member or other representative and your own physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital
  • Formulate advance directives and appoint a surrogate to make healthcare decisions on your behalf to the extent permitted by law
  • Leave the hospital even against the advice of a physician, to the extent permitted by law
  • Receive care in a safe setting, free from mental, physical, sexual or verbal abuse and neglect, exploitation or harassment
  • Be free from restraints and seclusion as a form or means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff
  • Access protective and advocacy services, including notifying government agencies of neglect or abuse
  • Examine and receive an explanation of the hospital’s bill regardless of the source of payment

Your responsibilities include:

  • Providing accurate and complete information to your healthcare providers about your present and past medical conditions and all other matters pertaining to your health.
  • Knowing the consequences of your own actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow the healthcare providers’ instructions
  • Informing your healthcare providers whether or not you understand the plan of care and what is expected of you
  • Reporting unexpected changes in your condition to your healthcare providers
  • Following the treatment plan recommended by your healthcare providers
  • Keeping appointments and, if you cannot, notifying the proper person.
  • Being considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel and to follow hospital policy and regulations regarding care and conduct
  • Assuring that the financial obligations of your care are fulfilled as promptly as possible

Complaints:

Should you need to file a complaint with this hospital, you may by writing or calling:

Administrative Offices
Emanuel Medical Center
825 Delbon Ave.
Turlock, CA 95382

Phone: (209) 664-5000

If you would prefer to file a complaint with the state Department of Health Services, regardless of whether you use the hospital’s grievance process, call or write:

California Department of Public Health
Licensing and Certification
285 W. Bullard Avenue, Suite 101
Fresno, California 93704
(559) 437-1500

Complaints may also be filed with:

The Joint Commission (TJC)
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

For those complaints/grievances filed by patients to hospital staff, our policy is as follows:

  • For patient complaints, staff present is to resolve the issue and report the patient complaint through the appropriate means for tracking purposes.
  • Patient grievances (those complaints that are made verbally or in writing and cannot be resolved immediately by staff present) are to be recorded on the Complaint Form. The Unit Director will investigate the complaint and respond in writing to the patient. For most grievances, this written response will be sent to the patient within seven days of the complaint. If additional time is needed, we will notify the patient in writing that we are continuing our investigation and will respond as soon as possible.