Patient Rights and Responsibilities
You are a Full Partner in Your Health Care
UnityPoint Health and our team members respect the rights, interests, and well-being of our patients. It is our policy that these rights shall be respected, and no patient — whether receiving care at a UnityPoint Health hospital or clinic — shall be required to waive these rights as a condition of treatment.
As a patient receiving care at a UnityPoint Health hospital or clinic, you have responsibilities to help make your care as effective as possible. For example, we expect you to provide correct and complete information about your health and past medical history, participate in treatment decisions, and communicate openly with our physicians and other health professionals during your planned treatment. In doing so, you are “helping us help you.”
Your rights as a patient—and your responsibilities—are described below. They are also set forth in the following downloadable brochure.
As a patient or patient’s representative (such as the parent or legal guardian of a minor patient), you have:
As a patient, you have the responsibility:
- To read this patient guide or request that it be read to you and ask questions about those parts you do not understand.
- To provide accurate and complete information about your health care status, including present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, advance directives, and other matters relating to your health. You will report perceived risks in your care and unexpected changes in your condition, and you will affirm whether you clearly comprehend a contemplated course of action and what is expected.
- To follow the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for your care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and other health care professionals as they implement the practitioner's orders and enforce the applicable hospital rules and regulations.
- For your actions if you refuse treatment or if you do not follow the practitioner's instructions.
- To assure that the financial obligations of your care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
- To follow hospital rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct
- To be considerate of the rights of other patients and hospital personnel, and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking and the number of visitors in your room.
- To ask questions when you do not understand what you have been told about your care or what you are expected to do.
Filing a Complaint
The Right to File a Complaint with UnityPoint Health
You may use the UnityPoint Health complaint/grievance resolution process for submitting a written or verbal concern to your caregivers, your healthcare practitioners, hospital, or clinic administration, or the guest or patient relations departments at UnityPoint Health locations. See UnityPoint Patient Advocates for where to submit a complaint, as well as questions or requests. Find the location where you are receiving care and use the corresponding contact information. If you submit a complaint or grievance, it will be investigated. Action will be taken to resolve the concern either verbally or in writing, when appropriate. You should receive a prompt written response upon receipt of your grievance from UnityPoint Health.
You may also submit complaints regarding violations of your rights, including the right not to be discriminated against, to other agencies that regulate or provide accreditation to UnityPoint Health locations. See the listing of State Health Agencies and Accreditation Organizations for contact information. It is not necessary to first use the UPH grievance process.
Thank you for choosing UnityPoint Health as your health care provider.
For Patients of Rural Health Centers
For Patients of UnityPoint Health Sleep Labs
Hospital Accreditation Organizations
| Location Where Care is Received | Accreditation Contact Information |
|---|---|
|
Cedar Rapids, |
To submit complaints directly to the accrediting agency DNV (Det Norske Veritas), patients, family members and other concerned parties should use the web form or submit a complaint about your care directly to the DNV:
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