Discuss how health care professionals can ensure that patients’ rights are upheld and protected.

Visit http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/communicatingpts/pt-care-partnership.shtml and review the American Hospital Association’s Patients’ Bill of Rights. Discuss how health care professionals can ensure that patients’ rights are upheld and protected. Please make sure to provide citations and references (in APA, 7th ed. format) for your work. Limit is 500 words
ANSWER
The American Hospital Association’s Patients’ Bill of Rights (1996) is a document that outlines the fundamental rights of patients in the United States. These rights include the right to informed consent, the right to privacy, the right to access one’s medical records, and the right to make decisions about their care.
How health care professionals can ensure that patients’ rights are upheld and protected:
Educate patients about their rights. Health care professionals should make sure that patients are aware of their rights and how to exercise them. This can be done by providing patients with written materials about their rights, or by discussing their rights with them during their care.
Respect patients’ autonomy. Health care professionals should respect patients’ right to make decisions about their own care. This means providing patients with all of the information they need to make informed decisions, and respecting their decisions even if they disagree with them.
Communicate effectively with patients. Health care professionals should communicate effectively with patients about their care. This includes explaining the risks and benefits of different treatments and procedures, and answering patients’ questions in a clear and concise way.
Obtain informed consent before providing treatment. Health care professionals must obtain informed consent from patients before providing any treatment or procedure. This means providing patients with all of the information they need to make an informed decision, and obtaining their consent in writing.
Protect patients’ privacy. Health care professionals must protect patients’ privacy. This means keeping patients’ medical records confidential, and only sharing them with other health care professionals who have a legitimate need to know.
APA citations and references:
American Hospital Association. (1996). Patients’ Bill of Rights. Retrieved from http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/communicatingpts/pt-care-partnership.shtml
Example:
A nurse is caring for a patient who has been diagnosed with cancer. The nurse explains the different treatment options to the patient and answers their questions. The nurse then obtains the patient’s written consent for the treatment plan. The nurse also makes sure to protect the patient’s privacy by keeping their medical records confidential.
By following these guidelines, health care professionals can help to ensure that patients’ rights are upheld and protected. This is important because it allows patients to participate in their own care and make decisions about their own health.
Here are some additional tips for health care professionals on how to ensure that patients’ rights are upheld and protected:
Be respectful and compassionate. Treat patients with dignity and respect, and show empathy for their situation.
Be honest and transparent. Be honest with patients about their condition and the treatment options available to them.
Be responsive to patients’ needs. Be attentive to patients’ concerns and needs, and make sure to address them promptly.
Be accountable for your actions. If you make a mistake, apologize to the patient and take steps to prevent it from happening again.
By following these tips, health care professionals can help to create a positive and supportive environment for patients, and ensure that their rights are respected and protected.