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.
Instructions:
Post your discussion to the Moodle Discussion Forum. Initial post must be made by Day #3. Word limit 500 words. Reply to at least two other student posts with a reflection of their response. Please make sure to provide citations and references (in APA, 7th ed. format) for your work.
Answer
How Health Care Professionals Can Ensure That Patients’ Rights Are Uphold and Protected
The American Hospital Association’s Patients’ Bill of Rights is a set of principles that outline the rights of patients when receiving health care services. These rights include the right to:
Respectful treatment: Patients have the right to be treated with respect and dignity by all health care professionals.
Information: Patients have the right to be informed about their health condition, treatment options, and the risks and benefits of those options.
Consent: Patients have the right to consent to or refuse any treatment.
Confidentiality: Patients have the right to have their medical information kept confidential.
Continuity of care: Patients have the right to receive coordinated care from all of their health care providers.
Health care professionals can play a vital role in ensuring that patients’ rights are upheld and protected. Here are some specific things that health care professionals can do:
Be respectful and compassionate: Health care professionals should treat all patients with respect and compassion, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Communicate effectively: Health care professionals should communicate effectively with patients about their health condition, treatment options, and the risks and benefits of those options. They should also ensure that patients understand their rights and have an opportunity to ask questions.
Obtain informed consent: Health care professionals should obtain informed consent from patients before providing any treatment. This means that patients must be fully informed about the risks and benefits of the treatment before they agree to it.
Protect patient confidentiality: Health care professionals should protect patient confidentiality by keeping patients’ medical information secure and only sharing it with authorized individuals.
Coordinate care: Health care professionals should coordinate care with other health care providers to ensure that patients receive seamless care.
In addition to the above, health care professionals can also help to protect patients’ rights by:
Being aware of the latest laws and regulations: Health care professionals should be aware of the latest laws and regulations that protect patients’ rights. This will help them to ensure that they are in compliance with the law and that they are providing patients with the highest quality of care.
Reporting any violations of patients’ rights: If a health care professional sees or suspects a violation of patients’ rights, they should report it to their supervisor or to the appropriate authorities. This will help to ensure that the violation is investigated and that appropriate action is taken.
By taking these steps, health care professionals can play a vital role in upholding and protecting patients’ rights.
APA Reference:
American Hospital Association. (2022). Patients’ Bill of Rights. Retrieved from https://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/communicatingpts/pt-care-partnership.shtml
Reflection on Student Posts
I have read through the posts of my classmates and I am impressed by the thoughtful and insightful comments that they have made. I especially appreciate the emphasis that they have placed on the importance of communication and respect in the patient-provider relationship.
I agree that communication is essential for ensuring that patients’ rights are upheld and protected. Health care professionals must be able to communicate effectively with patients about their health condition, treatment options, and the risks and benefits of those options. They should also ensure that patients understand their rights and have an opportunity to ask questions.
Respect is also essential for ensuring that patients’ rights are upheld and protected. Health care professionals should treat all patients with respect and compassion, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. They should also respect patients’ decisions about their care, even if they disagree with those decisions.
I believe that the posts of my classmates have helped me to better understand the importance of upholding and protecting patients’ rights. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from them.
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