Ethics, Laws and regulations Chapter 2

Patients rights Take a handout of residents rights, take a look for 5 min and, pretending that you are a patient, come up with at least one demand of some changes to be done to your plan of care. The first Patient’s Bill of Rights was developed in 1973 by the American Hospital Association.

Patient’s Bill of Rights 1. Information disclosure. 2. Choice of providers and insurance plans. 3. Access to services. 4. Participation in treatment decisions. 5. Respect and nondiscrimination. 6. Confidentiality of health information. 7. Complaints and appeals. 8. Consumer responsibilities.

HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 Federal law that sets standards for protecting privacy of patient’s health information Never give health information over the phone, just patients presence in the facility, if patients allows to do so. Do not give any health information to visitors. Let patient do it for themselves. Physician and nurse are allowed to give information to verified family members. Address visitor’s questions to the nurse, physician, or patient themself. You can share information about the patient only with stuff directly involved in the care of patient. Never check charts of patients you do not take care of.

Advanced Directives Advanced Directives (or living will) are legal documents that allow people to decide what kind of medical care they need according to their current condition in the event they are unable to make this decisions for themselves. It can be changed any time. Advanced Directives also designate someone to make medical decisions for the patient in case they are unable to make them for themselves. That person is called Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA)

POLST or living will Living will or POLST (the name for it in WA state) outlines the medical care a person wants, or doesn’t want, in case they becomes unable to make those decisions due to illness or confusion. Read a POLST handout and decide for yourself what kind of medical care you would like to have in case of you become ill or unresponsive. Discuss CPR and DNR patients and what to do when you have a DNR patient at the hospital and nursing home.

Abuse and neglect Abuse is purposeful mistreatment that causes physical, mental, emotional, or financial pain or injury to someone. There are five types of abuse: Physical Psychological Verbal Sexual Financial Neglect is a failure to provide needed care resulting in harm to the patient. Neglect can be active (purposeful not doing something – like not bathing the patient as a caregiver) or passive – not providing care due to forgetfulness, not understanding standards, or poor training.

Mandatory reporting Phone 1- 800-562-6078

RCW – Revised Code of WA or Uniform Disciplinary Act WAC – WA Administrative Code Where to find them when needed? Department of Health website: http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/Profession sNewReneworUpdate/NursingAssistant/Laws

Malpractice Malpractice occurs when a negligent or improper care results in damage or injury to a person. Physicians malpractice insurance costs them up to $45K a year depending on specialty. Ophthalmologists as low as $6K, plastic surgeons up to $30K and OB/GYNs as high as $45K.

Review DSHS Secretary’s list of crimes and negative actions

Always practice to the letter of the law for your profession! Review WA NQAC magazine. NQAC – Nursing Quality Assurance Commission

Homework Chapter 2 Workbook and test tomorrow. Keep working on your Chapter 2 Medical terminology. Don’t forget to bring field trip consent and $ for sweatshirt and HOSA if you didn’t yet.