It's OK to Ask
At Bronson, we want patients and families to be involved in their care. We want to partner with you and your family on choices that affect your hospital stay. Please ask questions and speak up if you have concerns. If you do not understand, ask again. Talking with the doctor, nurse or other care provider helps make sure you and your family member get the best care possible.
Three Key Questions
- What is my main problem?
- What do I need to do?
- Why is it important for me to do this?
You Are Part of the Team!
- Get to know us. We are the people who will be taking care of you or your loved one. Bronson staff should say their name when they enter the room. They also wear name badges. Ask what their job is. Many have special training you may want to know about.
- Talk about patient and family medical history. Share copies of medical records.
- Agree on exactly what will be done during each step of you or your family member's care. Make the decision with the doctor.
- Write down important facts. Keep track of any questions you may have.
- Ask the doctor how a new test or medicine will help. More tests or medicines may not always be best.
- Ask for test results and what they mean.
- Know what the plan is and how long you will be at Bronson. Talk about what to expect when you leave and how you should feel. Family members need to know what to do too.
Patients and their families are the most important partners on the healthcare team. We want you to ask questions, share information, and help make decisions about your care.
Medicine Safety
- Tell doctors and nurses about all of the medicines, over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements and vitamins you are taking. Please ask family or friends to take your medicines home. Do not take any of these while you are in the hospital. Your nurse will give you any medicines you need to take while you are here.
- Tell the doctor and nurse about how you react to different medicines. Make sure to tell them about any allergies.
- Ask your doctor about each drug she prescribes and what it is used for. Go over any possible side effects. Make sure it is OK to take that drug with your other drugs.
- Make sure the doctor writes the name of the drug clearly. You and the pharmacist should be able to read it.
- Ask the nurse to tell you what kind of medicine he is giving you and what it is for. Make sure it is for you. If you are not sure, ask the nurse to double check.
- Your nurse should open all your medicines in front of you. Anytime you receive medicine, shot or intravenous (IV) fluid, the nurse or other provider should ask for your name and birth date. This makes sure the right medicine is given to the right patient.
- Write down the time of day you normally take your medicine. Call the nurse if you do not receive it on time.
- Ask how long the IV should last. Tell the nurse if it is dripping too fast or too slow.
Pain Management
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as you are uncomfortable or in pain. Do not wait until it is really bad. Most pain can be controlled and will be responded to promptly. It is OK to ask again if you feel your pain has not been addressed.
Call to STOP a Fall in the Hospital
- Call or ask for help when getting up, such as to go to the bathroom. Wait until someone comes to help you. Getting up the first few times after lying in bed or taking medicines may cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded.
- Get up slowly from the bed or chair to help prevent dizziness. Use a walker, crutches, cane or wheelchair if needed. Grasp grab bars in the bathroom. Hold onto handrails in the hall.
- Keep personal items within easy reach, such as eyeglasses, phone, tissue, water or call button. Please use your call button when you need help, especially when you can't reach things you want.
- Wear non-skid socks or slippers. If you do not have any, ask your nurse for a pair.
- Leave up the side rails on the bed, unless a staff member says it is OK to lower.
- Family and friends may be able to help. Check with the nurse before having your family member move you.
- If you fall, stay calm. Call for help and press your call button if you can. Don't get up, wait for help to arrive.
- Exercise your muscles and joints to keep in good shape to prevent falls.
Safe Patient Handling Equipment
Bronson uses special equipment to help move or lift patients. This applies to patients of all size. The equipment makes it easier for staff to safely move or lift you. It also helps reduce employee injuries.
Reduce Infections
- Ask everyone who enters your room to wash their hands. Do not be afraid to remind your doctor or nurse. This helps to keep you safe from other people's germs.
- Ask family, friends and other visitors not to visit you when they are sick.
- Make sure to get your flu or pneumonia vaccine from your doctor or local flu shot clinic.
Bronson Statement on Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Because Bronson respects the rights and human dignity of each patient, patient rights and responsibilities are given on admission or on request.
We are committed to making your experience at Bronson as positive as possible. If you have concerns, complaints or suggestions, please call the Patient Relations Office at (269) 341-8959.
The Patient Rights and Organizational Ethics Committee helps patients and their families make informed choices about difficult decisions that may involve ethical issues. They may be reached by calling the Bronson operator at (269) 341-7654.
The Right to Information You Can Understand During Your Hospital Admission
You have the right to:
- know about Bronson's policy of Patient Rights and Responsibilities and Advance Directive.
- contact a Bronson Patient Representative if there is a question, concern or complaint about any service.
- file a grievance with the hospital or outside agency; to be informed of the procedure for the start, review and resolve a grievance or complaint.
- know about services and the charges for services; to have your hospital bill explained; and to know about financial help offered by the hospital.
- know who is giving your care; information about your health and treatment plan; to know about your future healthcare needs; and the right to be involved in plans for when you leave the hospital.
- agree to or refuse treatment; to be told the risks of treatment; and the right to be told what will happen if you refuse treatment; and know about Bronson's rules about patient care and conduct.
The Right to Dignified, Respectful, Considerate Care
You have the right to:
- care regardless of age, race, color, creed, national origin, sex, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or your ability to pay for care.
- be free from mental or physical mistreatment; be free from restraints unless ordered by a physician for your safety or the safety of others; and to correct options to restraints. If restraint is used, the least restrictive method will be used and it will be stopped as soon as possible.
The Right to a Reasonable Response to Your Requests
You have the right to:
- have a reasonable response to your needs for treatment and service within Bronson's ability.
- request generic or trade name drugs.
- have your civil and religious rights and your cultural and spiritual beliefs respected as long as they do not interfere with the well being of others.
The Right to Personal Privacy and Confidentiality of Your Medical Treatment and Medical Records
You have the right to:
have your personal and medical records treated with privacy; to review your medical record; and to get a copy of your medical record. Your record cannot be given to anyone without your permission. The law requires that your health information can be shared with your insurance company and hospital reviewing agencies.
- talk privately with your physician, attorney or other person.
- send and receive unopened personal mail.
- be treated in private; to be cared for with dignity and as an individual.
The Right to be Informed of Any Research or Educational Projects Affecting Your Care or Treatment
You have the right to:
- information about experimental treatment considered in your care; and to know the risks and possible result of refusing this treatment.
- be informed if you are part of an educational project as Bronson is a teaching hospital.
Patient Responsibilities Which Will Promote a True Partnership in Your Treatment:
- Make available a complete and correct medical history.
- Let us know if you understand your medical treatment.
- Take part in healthcare decisions with the advice of your doctor(s). Follow the recommendations and advice of your doctor(s).
- Tell your doctor or nurse about any problems you have during your medical treatment.
- Be considerate of the rights of other patients, Bronson staff, and property.
- Give correct information about how you will pay your bill.
- Make arrangements to pay bills not paid by your insurance.
- Follow Bronson's rules about patient care and conduct.
Bronson Statement on Pain Management
We believe all patients have a right to pain relief. Based on this belief we will:
- tell patients that pain relief is an important part of their care.
- review patient's pain on the first evaluation.
- continue to look at the presence, quality and intensity of pain.
- consider pain monitoring the fifth vital sign. Monitor pain based on the patient's condition and pain state.
- use what the patient says about their pain as the primary indicator of pain.
- accept with respect the reports a patient makes about pain.
- respond quickly to reports of pain.
- consider the special needs of children, frail and elderly patients in the review and treatment of pain.
- work with the patient, family and other health care providers to set a goal for pain relief.
- develop and use a plan to make pain relief the goal, including education of the patient and family.
- continue to review and change the care for patients who have pain that will not stop.
Concerns about Patient Care and Safety
We want to hear your concerns. Please speak with your doctor or nurse. If you are not comfortable, the Patient Relations department can help. Call (269) 341-8959. The Ethics Committee also helps patients and their families with hard choices. Call the Bronson operator at (269) 341-7654 for this service.
If your concern is not resolved through Bronson, you may file a complaint via:
Patient Advocate and Power of Attorney
Do You Have an Advocate (Support Person)?
This family member or friend can help you keep track of everything going on. This person can:
- ask questions for you.
- take notes on what the doctor or nurse says.
- stay with you while you rest.
- help make sure you get the right medicine at the right time.
- read over important documents for you.
- make sure your wishes are honored, including life support.
- update other family members and friends.
- ensure you get proper care and instructions for when you leave the hospital.
Durable Power of Attorney and Advance Directive
We all want to make our own choices about the medical treatment we receive. Sometimes we are not able to make those decisions because of a medical condition. It is important to have a plan in place to make sure that our wishes are followed. This plan is called an Advance Directive. The Advance Directive should:
- describe the type of medical care you want.
- describe the type of medical care you do not want.
- state who you want to make decisions about your care if you cannot.
- be reviewed once a year.
A Durable Power of Attorney document is used to choose a person to make decisions about your medical treatment and care.
The Durable Power of Attorney document must be signed by you and witnessed by two adults. Witnesses cannot be:
- a family member.
- the patient advocate.
- an employee of the healthcare facility where you are a patient.
The person you choose to make decisions about your medical treatment and care is called a patient advocate. A patient advocate:
- must be at least 18 years old.
- able to make decisions and handle the responsibility.
- know your wishes.
- is willing to follow your wishes.
- is willing to be the patient advocate.
Your spouse, adult child, other relative or a friend can be the patient advocate. You should talk with this person before you sign your form. You can select a second person if the first person cannot act as the advocate. The person or persons you choose must also sign an acceptance form. You can change your mind and choose someone else later by signing a new document and destroying the old one.
The patient advocate only makes decisions if you cannot make decisions for yourself. For example, if you have a stroke or a head injury, your doctor and one other doctor would have to decide that you could no longer make decisions before asking the patient advocate.
You can give your patient advocate the power to:
- consent to or refuse medical treatment.
- arrange for home healthcare.
- admit you to a nursing home.
- withhold or stop treatment.
- withhold or stop food and water.
You should be very clear about what you want and what you expect the patient advocate to do for you. Your patient advocate has a duty to follow your wishes to the best of their ability.
There is no standard form for this document. You can use Bronson's form or one from somewhere else. You may write your own or have a lawyer create one for you. Call Medical Social Work at (269) 341-7943 with questions or for a copy of the form.
Security
Security
Bronson's Security Department is available 24 hours a day. Call (269) 341-7893. They can escort you to your vehicle, unlock your vehicle and jumpstart your vehicle battery if needed. Security also helps keep the hospital safe by patrolling and locking the campus after hours. On the South Campus, please use the intercom at the Garden Level Entrance of the Vine Street parking ramp to enter after hours. On the North Campus, the main entrance is always open.
Valuables Lost and Found
There is a closet in your room for clothes and other items, such as your dentures and eyeglasses. Please put everything away, especially when you leave the room. Send valuables, such as jewelry and money, home with family members. If your family cannot take your valuables home, contact your nurse. Your items may be kept in the hospital safe until you can send them home. We will ask you to make a list of everything placed in the safe. You will sign a receipt when the items are returned to you. Before you leave the hospital, remember to collect all your belongings. Check the closet, drawers and the bathroom. Bronson is not responsible for lost or damaged personal property. If you lose something, tell your nurse right away. We will do our best to find it. Items worth more than $3 are kept for 30 days. To ask about lost items, call Customer Service at (269) 341-6055.
Fire and Disaster Drills
For your safety, Bronson practices fire and disaster drills. If a drill happens while you are here, please stay in your room and stay calm. The hospital staff is trained to handle emergencies. They will give you instructions and answer your questions.
