A stay in a hospital is a stressful experience for both the patient and his relatives. Therefore, before hospitalization, it is worth finding out what the patient's rights and obligations are. For example, "not everyone is aware of the fact that in a Polish hospital they have the right to demand that they do not hurt". More about the details was told by the expert Rafał Janiszewski, the owner of the Advisory Office providing services in the field of he althcare organization for medical entities and patients' rights.
Anna Tłustochowicz: How to prepare for a hospital stay?
Rafał Janiszewski:Of course, it is difficult to prepare for an emergency.
Of course.
That's why the things we're going to talk about today are about the planned stay, when we get a referral and wait for our due date. During this time, it is worth preparing all the documents from the previous treatment. We have already talked about the fact that hospital treatment information cards are documents that should be kept at home. It is also worth taking them with you when we go to the next hospitalization. It also happens that the doctor who issues us a referral for hospitalization recommends that we do the tests first.
These could be, for example, blood tests?
Yes, and such recommendations must not be underestimated:tests must be performed and the results with you . Of course, we also prepare for the hospital itself by taking pajamas and underwear with us.
And in today's reality also a mask!
Definitely yes, and also hygiene measures. What if we take medications on a permanent basis? It's worth taking them with you, but I want to emphasize one thing clearly!
In accordance with applicable law, the hospital should provide us with all medications and all medical devices and materials related to the cause of our hospitalization.
Therefore, it is not entirely legal to require that we bring with us and that during hospitalization we have to use the drugs that we bought ourselves at the pharmacy.
But it often is!
It's true, but I repeat once again that it is not entirely legal. I guess,that these are drugs for diseases that are not related to the hospital stay.
We've been admitted for heart disease, and are we taking anti-depressants on a regular basis? And then do we take psychotropic drugs on our own?
Exactly. The same applies to various types of medical devices, such as dressings. If we have a chronic wound, which we treat with specialized dressings, then if its treatment is not the subject of our hospitalization, then the hospital may use our dressings that we brought from home. But what if the patient is admitted for diabetes and has difficult-to-heal wounds? Is there, for example, a diabetic foot? This is a different situation. Then the dressings are to be provided by the hospital for us.
The matter is clear.
So we go further. When we come to the hospital, one of the first things we will be asked about are the persons authorized to obtain information about our he alth condition and our medical records. It is worth agreeing with these people in advance that we will provide their data at the hospital, if only so that they will not be surprised when someone from the hospital calls them. What else will happen when we are admitted to the hospital, specifically - to the ward? We will be required to read the regulations and confirm in writing that we have done it.
I don't know anyone who has read these regulations.
In general, patients sign a document that they have read the regulations, but do not read them.
But this is a mistake, because there is a lot of important information about our functioning in the facility stored there. This information applies to such matters as e.g. curfew hours.
Standard: 22-6!
Usually, but already the regulations, that when we leave the ward, e.g. to the hospital shop or buffet, we have to inform the staff about it, are not so obvious. Truth?
True.
The hospital regulations really contain important information on the rules of using the resources of the ward or hospital, moving around the facility, and communicating with the staff. Of coursedifferent hospitals and wards have different regulations , but it is really worth getting acquainted with these documents. First of all, because we certify that we are getting acquainted and some of the subsequent conflicts between staff and patients result from the fact that patients do not know what they are committing themselves to. And we must be aware of the fact that, as a hospital patient, we have certain obligations.
What are our responsibilities?
The most important thing is to comply with the regulations of the facility. It is also our duty to, for example, inform the staff about any changes in our he alth condition and about any ailments. Of course, nowadays, in the era of COVID-19, regulations very often define the rules of the sanitary and epidemiological regime, which are particularly important for common safety, i.e. wearing masks, disinfecting hands, and special rules for using sanitary facilities. Adherence to these principles is also an absolute duty of the patient.
And what are our rights?
First of all, we have the right to obtain information about our treatment throughout our stay in hospital. We also have the right to contact our relatives …
And this has aroused great emotions in recent months, because hospitals have banned visits.
It is true, but it is also true that in the age of COVID-19 our law may be limited in various ways. For example, for telephone contact with loved ones. There are no popular visits, but we call family and friends and thus exercise our right to contact.
Let's be honest: a hospital is not a SPA. When we come to the hospital, we generally have to be aware that we will function in a specific environment that has its own rules and we have to adapt to these rules and the regime that are in force here.
We come to a medical facility focused on our treatment, and not on rest. This is one side of the coin. But the second is that what I just said does not change the fact thathospital staff have a duty to help and support us , and their work must be directed not only at helping us heal so that our he alth improves, but also to provide us with the greatest possible comfort during hospitalization.
The realities can be radically different from what you just said.
But that's what the law says! The law also says, for example, thatthe patient has the right to undergo pain-free therapy . Polish hospitals have a duty to fight it. Personnel must keep specific records of pain monitoring and pain management. Not all patients are aware of this, and it is important that we all know that in the 21st century, in a Polish hospital, we have the right to demand that we do not hurt! We deserve effective pain therapy.
What else?
As I have already mentioned: we have the right to broadly understood information about our he alth condition and what happens to usit happens, how the treatment will proceed, etc. The patient's awareness of what will be performed is of key importance.
The doctor has a duty to bring about a situation in which the patient is fully aware of the risks and benefits of the treatment, or its omission. But the patient is also obliged to cooperate with the doctor in this regard!
I mean not only that the patient has to adapt to the doctor's instructions, but he should also want to deepen his knowledge. He should be asking! He should be anxious to have this awareness of what is happening to him.
Why is it so important?
Because when a patient asks questions and raises doubts, and also speaks openly about all his ailments, the therapist has the best clinical picture of his he alth and is able to optimally apply the therapy. Today, there is a lot of talk about compliance and adherence.
Compatibility and adhesion?!
(Laughter) It is about emphasizingthe key importance of establishing a thread of understanding between the doctor and the patient.Good communication is to guarantee the patient the best adapted therapy and the greatest possible comfort while conducting it. Of course, I am now spreading an idea to my readers. I am talking about an exemplary situation. On the other hand, today's realities of our he alth care system, especially during the COVID-19 period, often make it very difficult to implement patient rights and, unfortunately, I also often observe the reluctance of patients to fulfill the obligations related mainly to compliance with the sanitary and epidemiological regime. I emphasize that I observe this fact with sadness, because the regulations of medical facilities are really created with the safety of patients and staff in mind, and compliance with these rules is crucial.We must be aware that, yes, the hospital has obligations towards us, but also on us, the patients, have some obligations.
Expert
Rafał Janiszewski, owner of the Advisory Office providing services in the field of he althcare organization to he althcare entities
Speaker, organizer of many trainings and conferences on he alth protection and patient rights. In the years 1998-1999 an employee of the Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for the Implementation of the General He alth Insurance. Author of over 20 books on he althcare organization and he alth care financing standards. In 2005-2007, he was an expert of the Presidium of the Parliamentary He alth Committee, as an advisor on he alth services. Co-author of the general study under the projectPharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement for the European He alth Commission.
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