Patient Bill of Rights

Reform # 4

By: Carrie Stella



Congress must act now to bring a patient-centered focus to health care by enforcing a uniformed and comprehendible Patient Bill of Rights (PBR). This could be accomplished by expanding the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act and taking further action to make the bill laws, while also developing it to entail more coverage than a patient’s right to privacy. Hopefully this will lead to the higher usage of advance directive so that patients take a controlling stake at all stages of their health and thus eliminating various ethical dilemmas as states by BioInfoBank Libraries.

Currently, the American Hospital Association (AHA) provides a base of patient rights that all patients are entitled to within medical care. However, a patient’s rights may vary state to state and facility to facility because the AHA encourages the modification of the PBR to fit each specific area. The problem modification is the hardship it presents to the patient. Patients are supposed to be informed of their rights but with the variance in rights it is difficult to keep track. Using what the Board of Trustees of the AHA has put forth in the late 90’s a uniformed PBR can be created to encourage the patient to take hold of their health. Another problem with current PBR’s is that the first time that a patient sees one is when they are signing in for medical treatment. A patient’s mind is not in the right state to comprehend fully their rights when their focus is the reason that brought them to seek medical attention in the first place. This holds especially true in an inpatient facility, like a hospital, where dependent on the treatment one needs their rights could be read to them and seek verbal acceptance in a rapid amount of time.



According to the article, Public Awareness of Patient Rights, it appears that few people are aware that as patient’s we have rights, and an even smaller number understand what rights they are entitled to as patients. This act can increase the access to patient care, the quality a patient receives and save money for all parties involved in the health care process. Patients who are informed of their rights are more likely to take a vested interest in their health and seek out care that they are entitled to, especially in the area of primary care. Providers will work with patients to provide the best option for each individual patient. To enforce that the patient is receiving for appropriate access to and quality health care facilities should use of patient advocates. The use of more patient advocates, better described as a person employed specifically to see to the rights and needs of a patient, would smoothly transition the understanding and utilization of the Patient's Bill of Rights. Everyone understands that health care is expensive. However with patients taking a vested interest in their health there is decreased cost in unnecessary medical procedures as well as decreased chance of legal issues in reference to ethical dilemmas. Advance directive would also help lower cost by stating patient’s wishes clearly, alleviating the chance of prolong treatment where treatment is not wanted.



This is a better action then the one in place because it demands the enforcement of PBR thus making the patient take control of their health. Some may argue that the utilization of PBR’s take away to much control from health care providers and places to much power in the hands of the patient. One must remember that when it comes to health it is personal and all decisions must be okay with the individual that they are in reference to. Power should be with the patient and the provider is part of the patient health care team. Patients and providers must work together to ensure that individualized medical attention is being received leading to the best possible outcome.



The effectiveness of this act can be measured by the percentage of utilization of health care practices in comparison to overall patient satisfaction. PBR’s are powerful and can lead individuals to demand more of their health care system. A PBR is no use without a patient’s knowledge and use of said rights. It would be like a cake they never got to taste. One will never know the fulfillment of hunger without taking a big piece of the cake for themselves. We too must take our piece of cake and use our rights to our advantage. It is our health after all!





Sources:



(1) American Hospital Association. Issues: Patient Bill of Rights. Web. 23 March, 2010. http://www.patienttalk.info/AHA-Patient_Bill_of_Rights.htm

(2) Office of Managed Budget, "Bipartisan Patient Protection Act". White House. 3-23-2010 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/sap/107-1/s1052-s.aspx

(3) BioInfoBank Libraries, "Advance Directive". BioInfoBank Libraries. 3-23-2010 http://lib.bioinfo.pl/meid:211891

(4) Right Health Community, "Patient Bill of Rights". Right Health Community. 3-23-2010 http://www.righthealth.com/topic/Patients+Bill+Of+Rights/overview/rh_uniquecontent

(5) Julie, Dandy. "Public Awareness of Patient Rights, Consent Forms and Advance Statements ". Aslib Proceedings. 3-23-2010 http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do?contentId=864002&contentType=Article