The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization that represents and serves hospitals, health systems, and other health care providers. Among its initiatives, the AHA has developed a comprehensive Patients’ Bill of Rights, which outlines the fundamental rights and expectations of patients in the health care setting. In this review, we will discuss the importance of upholding and protecting patients’ rights as outlined in the AHA’s Patients’ Bill of Rights, and how health care professionals can ensure that these rights are upheld.
The AHA’s Patients’ Bill of Rights serves as a framework for promoting patient-centered care and fostering a strong patient-provider relationship. It emphasizes the rights of patients to fully participate in their care, make informed decisions, and receive respectful and timely treatment. By upholding these rights, health care professionals can strengthen trust and collaboration with their patients, leading to improved patient outcomes and overall satisfaction.
The first right outlined in the AHA’s Patients’ Bill of Rights is the right to receive respectful and considerate care. This includes being treated with dignity, respect, and without discrimination. Health care professionals can ensure this right by promoting a culture of compassion and empathy in their interactions with patients. This involves actively listening to patients’ concerns, addressing their emotional and psychological needs, and demonstrating sensitivity to cultural, religious, and personal preferences. Additionally, health care professionals should be aware of and guard against biases that may unfairly influence their treatment of patients.
The right to receive information and make informed decisions is another critical aspect of patients’ rights. Health care professionals have a responsibility to provide patients with accurate and understandable information about their conditions, treatment options, potential risks and benefits, and alternatives. This enables patients to actively participate in their care and make decisions that align with their values and preferences. Health care professionals should ensure that information is presented in a clear and accessible manner, taking into account patients’ literacy levels and cultural backgrounds. Shared decision-making models, such as the use of decision aids and involving patients in care planning, can further enhance patients’ participation in their own care.
Patients have the right to consent or refuse treatment, which is an essential component of their autonomy and self-determination. Health care professionals must obtain informed consent from patients before initiating any treatment or procedure and respect their decisions to refuse treatment. Informed consent involves providing patients with relevant information about the treatment, including its purpose, potential risks, benefits, and alternatives. Health care professionals should engage in open and transparent communication with patients, allowing them sufficient time to ask questions, seek clarification, and make decisions based on their own values and beliefs.
The right to privacy and confidentiality is another key aspect of patients’ rights. Health care professionals must ensure the confidentiality of patients’ health information, in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other applicable laws and regulations. This includes using secure methods of communication, such as encrypted email or password-protected electronic health records, and obtaining patients’ consent before disclosing their health information to third parties. Health care professionals should also respect patients’ physical privacy, providing them with appropriate spaces for consultations, examinations, and treatments.
To ensure that patients’ rights are upheld and protected, health care professionals must be knowledgeable about the AHA’s Patients’ Bill of Rights and the legal and ethical obligations it entails. This requires ongoing education and training on topics such as medical ethics, informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, and cultural competence. Health care organizations should develop and implement policies and procedures that support the recognition and protection of patients’ rights. This may involve creating patient advocacy programs, establishing complaint resolution processes, and providing resources for patients to report violations of their rights.
In conclusion, the AHA’s Patients’ Bill of Rights serves as a comprehensive guide to promote patient-centered care and protect the rights of patients. Health care professionals play a vital role in upholding and protecting these rights by ensuring respectful and considerate care, facilitating informed decision-making, respecting patients’ autonomy, and maintaining privacy and confidentiality. By embracing these principles, health care professionals can foster trust, collaboration, and patient engagement, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.
References:
1. American Hospital Association. (2014). Patient’s Bill of Rights. Retrieved from https://www.aha.org/patientfactsheet
2. Bath, J. (2018). Respecting patient autonomy means sharing information. British Journal of Nursing, 27(18), 1057-1059. doi:10.12968/bjon.2018.27.18.1057
3. Ferdinand, K. C., & Patel, H. (2016). Patient’s Rights, Privacy, and Confidentiality. In Essentials of Hypertension (pp. 897-905). Springer.
