Nursing centers should recognize the patient’s right to receive visitors. Typical visiting hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in order to respect the rights of all patients. However, visitation hours may vary from center to center. Critically ill patients should be allowed to receive visitors at any time. Immediate visits by relatives should be permitted with the patient’s consent. Children should be welcomed and encouraged to be accompanied by an adult at all times. It is also helpful to limit the number of visitors in a room at one time.

LAUNDRY

Laundry is typically a standard service provided by each nursing center. Prior to admission, it is a good idea to label all personal clothing with the patient’s name, using a permanent marker, laundry marker or sewn in label. To ensure the patient’s privacy their name should be visible on the inside of the garment only. Some centers allow a patient’s family to assume responsibility for personal laundry. If the family would like to do the patient’s personal laundry, they should inquire with the center regarding the center’s individual policy on this.

TELEPHONE & CABLE

Patients have the right to the private use of a telephone in the nursing center upon request. This may be accomplished by the use of a center’s portable phone or some centers may also allow patients to have personal telephones installed in their rooms at the patient’s expense. Availability and expense of cable television services may vary from center to center and should be discussed directly with each center.

PERSONAL PROPERTY & VALUABLES

Patients are usually permitted to bring personal articles from home such as, a favorite chair, pictures or television. Articles brought from home should meet safety requirements as outlined by the nursing center and cannot interfere with the patient’s movement in the room. Possible safety hazards to note would include throw rugs, electric blankets and extension cords. Consideration should be made when sharing a room with another patient. If necessary, most nursing centers provide a location for patients to store documents, jewelry and other valuables (other than money) for safekeeping. The Patient should expect to have reasonable access to such property based on normal business hours and hours as set by the nursing center. Policies regarding valuables should be verified with each center prior to admission.

MANAGEMENT OF PERSONAL FUNDS

The patient has the right to manage his or her financial affairs. However, if the patient wishes to have the nursing center manage their funds, they should request this in writing. This is typically covered in the admission process. Once requested, the nursing center should hold, safeguard, manage and account for the personal funds of the patient deposited with the nursing center.

PHYSICIAN / PHARMACY

The patient should have the right to choose his/her attending physician and pharmacy. Typically, nursing centers have relationships with physicians who serve their patient population and pharmacy contractual relationships to ensure availability of care in a timely manner. However, a patient should be allowed to choose another physician or pharmacy as long as the physician/pharmacy complies with regulations and meets guidelines that govern these services in the nursing center. To promote patient safety and the safety of others, most nursing centers do not allow any drugs or medication (including alcoholic beverages and nonprescription medications) to be stored in the patient's room without the attending physician's order.

FLU VACCINE, PNEUMONIA VACCINE & TUBERCULOSIS TESTING

It is a regulation that the flu vaccine be administered annually to all patients unless contraindicated. The pneumonia vaccine is administered every five years up to age 65 and then one time after reaching age 65. TB skin test should be conducted on every patient at the time of admission unless the patient has had a previous positive reaction to testing. In the event the patient has had a positive reaction in the past a chest x-ray and physicians evaluation for Tuberculosis will be required. This is to ensure appropriate treatment for the patient as well as to ensure the protection of other patients in the nursing center.

PODIATRY AND DENTAL SERVICES

Nursing centers may offer access to podiatry and dental care at the nursing center. This is dependent upon the availability of podiatrists and dentists in the area that are willing to provide their services on site at a nursing center. You will need to inquire with each individual center regarding the availability of these services.

VOTING IN LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS

Many patients have exercised their right to vote in the community for many years and may wish to continue. All centers should have a program in place through their social services department that will allow anyone who wishes to register and arrange for an absentee ballot to do so.

PRIVACY NOTICE Effective Date: 4-1-03

OUR PLEDGE REGARDING PRIVACY OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

This nursing center is committed to protecting the health information that we obtain and store about you whether in written or electronic format. We create a record of the care and services provided as well as a record of the billing and payment of those services.

The nursing center is required by law to make sure that all medical information that identifies you is kept private. This notice provides you with information about our legal duties and our privacy practices with respect to protected health information. We will follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

The nursing center reserves the right to change the terms of its notice and to make the new notice provisions effective for all protected health information that it maintains. The current version of the notice, with a clearly marked effective date, will be posted in the nursing center. A copy of this notice is always available upon request.

USE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

Pursuant to the Privacy Regulations promulgated under the authority set forth in the Health Insurance portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), protected health information collected during a patient stay may be used and/or disclosed to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations without obtaining a written authorization from the patient. In all other cases, protected health care information cannot be released without a specific authorization, which can be revoked at any time. Protected health information is any information collected about your health status which can identify you as a person. This includes any information collected and recorded about you in the medical record and business office record.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

For treatment: Your medical information can be used by the nursing center to provide you with medical care and/or treatment. We may use your medical information to discuss your care with doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists or other nursing center personnel that are directly involved with your care. Medical information about you, in verbal, written, electronic or pictorial form, may be shared with other departments such as contacting food services with information about a special diet, contacting the pharmacy to fill a prescription or contacting the lab to complete lab work. For payment: Your medical information, as well as other payment related information, can be used by the nursing center to obtain payment for the services provided. We may send information about your medical care, treatment and diagnoses so that your health plan can determine the amount to pay us for the services. For health care operations: Your information can be used by the nursing center for normal operation. The nursing center will maintain a directory with your name, room number and general condition and release this information to those who ask for you by name unless you object. In addition, members of the clergy may be given your religious affiliation. Your health information can be used by the nursing center to communicate information about care and treatment to a personal representative or others identified by you and/or involved in your care. The nursing center also may place a nametag on your door or take a photograph for identification. In order to recognize your birthday, the nursing center may post your name on a bulletin board or place your name in the Nursing center newsletter. In addition, pictures taken during activity programs may be posted on a bulletin board.

For other uses: Under the HIPAA privacy rules the nursing center may also use or disclose protected health information without the written consent or authorization of the patient in the following situations. a. Uses and disclosures required by federal, state or local law; b. Uses and disclosures required by public health activities, such as for prevention or control of disease; c. Disclosures about victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violence; d. Uses and disclosures for health oversight activities, which includes inspections and licensure surveys; e. Uses and disclosures for judicial and administrative proceedings, in which case the medical information would be released in response to a court order or a subpoena; f. Uses and disclosures for law enforcement purposes, such as that required to investigate a crime or in response to a warrant or court order; g. Uses and disclosures about decedents, which may be released to Funeral Directors or coroners; h. Uses and disclosures for cadaveric organ, eye or tissue donation purposes, which would be needed if you are an organ donor; i. Uses and disclosures for research purposes, under specifically designed studies; j. Uses and disclosures to avert a serious threat to health or safety, either yours or another patient; k. Uses and disclosures for specialized government functions, such as that for intelligence purposes or to protect the President; and l. Disclosures for workers’ compensation, a program that provides benefits in the case of work-related injuries

HIPAA PRIVACY RIGHTS

The HIPAA privacy Rules also grant certain individuals/patients specific rights as follows: The right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures. Please note, however, that the nursing center is not required to agree to a requested restriction. The right to receive confidential communications of protected health information (PHI). The nursing center must permit the patient or personal representative to request and must accommodate reasonable requests by the patient or personal representative to receive communications of PHI from the nursing center by alternate means or at alternate locations. The right to inspect and copy protected health information. The right to request amendments to protected health information. The right to receive an accounting of disclosures of protected health information. The right of a patient or personal representative, including a patient or personal representative who has agreed to receive the notice electronically, to obtain a paper copy of the notice from the nursing center upon request.

COMPLAINTS REGARDING PRIVACY RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

You are entitled under the HIPAA Privacy Rules to file a complaint with the nursing center, the organization or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. To file a complaint with the nursing center, contact the Administrator with the pertinent information. There will be no retaliation by the nursing center or nursing center staff if a patient or personal representative files a complaint. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Administrator at the nursing center. To file a complaint with the organization, contact the Privacy Officer at 1-888-741-5074 extension 328.