Patient Rights and Responsibilities

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Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Los Angeles Jewish Health is committed to protecting the rights, dignity, privacy, safety, independence, and well-being of every patient and resident we serve.

The rights described on this page apply according to the type of care and facility in which you receive services. Hospital patients, patients receiving psychiatric services, and residents of Los Angeles Jewish Health's Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) and Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) may have additional rights under applicable California and federal laws and regulations.

Nothing on this page limits or waives any right or protection provided by applicable federal or California law or regulation. Where a specific law, regulation, or legally enforceable facility policy provides greater protection, that law, regulation, or policy controls

RCFE and CCRC Resident Rights

Los Angeles Jewish Health's Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) and Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) services are subject to applicable California laws and regulations, including requirements administered by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD).

Residents of RCFEs have specific rights under California Health and Safety Code section 1569.269 and related regulations. These rights are intended to protect residents' dignity, autonomy, privacy, safety, personal choices, and civil and legal rights.

Residents' rights under California law are not limited to the rights listed on this webpage. No admission agreement, facility policy, or other document may require a resident to waive rights to which the resident is entitled under applicable law.

RCFE Regulations in California

Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) in California, which encompass Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), are highly regulated with a robust body of laws and regulations designed to promote resident independence and self-direction to the greatest extent possible in a residential, nonmedical setting. The California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) and Continuing Care Contracts Branch enforces these laws and regulations through the initial licensing process and periodic inspections.

RCFEs are regulated by the California Code of Regulations Title 22 , Division 6, Chapter 8. In addition, the RCFE Act establishes additional statutory requirements in many of the same areas as Title 22, and the Evaluator Manual is used for the application and enforcement of laws, policies, and procedures. Additional rules governing Continuing Care Retirement Communities are found in the Health and Safety Code and in the Evaluator Manual for RCFEs with Continuing Care.

There are also new laws which are not yet reflected in the regulations. Although the state has fallen behind in updating the regulations to reflect these new laws, the statutory requirements are in effect and being enforced throughout the state.

In addition to hospital patient rights, residents of our Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) and Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) components are guaranteed all rights under the California RCFE Resident Bill of Rights (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1569.269).

Commitment to Gender-Affirming Care and Patient Dignity

Consistent with Los Angeles Jewish Health’s dedication to providing inclusive, respectful, and safe healthcare for all individuals, we strictly adhere to California state protections against discrimination based on sex, gender identity, and gender expression. To ensure a safe, welcoming, and medically supportive environment for our transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse patients, our hospital enforces policies that explicitly affirm individual identities.

Patients and residents have the right to be treated with dignity and without unlawful discrimination. Los Angeles Jewish Health will take reasonable steps to ensure that patients and residents are addressed and documented using their preferred name and pronouns, consistent with applicable law and the requirements of the medical record and other legally required documentation.

Room assignments and transfers will be handled in a manner that respects the individual's gender identity and dignity, consistent with applicable law, patient or resident preferences, clinical needs, privacy, safety, and applicable facility policies.

If you believe you have experienced discrimination or that your rights concerning gender identity, gender expression, preferred name, pronouns, or another protected characteristic have not been respected, you may file a grievance with Los Angeles Jewish Health by contacting:

Timothy Carlson, RN
Chief Nursing Officer
Phone: 855.227.3745
Email: [email protected]

or file a grievance with the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC).

Hospital Patient Rights

Patients receiving care in a Los Angeles Jewish Health hospital have rights under California law, including Title 22, California Code of Regulations, section 70707, and applicable federal law.

These rights include the right to receive considerate and respectful care; participate in decisions regarding medical care; receive understandable information about diagnosis and treatment; give or withhold informed consent as permitted by law; have privacy and confidentiality protected; receive information concerning continuing care and discharge; examine and receive an explanation of bills; and exercise applicable visitation rights.

The following California statutory and regulatory patient rights are provided for patients receiving hospital services. These rights do not replace or limit any additional rights provided by federal or state law

California Hospital Patient Rights (Title 22 § 70707)

(1) Exercise these rights without regard to sex, economic status, educational background, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, marital status, registered domestic partner status, or the source of payment for care.
(2) Considerate and respectful care.
(3) Knowledge of the name of the licensed healthcare practitioner acting within the scope of his or her professional licensure who has primary responsibility for coordinating the care, and the names and professional relationships of physicians and nonphysicians who will see the patient.
(4) Receive information about the illness, the course of treatment and prospects for recovery in terms that the patient can understand.
(5) Receive as much information about any proposed treatment or procedure as the patient may need in order to give informed consent or to refuse this course of treatment. Except in emergencies, this information shall include a description of the procedure or treatment, the medically significant risks involved in this treatment, alternate courses of treatment or nontreatment and the risks involved in each and to know the name of the person who will carry out the procedure or treatment.
(6) Participate actively in decisions regarding medical care. To the extent permitted by law, this includes the right to refuse treatment.
(7) Full consideration of privacy concerning the medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. The patient has the right to be advised as to the reason for the presence of any individual.
(8) Confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to the care and the stay in the hospital. Written permission shall be obtained before the medical records can be made available to anyone not directly concerned with the care.
(9) Reasonable responses to any reasonable requests made for service.
(10) Leave the hospital even against the advice of members of the medical staff.
(11) Reasonable continuity of care and to know in advance the time and location of appointments as well as the identity of persons providing the care.
(12) Be advised if the hospital/licensed healthcare practitioner acting within the scope of his or her professional licensure proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.
(13) Be informed of continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital.
(14) Examine and receive an explanation of the bill regardless of source of payment.
(15) Know which hospital rules and policies apply to the patient's conduct while a patient.
(16) Have all patients' rights apply to the person who may have legal responsibility to make decisions regarding medical care on behalf of the patient.
(17) Designate visitors of his/her choosing, if the patient has decision-making capacity, whether or not the visitor is related by blood, marriage, or registered domestic partner status, unless:
No visitors are allowed.
The facility reasonably determines that the presence of a particular visitor would endanger the health or safety of a patient, a member of the health facility staff, or other visitor to the health facility, or would significantly disrupt the operations of the facility.
The patient has indicated to the health facility staff that the patient no longer wants this person to visit.
(18) Have the patient's wishes considered for purposes of determining who may visit if the patient lacks decision-making capacity and to have the method of that consideration disclosed in the hospital policy on visitation. At a minimum, the hospital shall include any person living in the household.
(19) This section may not be construed to prohibit a health facility from otherwise establishing reasonable restrictions upon visitation, including restrictions upon the hours of visitation and number of visitors.
- (c) A procedure shall be established whereby patient complaints are forwarded to the hospital administration for appropriate response.
- (d) All hospital personnel shall observe these patients' rights.

Visitation and Support Persons

Patients have the right to choose visitors and support persons in accordance with applicable law and Los Angeles Jewish Health visitation policies.

A patient with a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability, cognitive impairment, including dementia, or another disability may have a family member or friend caregiver visit the patient as needed, including outside ordinary visiting hours, when the caregiver's presence is necessary for the patient to fully and equally benefit from the goods, services, or facilities offered by the hospital, subject to applicable law.

Los Angeles Jewish Health may impose reasonable restrictions on visitation when necessary to protect health or safety, prevent significant disruption of the delivery of medical care or hospital operations, protect the privacy or rights of other patients, or otherwise comply with applicable law.

Patients who lack decision-making capacity have the right to have their wishes considered in determining who may visit, consistent with applicable law and hospital policy.

Concerns, Complaints and Grievances

Los Angeles Jewish Health encourages patients, residents, representatives, and families to raise concerns as soon as possible. You have the right to express a concern or file a grievance regarding your care, treatment, safety, rights, services, or other concerns without discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation.

You may file a grievance with Los Angeles Jewish Health through the Patient Relations/Grievance process using the contact information provided below.

Timothy Carlson, RN
Chief Nursing Officer
Phone: 855.227.3745
Email: [email protected]

Nondiscrimanation & Language Assistance

Los Angeles Jewish Health complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We provide free language assistance, sign language interpreters, and auxiliary aids to patients and residents.

Civil Rights Coordinator Contact: 855-227-3745 | [email protected]
View our complete Nondiscrimination Policy & Multi-Language Assistance Taglines.

Additional Rights for Patients Receiving Psychiatric Services

Patients receiving psychiatric services may have additional rights under California mental health laws and regulations, including rights relating to dignity, privacy, humane and safe care, treatment decisions, communication, personal rights, and procedural protections.

Patients who are receiving mental health services, including patients who are subject to involuntary treatment or detention, may obtain assistance from the Los Angeles County Patients' Rights Office.

RCFE Resident Rights

RCFE residents have rights that include, among other protections provided by California law:

To be treated with dignity, kindness, and respect.
To have reasonable personal privacy in accommodations, medical treatment, personal care and assistance, visits, communications, telephone conversations, and meetings.
To make choices concerning personal care, treatment, daily activities, and other aspects of life in the facility, consistent with applicable law.
To participate in decisions concerning their care and services.
To communicate privately with persons of their choosing and to have reasonable access to visitors, advocates, and representatives.
To be free from physical, mental, and verbal abuse, neglect, exploitation, coercion, discrimination, and retaliation.
To have their personal belongings and property respected and protected.
To receive appropriate information concerning their care and services in a manner they can understand.
To voice complaints or concerns and to seek assistance or advocacy without retaliation.
To contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and appropriate government agencies.
To exercise their civil and legal rights and protections under applicable state and federal law.

For the complete statutory Resident Bill of Rights, please see California Health and Safety Code section 1569.269 and the applicable California Code of Regulations provisions.

Hospital Directory and Privacy

You may request that Los Angeles Jewish Health restrict or prohibit the use or disclosure of your protected health information in the hospital's patient directory, as permitted by applicable federal and California law.

At admission, or as soon as reasonably possible when a patient is incapacitated or receiving emergency treatment, Los Angeles Jewish Health provides information concerning the hospital directory and the patient's available choices regarding disclosure of information in the directory.

For additional information concerning your privacy rights and protected health information, please review our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Patient and Resident Responsibilities

Patients and residents are asked to:

Provide accurate and complete information about their health, medications, allergies, medical history, and other information needed for their care.
Ask questions when they do not understand their diagnosis, treatment, medications, instructions, or other aspects of their care.
Participate in decisions about their care to the extent they are able.
Follow agreed-upon treatment and care plans or communicate concerns when they are unable or unwilling to do so.
Treat other patients, residents, visitors, and Los Angeles Jewish Health personnel with courtesy and respect.
Follow reasonable safety, infection-prevention, security, and facility rules.
Respect the property, privacy, and rights of other patients, residents, visitors, and personnel.
Provide accurate insurance, billing, and contact information when requested.
Tell a member of the care team when they have a concern about their care, safety, treatment, or rights.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Residents of Los Angeles Jewish Health's RCFE and CCRC communities have the right to seek assistance and advocacy from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman without retaliation.

The Ombudsman can assist residents with questions and concerns regarding resident rights, quality of care, services, living conditions, complaints, and other long-term-care issues.

Centralized Intake: 800-334-9473 Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 818-444-0315 Email: [email protected]

Wise & Healthy Aging — Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Residents may also contact the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, concerning applicable RCFE licensing and regulatory matters.

California Community Care Licensing

Ombudsman Information

Centralized Intake Phone number (Primary): 800-334-9473
Local Long-term care ombudsman phone number (Secondary): 818-444-0315
Ombudsman email: [email protected]
Internet web address: www.wiseandhealthyaging.org

Resources for accessing additional information regarding resident care at the facility include the local long-term care ombudsman at 800-334-9473 (Centralized Intake Phone number) or 818-444-0315 (local phone number), by email at [email protected] and www.wiseandhealthyaging.org, CDPH's Licensing and Certification Program's website , the California Health Facility Information Database (Cal Health Find) page (cdph.ca.gov/programs/chcq/lcp/calhealthfind/Pages/Home.aspx), and the Cal Long Term Care Compare website (CalLongTermCareCompare.org).

Reporting resident care complaints can be done using the local long term care ombudsman information above and through the CDPH complaint process (cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/LandCProgramHome.aspx).

Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)

In accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r)(3), Los Angeles Jewish Health conducts a triennial Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to identify key health needs across our service area and adopt responsive implementation strategies. To view or download our current CHNA Report and Implementation Strategy, click the link below:

Patient Rights and Responsibilities