Rights & Responsibilities

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Care Dimensions’ mission is to enrich the quality of life for anyone affected by a life-limiting illness. Our primary goal is to provide assistance that enables patients to stay at home or wherever they to choose to live, to enhance the patient’s comfort, and to teach their caregivers the necessary skills for hands-on care. Care Dimensions staff, the patient, family and significant others work together as a caregiving team. Care Dimensions does not provide care or procedures that are curative in nature or that prolong life.

As a patient of Care Dimensions, you have the right to:

1. Be cared for by an interdisciplinary team who will provide high quality comprehensive hospice services, and to have care and conflicts in care handled in an ethical manner.
2. Have a clear understanding of the availability of and access to hospice services and the hospice team 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and be informed of the hospice services/products and equipment available directly or by contract.
3. Receive services that recognize the dignity of each person, regardless of diagnosis, race, age, gender, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, place of residence, veteran status, lifestyle, or the ability to pay for the services rendered.
4. Be treated with courtesy and respect for privacy, security and property; and be free from any mental or physical abuse, neglect or exploitation by hospice staff.
5. Receive effective pain management and symptom control for conditions related to their terminal illness.
6. Choose their own Attending.                                                 
7. Be fully informed about your health status to enable you to participate in your plan of care. The Care Dimensions team will assist you and your caregiver in identifying which services and treatments will help you attain your goals including the names and professional disciplines of persons who will provide care, the frequency of visits by each team member, and be advised in advance of any changes to your plan of care.
8. Be fully informed regarding the potential benefits and risks of all medical treatments or services suggested, and to accept or refuse those treatments and to be informed of the possible consequences of such refusal.
9. Be provided with information about the Patient Self-Determination Act as a means of formulating an advance directive, to receive service whether or not an advance directive had been executed, and to have Care Dimensions comply with any advance directive in accordance with state law.
10. Make informed decisions about care and treatment plans, and receive information about your care and treatment in a way that is understandable to you.
11. Not receive any experimental treatment without your specific consent and full understanding of potential benefits and risks.
12. Confidentiality with regard to personal health information as well as social and/or financial circumstances, according to the Care Dimensions Notice of Privacy Practices.
13. Voice grievances regarding patient care, treatments, advance directive implementation, and/or respect for person or privacy without being subjected to discrimination or reprisal, and have any such grievances investigated by Care Dimensions, and receive a response from Care Dimensions regarding the investigation and resolution of the grievance. To voice a grievance, call the Care Dimensions Chief Clinical Officer at 888-283-1722. If you do not receive satisfactory resolution of your grievance you may call the Division of Health Care Quality at 617-753-8150 or Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) at 800-656-9656 (24 hours/day).
14. Massachusetts Patient Abuse Law at MGL Chapter 111, sections 72F-72L, and 105 CMR 155.000 relating to nursing homes and rest homes, and hospice and home health agencies. If you are aware of any instances, you are encouraged to report these conditions to Care Dimensions Chief Clinical Officer at 888-283-1722 and to write or fax:
                Complaint Unit
                Massachusetts Department of Public Health
                Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification
                99 Chauncy Street
                Boston, MA  02111
                Fax number: 617-753-8165, DPH Hotline: 1-800-462-5540
15. Be informed of the extent to which payment may be expected from your insurance, third party payers or public benefit programs; to be informed of any charges not covered by your insurance or for which you may be liable; and to receive this information, orally and in writing, within 14 days of the date Care Dimensions becomes aware of any changes in insurance coverage or charges.
16. Be informed of Care Dimensions’ ownership status and its affiliation with any entities to which the patient is referred.
17. Revoke the election of hospice services at any time; request transfer or discharge from hospice and/or Care Dimensions services; be notified in advance of care options, transfers and when and why care will be discontinued; participate in the selection of alternative options for care or referral to other agencies; and receive education, instructions and requirements for continuing care following transfer/discharge.
18. Receive information about Care Dimensions’ liability insurance upon request.

As a Care Dimensions patient, you have the responsibility to:

1. Participate in the development of and to follow your plan of care, including instructions given for performing a procedure or using a piece of equipment.
2. Provide Care Dimensions with accurate and complete health information, including changes in physical symptoms, psychosocial or spiritual concerns.
3. Express any concerns about your understanding of your health status and services or your ability to comply with instructions.
4. Remain under a doctor's care while receiving hospice services.
5. Assist Care Dimensions staff in developing and maintaining a safe environment in which your care can be provided and establishing a back-up plan for emergencies.
6. Notify Care Dimensions in advance of any visit you must cancel.
7. Seek authorization in advance for any services not expressly ordered by Care Dimensions staff and included in your hospice plan of care. Failure to seek such authorization may result in personal financial responsibility.