Shepherd Center

If you or your family has patient care concerns at Shepherd Center that we have been unable to resolve to your satisfaction, you have the right to contact these agencies to report your concerns:

Joint Commission’s office of Quality Management at 1-800-994-6610, e-mail complaint@jcaho.org or the Georgia Department of Human Resources at 1-866-351-0001. You may also lodge a complaint through the Internet at www.georgia.gov.

Patient Rights

• You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
• You have the right to be involved in making decisions about your care, including pain control. In addition, you may also have your family or caregiver help with these decisions.
• You have the right to be informed about your medical condition and any treatments your doctor orders for you.
• You have the right to withhold consent for any treatments and accept responsibility for the consequences of refusing treatment.
• You have the right to deal with ethical issues that might lead to a conflict with your care.
• You have the right to be informed of any medical experiment or research affecting your care.
• You have the right to privacy and safety, including a safe environment of care.
• You have the right to confidentiality of your medical records according to state and federal law, including the right to these records.
• You have the right to make advance directives and to have your wishes respected. You will need to supply Shepherd Center with these directives upon admission.
• You have the right to name someone else to make medical decisions for you if you are unable.
• You have the right to be informed of hospital costs for services and payment methods. This includes the right to question your bill.
• You have the right to freedom from the inappropriate use of restraints and seclusion.
• You have the right to bring a complaint related to your care. You may do so by talking to your case manager, doctor or a person from management.

Patient Responsibilities

• You have the responsibility to take part in all aspects of your treatment, including goal setting, as outlined by your rehabilitation team.
• You have the responsibility to give truthful and complete information about your current health and health history, to the best of your knowledge.
• You have the responsibility to accept the consequences if you refuse treatment or do not follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.
• You have the responsibility to follow hospital rules and regulations.
• You have the responsibility to be considerate and respectful of other patients and their visitors.
• You have the responsibility to treat all hospital staff and property with respect.
• You have the responsibility to only take those medications prescribed by your doctor and administered by nursing staff. No illegal drugs, alcohol or medications not prescribed by your medical team are to be used.
• You have the responsibility to accept the consequences of an early discharge if you take any medications not prescribed by your medical team at Shepherd or administered by staff. If necessary, drug screens will be used to confirm whether or not you have used any non-prescribed medications, drugs or alcohol while at Shepherd Center.