Patient Affairs

Regional Medical Center is committed to providing quality care in addition to protecting the rights and privacy of our patients.  Should you have concerns about your care, require information on advance directives or need information on your rights and responsibilities as a patient, our Patient Advocates are available to assist you.  The unit staff can assist you in contacting a Patient Advocate, or dial “0” from any hospital phone and ask for a Patient Advocate. 

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

The most effective healthcare comes from collaboration between patients, their families, physicians and other healthcare professionals. Your involvement in decisions that affect your care is important to us.  Open and honest communication, respect for personal and professional values, and sensitivity to differences are integral to optimal patient care.

Regional Medical Center respects the rights and responsibilities of patients and their families/surrogate. We value the role of the patient, their family and/or their surrogates in considering and deciding on treatment options and other aspects of their care. Moreover, we are sensitive to cultural, racial, linguistic, religious, age, gender and other differences, as well as the needs of persons with disabilities.

Patients receive information on rights and responsibilities upon admission to the hospital.  View a list of Patient Rights and Responsibilities here.  (Download PDF)

Patient Privacy and Security

Regional Medical Center values the privacy of our patients’ health information. We consider Protected Health Information (PHI) about our patients to be private, and we carefully protect it as such. We will not use or disclose medical information about patients without authorization, except as described below. 

We may use and disclose PHI about patients to provide medical treatment, obtain payment for services or for healthcare operations. Patients have the right to request restrictions on uses and disclosures of PHI.  You also have the right to request a copy of your health record. To request medical records, call 901.545.7581 and ask for instructions.

Click here to download a PDF of the hospital's Notice of Privacy Practices.

Advanced Medical Directives

Regional Medical Center complies with state and federal laws, as well as regulatory and accreditation standards related to an Advance Medical Directive:

  • We will ask each adult patient (age 18 and over) whether he/she has executed an Advance Medical Directive (i.e. living will or durable power of attorney for healthcare).
  • We will provide written information to our patient, upon admission, describing his or her rights under Tennessee law to make decisions concerning healthcare, including the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment and the right to formulate Advance Medical Directives.
  • We will document that sections in the Advance Medical Directive form (see link below) have been complied with.
  • We will place a copy of any Advance Medical Directive received in the patient’s medical record.
  • We will refer the patient to the Social Work Services, or the Pastoral Care Services department, if he/she wishes to formulate an Advance Medical Directive.
  • We will advise the attending physician whenever an Advance Medical Directive has been placed in the patient's medical record.