Chapter 2: The Person's Rights - Complete Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing patient and resident rights, federal regulations under OBRA, advocacy roles, and ombudsman duties based on Chapter 2.

The Patient Care Partnership

A document adopted in April 2003 by the American Hospital Association (AHA) that explains a person's rights and expectations during hospital stays and stresses the relationship between the doctor, health team, and patient.

American Hospital Association (AHA)

The organization that adopted The Patient Care Partnership in April 2003.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA)

A law passed in 1987 by the U.S. Congress applying to all 50 states that requires nursing centers to provide care in a manner and setting that maintains or improves each person's quality of life, health, and safety.

Representative

A person who acts on a resident's behalf when the resident is unable to exercise their rights due to incompetence.

Right to Information

The resident's right to access all records about themselves—including medical records, contracts, incident reports, and financial records—and to be fully informed of their health condition and doctor.

Advance Directives

Written instructions, such as living wills or directions about life support, that are part of a person's right to refuse treatment.

Personal Privacy

The resident's right to private physical care, private visits with others, private phone calls, and privacy concerning their mail.

Personal Choice

The resident's right to choose doctors, participate in care planning, and select activities, schedules, and care based on personal preferences to promote quality of life, dignity, and self-respect.

Grievances

Concerns, questions, or complaints regarding treatment or care that residents have the right to voice without facing punishment or retaliation.

Work

The resident's right to perform services or work for rehabilitation, activity, volunteerism, or pay, without being required to work for care, items, or privileges.

Resident Groups

Groups formed by residents to discuss concerns, suggest center improvements, support one another, plan activities, and participate in educational events.

Personal Items

Property owned by residents that they have the right to keep, use, and have protected from being gone through without their knowledge and consent.

Freedom from Abuse, Mistreatment, Neglect, and Restraint

The right of residents to be free from verbal, sexual, physical, and mental abuse, involuntary seclusion, and unnecessary restrictions on body movements.

Restraints

Physical devices or drugs used to restrict a resident's body movements, which require a doctor's order and may only be used to treat medical symptoms.

Quality of Life

A right requiring residents to be cared for in a manner and setting that promotes dignity, self-respect, and well-being.

Activities

Purposeful programs that relate to a resident's needs, interests, culture, and background to enhance physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.

Environment

A safe, clean, comfortable, and home-like setting provided to residents that meets their needs and preferences while promoting independence.

Advocate

Someone who acts or speaks on behalf of another person, such as a nurse advocating for a patient.

Ombudsman

An advocate for residents who supports their needs, investigates and resolves complaints, monitors nursing care, assists with hospital access/discharge, and provides long-term care information.

OBRA

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, which mandates that persons receiving care in nursing centers have all the same rights as any other US citizen and have rights to make choices about their care.

Ombudsman

An advocate for the resident who is specifically concerned with protecting resident rights.

Representative

An advocate for the resident who may be a family member and can make medical decisions.

Advocate

A person who acts or speaks on behalf of another person.

Busha

A word meaning grandmother in Polish.

Right to Refuse Treatment

A resident right that gives individuals the opportunity to choose their health care and decline scheduled treatments or appointments.

Right to Privacy and Confidentiality

A resident right requiring staff to protect personal communication, charts, and information from being shared with unauthorized individuals.

Right to Voice Grievances

A resident right allowing residents to express concerns or complaints about their care to staff or administrators without fear of punishment.

Right to Manage Personal Finances / Freedom from Working

A resident right stipulating that nursing facilities cannot employ or make a resident work to pay off their bill.

Right to be Free from Punishment / Involuntary Seclusion

A resident right ensuring residents are not forced to stay in their room, isolated from others, or subjected to punitive treatment.

Right to Choose Activities

A resident right guaranteeing that residents can select and participate in the recreational activities of their own choice.

Right to Choose Food / Care Received

A resident right ensuring that staff respect resident dietary preferences and restrictions by providing acceptable alternative replacement trays when requested.