Private
Patients’ Hospital Charter
Your rights and responsibilities as a private
patient in a public or private hospital
As a private patient you have the
right to choose your own doctor, and decide whether you will go to a public or
a private hospital that your doctor attends. You may also have more choice as
to when you are admitted to hospital. Even if you have private health insurance
you can choose to be treated as a public patient in a public hospital, at no
charge, by a doctor appointed by the hospital.
• Information
about your treatment - Your doctor should give you a clear explanation of
your diagnosis, your treatment (and any associated risks), the associated cost,
and other treatment options available. Except for in an emergency where it is
not possible, they should obtain your consent prior to any treatment.
• Informed
Financial Consent - Your
doctor and other health service providers should provide you with information
about the costs of your proposed treatment, including any likely out-of-pocket
expenses, and obtain your agreement to the likely costs in writing before
proceeding with the treatment.
• Other Medical
Opinions - You
can ask for referrals for other medical opinions (there may be additional costs
associated with doing this that may not be covered by your private health
insurance).
• Visitors - The hospital you
are going to can provide information about visiting arrangements for your family
and friends while you are in hospital including family access (and who is
considered family), arrangements for the parents or guardians if the patient is
a child, and when your friends can visit you.
• Seek Advice about
Costs - As
a patient with private health insurance, all your hospital treatment and
medical bills may be covered by your insurance, or you may have to pay some
out-of-pocket expenses (gaps). In some cases you may also have to pay an
‘excess’ or co-payment. Before you go to hospital, ask your private health
insurer, doctor(s) and hospital about the expected costs of your treatment,
including possible costs for surgically implanted medical devices and
prostheses. (See overleaf for some suggested questions to ask about costs).
•
Confidentiality and Access to your Medical Records - Your personal
details will be kept strictly confidential. However, there may be times when
information about you needs to be provided to another health worker to assist
in your care if this is required or authorized by law. You will need to sign a
form to agree to your health insurer having access to certain information to
allow payments to be made for your treatment. Under the Freedom of Information
legislation you are entitled to see and obtain a copy of your medical records
kept in a public hospital. Under the Privacy Principles you also have a general
right to access personal information collected about you by the private sector.
• Treatment with
Respect and Dignity - While in hospital you can expect to be treated with
courtesy and have your ethnic, cultural and religious practices and beliefs
respected. You should also be polite to your healthcare workers and other
patients and treat them with courtesy and respect.
• Care and
Support from Nurses and Allied Health Professionals - Nurses and
allied health professionals provide vital care and support and are an important
part of your treatment in hospital. Staff who attend to you should always
identify themselves and you should feel confident to discuss any issues in
relation to your treatment or hospital experience with your health care
workers.
• Participate in
Decisions about your Care – Before you leave hospital you should be
consulted about the continuing care that you may need after you leave hospital.
This includes receiving information about any medical care, medication, home
nursing or other community services you may need after you go home.
• Comments or Complaints
- If
you are concerned about any aspect of your hospital treatment you should
initially raise this with the staff caring for you or the hospital. If you are
not satisfied with the way the hospital has dealt with your concerns, each district
has a representative that deals with complaints about health services and
practitioners. If your query or complaint relates to private health insurance,
you should first talk to your health insurer. If your concerns remain
unresolved you can contact the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman on a free
call.
• Provide
Accurate Information - To help doctors/specialists and hospital staff
provide you with appropriate care you will need to provide information such as
family and medical history, allergies, physical or psychological conditions
affecting you, and any other treatment you are receiving or medication you are
taking (even if not prescribed by your doctor).
• Long-stay
patients - If
you are in hospital for a long period of time you may become a nursing home type
patient. Talk to your hospital or health insurer about the arrangements for
long-stay patients.
Find
out about any Potential Costs before you go to Hospital
Ask your
treating Doctor or Specialist:
- For confirmation in writing of
how much their fee will be and how much is likely to be covered under your
private health insurance.
- Whether they participate in
your health insurer’s gap cover arrangements and if you are likely to have to
pay a gap, how much it will be.
- Which other doctors and medical
staff will be involved in your treatment and how you can get information about their
fees and whether they will be covered by your private health insurance.
- For an estimate of any other
costs associated with your medical treatment that may not be covered by your
private health insurance (e.g. pharmaceuticals, diagnostic tests).
- Whether you are having a
surgically implanted device or prosthesis and if you will have to contribute
towards the cost for this.
Ask your Health
Insurer:
- Whether the treatment you are
having is covered by your private health insurance and if there are any
exclusions or waiting periods that currently apply to this treatment under your
policy. If you are having a baby, talk to your health insurer as early as
possible in your pregnancy to find out what rules apply to obstetrics and
newborn babies.
- Whether you have to pay an
excess or co-payment, and, if so, how much this will be.
- About the level of hospital
accommodation covered by your policy (some policies only cover being a private patient
in a public hospital).
- Whether your insurer has an
agreement with the hospital you are going to be treated in.
- Whether you will need to pay
extra for surgically implanted devices or prostheses.
- If any gap cover arrangements
are in place that may apply to you.
Ask your Hospital:
- Whether the hospital has an
agreement with your private health insurer.
- Whether you will have to pay
anything for your hospital accommodation out of your own pocket.
- Whether you will have to pay
any additional hospital charges which are not covered by your private health insurance
(e.g. TV hire, telephone calls).
Uganda National Association of Private Hospitals (UNAPH),
P.O.Box 29324 Kampala, Uganda
Email:
unaph22@yahoo.com , unaphserv@gmail.com
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