Patient rights responsibilities - We consider you a partner in your health care. When you’re well informed, participate in treatment decisions, and communicate openly with your doctor and other healthcare professionals, you help make your care as effective as possible. We encourage respect for the personal preferences and values of each individual. Your rights and responsibilities as a patient

Our pain management philosophy - Pain management is an important part of your care, extending beyond pain relief and encompassing your quality of life and ability to function optimally. We’re committed to an interdisciplinary team approach to pain management and assuring that your rights to pain management are upheld. This includes identifying your pain needs during ongoing, periodic assessments, and providing information to you and your family about pain management and any potential limitations of treatments for pain.

Restraint use policy - We’re committed to creating a physical, social, and cultural environment that limits the use of restraints to situations in which they’re adequately justified and clinically appropriate. Use of restraints will be eliminated whenever possible.

Patient confidentiality - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) governs how we use a patient’s private health information. When you first register anywhere within the Health First system you receive our "HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices" (PDF) and sign a statement indicating that you’ve received it. If you didn’t have the opportunity to sign this notice, please inform your registrar and you’ll be given a privacy notice and statement to sign for our records. En espanol

Someone to help you—patient advocate - Questions often arise during a hospital stay, and we’re here to help both patients and their families in whatever way we can. We’re committed to quality care and service. If you need assistance please call:

Cape Canaveral Hospital: 321-799-7195

Holmes Regional Medical Center: 321-434-1593

Palm Bay Hospital: 321-434-8167

Viera Hospital: 321-434-9369

Patient and Family Education Channel - Patient education about a variety of medical conditions is offered on our Patient and Family Education Channel. You can tune in on channel 98. Ask your nurse for a program schedule.

Visitor information

Insurance plans accepted

Smoking policy - For the health and safety of our patients, visitors, staff, physicians, and volunteers, absolutely no smoking is permitted inside the hospital. In the interest of better health for all, we support smoking cessation through our Freedom from Smoking classes.

Advance directives - Florida law grants adults the right to make certain decisions about their medical treatment. You can decide whether to accept or reject medical treatment and other procedures that would prolong your life artificially. There are three kinds of Advance Directives in Florida that ensure your personal wishes are respected even if you’re too sick to make your own decision:

Advance Directives

Advance DirectivesLiving Will

Living Will (Spanish)

Designated healthcare surrogate

Power of attorney for health care

These forms are available in your nursing unit. If you have questions, please ask your nurse, or call Quality Management Services at ext. 27127 (CCH) or ext. 47183 (HRMC and PBH).

Organ and tissue donations - On admission to the hospital, patients will be asked if they have a donor card or would be interested in becoming a donor. This information will become part of the patient’s medical record. If you have any questions about organ and tissue donation, please speak with your physician or nurse, or you may call TransLife Organ, Tissue & Transplant Services at 1-800-443-6667. In compliance with Florida Statute 732.922 and the federal law on routine inquiry for organ donations, we’ll provide the next-of-kin of any patients who die at the hospital with the opportunity to consider donation of organs or tissues.

Patient safety - Providing a safe environment for our patients, visitors, and staff is our number one priority, but there are things you can to help too. More information

Patient satisfaction surveys - Following your hospital visit, you may receive a patient satisfaction survey in the mail. Please complete this survey, as your feedback and total satisfaction are very important to us! We use the information to improve our processes and also to reward employees who are mentioned for their exemplary care and work.

Make well informed health care decisions - The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration now providse a website to help you make well informed health care decisions.

 Visit www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov and find information on :

hospitals

nursing homes

prescription drugs

health plans and more

What We Believe, How We Behave - We’re committed to providing quality medical care in a friendly, ethical manner. We believe that balancing the serious nature of high-tech medicine with tender loving care can be equally important to the recovery process, and are committed to:

Accountability

Attitude

Communication

Confidentiality/privacy

Elevator etiquette

Environment

People care

Telephone etiquette

Teamwork

Go ahead… Smile Back! - Frequently, patients and visitors ask how they can say ‘thanks’ to those dedicated caregivers who make an extra effort to provide special care to comfort patients and loved ones. Through our Smile Back program, your gift can be directed to the area(s) of your choice. Please ask any employee for a Smile Back brochure, or call Health First Foundation at 868-2720 (CCH) or at 434-7140 (HRMC and PBH).