Patients Rights & Privacy
We believe in treating our patients with respect and dignity and as informed members of their health care team.
You have a right to impartial treatment, to be fully informed, and to receive pain treatment. Click below for a detailed listing of your rights and responsibilities as a patient of Community Hospital:
If you have questions or concerns related to your hospital patient experience, please call the Patient Advocate:
Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes relacionadas con la experiencia del paciente en el hospital, llame al defensor del paciente:
Ethics Committee
Request an Ethics Committee consult by speaking to any staff member, or by contacting the Patient Advocate at 970-644-3154.
The rapid advancement of medical technology and treatment has led to situations that can perplex even the most knowledgeable and most compassionate among us.
Ethical concerns and issues faced by patients and their families have become complex.
With so many new technologies and new choices, it is sometimes difficult to know whether we are making the decision that is best for our loved one.
Fortunately, Community Hospital’s Ethics Committee can help by offering information and assistance. Community Hospital’s Ethics Committee is made up of health care providers and community representatives who are committed to high quality health care being provided to all patients:
- Physicians from various specialties
- Hospital senior management
- Hospital chaplains
- Professionals committed to social work, patient rights, advance directives, intensive care, and organ/tissue donation.
Supportive Consultation
The Ethics Committee is available to assist patients and their families if they are having difficulty determining the right choices.
A consultation with representatives of the committee may help all participants to better understand what the choices are and to clarify the values. The ethics consultation group serves as a sounding board.
Consultations are confidential and advisory. A patient and family’s right to privacy and sensitive treatment of their concerns is always respected.
What can you do as a patient?
The following are ways you can be prepared to make difficult health care decisions:
- Have A Patient/Physician Conversation About What Your Choices For Treatment And What Your Values Are.
- Discuss And Prepare Medical Advance Directives, Such As A Medical Durable Power Of Attorney.
- Attend Community Hospital Ethics Educational Programs.
- Attend Public Forums And Presentations On Bio-Medical Ethics Issues And Debates.
- The Public Library, Community Hospital’s Website, And The Internet Have Helpful Publications For All Level
Request an Ethics Committee consult by speaking to any staff member, or by contacting the Patient Advocate at 970-644-3154.
Health Information Privacy
We understand that medical information about our patients' health is personal. We are committed to protecting our patients' privacy.
The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for personal health information and gives patients rights with respect to that information. At the same time, the Privacy Rule is balanced so that it permits the disclosure of personal health information needed for patient care and other important purposes.
This HIPAA notice explains the rights and certain obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of medical information.
Colorado End-of-Life Options Act
Colorado West Healthcare Systems d.b.a. Community Hospital wishes to provide this notice to advise our patients that Community Hospital is opting out from facilitating patients with their rights under Colorado’s recently passed End-of-Life Options Act.
The Colorado End-of-Life Options Act authorizes medical aid in dying and allows a terminally ill adult to end his or her life in a peaceful manner. The patient must meet several requirements, including:
- A prognosis of six months or less;
- Mental capacity to make an informed decision;
- Residency in Colorado; and
- Has requested and obtained a prescription for medical aid-in-dying medication.
Colorado law recognizes certain rights and responsibilities of qualified patients and health care providers under the End-of-Life Options. Under the Act, a health care provider, including Community Hospital, is not required to assist a qualified patient in ending that patient’s life.
Community Hospital has chosen not to participate under the Act. Community Hospital caregivers will still provide other requested end-of-life and palliative care and other services to patients and families.
Any patient wishing to request medical aid-in-dying medication while a patient at this hospital will be assisted in transfer to another facility of the patient’s choice.
Community Hospital caregivers will still provide other requested end-of-life and palliative care and other services to patients and families.