Legal Policies and Procedures

Communication is important in providing the best care possible for you and your child. At any Children’s Colorado location, you have the right to:

• A copy of the Patients’ and Parents’ Rights and Responsibilities. If you do not understand your rights, they will be explained to you in a language you understand.
• Medical interpretation services. To provide safe and effective communication, only professional and qualified medical interpreters can be used. This means that patients, their family members and friends may not be used as the main interpreters when talking about medical care.
• ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 720-777-1234.
• CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 720-777-1234.
• Understand your/your child’s care and treatment plan.
• Know the members of the healthcare team who are caring for and treating you/your child.
• Have a person and/or doctor of your choice be told about your/your child’s hospitalization.
• Get information about your/your child’s medical condition in words or a language you understand. This information includes diagnosis, tests, procedures and treatment options, as well as possible risks and benefits.
• Be a part of the decisions made about your/your child's treatment. This includes asking for help from someone in the Ethics Department, as well as naming a family spokesperson to work with the staff if ethical issues arise in your/your child’s care.
• Give informed consent for all treatment and procedures. This includes changing your mind about having a procedure done, refusing to sign a consent form if you do not understand and/or agree to everything, refusing treatment (if the law allows) and being told all the pros and cons of refusing treatment. However, if, after reading the document, you do not want to sign the consent form or do not agree with everything, you may need to seek care from another provider where you are more comfortable.
• Be told what you need to know and do when you or your child goes home.
• Have Children’s Colorado staff listen to what you say and answer your questions. Know that you can express your feelings or fears and get caring responses.
• File a complaint and get feedback without worrying that it will affect your/your child’s care.

At Children’s Colorado, we believe in providing the best care possible. We also believe that an upfront explanation of costs and coverage are important, so that families know exactly what to expect. All patients and families have the right to:

• Receive all medical care and treatment available and medically necessary regardless of your/your child’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, creed, religion, cultural, economic, educational background, marital status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability (mental and physical) or other protected classification to the extent required by applicable laws.
• Choose someone to make decisions if you/your child cannot make decisions.
• Sign an advance directive (living will) if allowed by law and expect your/your child’s healthcare team to follow this directive, when it’s legal for them to do so.
• Decide not to take part in the training of healthcare workers, research or in experimental programs.
• Get an estimated cost for services upon request before we provide non-emergency care.
• An explanation of your bill and the services provided to you/your child.

Privacy is the cornerstone of quality healthcare. At Children’s Colorado, we abide by state and federal laws concerning privacy, as well as the emotional needs of a patient. Here, families and patients have the right to:

• Receive care and treatment that is right for you and your family’s emotional, educational, spiritual and developmental needs. This means giving you as much personal privacy as we can.
• Not be isolated or restrained in any way, as a means of control, punishment, convenience or revenge by the staff.
• Receive comfort and respectful care if you/your child is dying. This includes managing pain through palliative care, respecting cultural and spiritual concerns and giving compassionate care during your time of grief.
• Receive care and treatment in a safe setting, free from bullying and abuse.
• Have family and friends around to comfort and care for you/your child whenever they can. However, visitation policy limits may be in place during the winter cold and flu season or due to your child’s condition.
• Decide who can visit you/your child in the hospital. Visitors will not be limited or denied because of their race, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or disability.
• Decide who will care for you/your child after you leave Children’s Colorado. Children’s Colorado staff will give you information about care providers or available services.
• Information about referrals and providers in which Children’s Colorado has a financial interest.
• Information regarding patient rights before giving or stopping patient care whenever possible.
• Receive access to medical records after discharge. For a full description of who can share your medical records with, please refer to the Notice of Privacy Practices.

At any Children’s Colorado location, parents, families and patients have the responsibility to:

• Tell your/your child’s doctor or Children’s Colorado team member right away if you speak a language other than English. We will provide a medical translator to help you understand and give informed consent for your/your child’s care and treatment.
• Provide true and complete information about you/your child’s health. Tell us about any unexpected changes in you/your child’s condition.
• Provide proof that you have the right to consent to your child’s admission and medical/surgical treatment.
• Provide accurate information about your/your child’s current insurance coverage and/or eligibility for state or federal programs.
• Pay medical bills in a timely manner.
• Provide a copy of your/your child’s current advance directive (living will), if there is one.
• Ask questions if you don’t understand information or instructions.
• Follow the treatment plan you/your child and your caregivers agree on. It’s important to understand the treatment and what it will do for you/your child, as well as what may happen if you refuse treatment or don't follow instructions properly.
• Keep your appointments and be on time. If you can’t keep your/your child’s appointment, call as soon as possible to schedule a new one.
• Tell your/your child’s doctor, nurse or patient advocate if you have concerns or aren't happy with the care you or your child is receiving.
• Act appropriately and be respectful when you try to settle disagreements.
• Be thoughtful of other patients and Children’s Colorado staff by limiting noise levels and numbers of visitors.
• Respect the privacy of other children and families receiving care at Children’s Colorado.
• Keep cell phones on silent/vibrate mode when around patients or the healthcare team.

The safety of our patients is an important part of providing proper care. When you visit a Children’s Colorado location, you and your family have the responsibility to:

• Follow our visitation policy. Keep in mind that you should have no more than two family members stay overnight in patient rooms. Parents of children who are hospitalized in the inpatient psychiatric unit are not allowed to stay in the room with their child.
• Share any safety concerns you may have with staff.
• Avoid the use illegal drugs, marijuana, alcohol, tobacco or e-cigarettes. No one under the influence of any substance should visit a patient.
• Remove guns or other contraband before entering a Children’s Colorado facility.
• Avoid taking pictures, videos or recordings of staff, equipment or any non-family members.
• Prevent threatening behavior. Swearing, making threats or engaging in behaviors that impact patient care are not allowed.
• Avoid sexual relations or the viewing of pornography while at Children’s Colorado.

If a patient, parent or visitor breaks the rules, security will be called and you may be taken off the property. Children’s Colorado complies with all applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or gender.

It is the policy of Children’s Colorado to respect the rights of people 18 years old and older, and those authorized by federal and state laws to make healthcare decisions. At Children’s Colorado, adults age 18 and older have the right to:

• Agree to or turn down medical or surgical treatment, including denying or stopping life-sustaining treatment or requesting a Do Not Resuscitate form.
• Review and re-write advance directives (living wills).
• Present advance directives or ask for help with writing them. Please note that the presence or lack of an advance directive (living will) has no effect on your access to care, treatment and services.