Upper Austrian Convent-run Hospitals Coordination, Ltd.

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Service for patients - your rights as a patient

The Upper Austrian convent-run hospitals offer you the best possible medical and nursing care. Part of our responsibility in providing hospital care is to guarantee that your rights are taken seriously. Therefore we want to inform you about your rights as a patient and your relevant contacts.

Which rights do I have as a patient?

As general hospitals we provide care for persons without difference of sex, age or the kind of medical care.

Right to treatment and care
•	Diagnosis, treatment and care based on the principles and accepted methods of medical science, as well as the best possible pain therapy
•	Specialised medical care
•	Provision of medication
•	If necessary or requested: referral into another suitable hospital

Right to respect of dignity and integrity
•	Sufficient visiting hours and contact facilities. Extended visiting options if the patient’s state deteriorates
•	If requested: spiritual care and psychological support
•	Sufficient protection of privacy trough spatial and organizational measures (in rooms of all sizes)
•	Right to die in dignity and to maintain contacts with persons of your choice during this time.
•	Consideration of the patient’s daily routines, wherever possible
•	Consideration of special needs
•	Confidentiality of health-related information and other key data

Right to self-determination
•	Special curative treatments (including surgery) are carried out only with the informed consent of the patient (or a representative). exception: The treatment is absolutely essential and the delay (necessary to obtain the consent) would endanger the patient’s life or health.
•	The patient may determine in advance whether certain methods of treatment shall not be applied, should he or she lose the ability to act.
•	The patient shall be involved in research or education only if it is not detrimental to the state of health and consent has been obtained.

Right to information
•	Information about treatment options including risks (sufficient time must be allocated)
•	If requested: a doctor shall provide medical information to the patient or a person appointed by him/her (in everyday language, with kindness and respect).
•	Information about patient’s rights
•	Right to view your medical history and documentation drawn up by the hospital. (You have the right to make copies at cost price).
•	General medical requests may be discussed with a doctor

Right to documentation
Documentation shall be provided on:
•	all medical measures, medication as well as nursing, psychological and psychotherapeutic care
•	information given to the patient
•	the patient’s consent to treatment or the refusal of a treatment
•	important expressions of the patient’s will

Rights of children in the hospital
•	Adequate, child-oriented equipment wherever possible during in-patient treatment
•	The admission of a custodian into a hospital – if capacity is allow and treatment requires so: Babies and their mothers are always admitted together.
•	Children under 14 years are accommodated separately from adult patients - as far as possible
•	Children of school age receive tuition during prolonged hospital stays

Does the patient also have duties?

Full recovery requires your own involvement. Please take part in the healing process and follow the doctor’s advice. The doctor can only treat you if you provide correct and complete information about your symptoms, any former illnesses, allergies and needs.

Who are my contacts for information or complaints?

•	Information and complaint office in the hospital
	First of all you should consult the information and complaint office of the respective hospital. You will usually find it in the hospital’s administrative section.

•	Patients’ agency of the province of Upper Austria
	If you are dissatisfied with the information and complaint office’s handling of your case, please consult the patients’ agency of the province of Upper Austria. It is located in the office of the Upper Austrian provincial government. The employees of the patients’ agency will also support and accompany you also during proceedings before the arbitration committee of the Upper Austrian General Medical Council. Legal representation to court is not offered. Contact: Amt der OÖ. Landesregierung, Abteilung Sanitätsdirektion Harrachstraße 16a, 4020 Linz Tel.: 0732 / 7720-14215, Fax: 0732 / 7720-14396 e-mail: office hours: Mon, Tue, Thurs 8.00 - 12.00 and 14.00 - 17.00; Wed, Fri 8.00 - 13.00 appointment by telephone requested!

•	Patients’ service / Upper Austrian General Medical Council
	General information and service office for medical and legal questions. Please contact by telephone, e-mail or fax. Contact:: OÖ. Ärztekammer/Patientenservicestelle Susanne Fitzinger Dinghoferstraße 4 4010 Linz Tel.: 0810 / 200 216, calling by mobile phone: 0732 / 77 83 71-299, Fax: 0732 / 77 83 71-293 e-mail: feist@aekooe.or.at office hours: Mon - Thurs 8.30 - 11.30; every Monday a doctor is present

•	Consumers’ information of the “Arbeiterkammer”
	Information, service and free support, also during arbitration with the Upper Austrian General Medical Council. Only for members of the Arbeiterkammer (also former members)! Contact:: Arbeiterkammer Oberösterreich Konsumenteninformation Weingartshofstraße 2 4020 Linz Tel.: 050 / 69062, Fax: 050 / 6906-3880 e-Mail: http://www.ak-konsumenten.info

•	Arbitration committee on treatment issues / Upper Austrian General Medical Council
	If you feel that a medical treatment was insufficient or incorrect, you can to contact the arbitration committee of the Upper Austrian General Medical Council. It’s aim is to find an out-of-court settlement together with the doctor concerned. Contact:: Schiedsstelle der Ärztekammer für OÖ. Dr. Maria Leitner und Christa Lechner Dinghoferstraße 4 4010 Linz Tel.: 0732 / 77 83 71-333, Fax: 0732 / 77 83 71-293 office hours: Mon - Thurs 8.00 - 12.00 e-Mail: