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Our Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct
MedStar Health is committed to providing high-quality care to our patients and communities in a safe and respectful environment that supports health and healing.
To ensure our hospitals and care locations are safe, caring, and inclusive, we ask that patients and visitors follow the example of MedStar Health providers and associates by adhering to our Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct, which includes the following:
- Everyone will be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. Offensive comments about race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or personal traits are not acceptable, and neither is the refusal to see a clinician or associate based on these traits.
- All patients and visitors will use respectful, appropriate language and behavior. Physical or verbal threats or assaults, suggestive or explicit words, phrases, gestures, or actions will not be tolerated.
- All patients and visitors will respect patient privacy and avoid disrupting other patients’ care or experiences.
- All patients and visitors must obtain the consent of everyone involved for any photographing or video/audio recording within all hospitals and patient care locations.
If these guidelines are not followed:
- Patients may be asked to leave and make other plans for their non-emergent immediate care, and for severe violations, future non-emergency care at MedStar Health may require review. In cases of non-compliance, patients will have an opportunity to explain their perspective, which will be considered prior to any decisions regarding future care at MedStar Health.
- Visitors may be asked to leave and could be restricted from future visitation.
Every day, our providers, nurses, and associates are committed to providing the highest levels of care to our patients. Please show them the respect they deserve and that you expect as a patient or visitor.
Thank you for choosing MedStar Health and joining us in our commitment to ensuring a safe, caring and inclusive environment for us all.
Frequently asked questions
The following questions and answers provide information about the Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct.
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What is MedStar Health’s Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct and what is its purpose?
The Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct is a set of values and guidelines outlining the expectations of patients and visitors within MedStar Health facilities.
TThe MedStar Health Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct was established to help ensure our hospitals and care locations are safe, considerate, and inclusive not only for patients and visitors, but for our providers, nurses, and associates as well.
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What is included in the Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct?
We ask patients and visitors to follow MedStar Health’s expectations of our providers, nurses, and associates by adhering to our Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct:
- Everyone will be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. Offensive comments about race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or personal traits are not acceptable, and neither is the refusal to see a clinician or associate based on these traits.
- All patients and visitors will use respectful, appropriate language and behavior. Physical or verbal threats or assaults, suggestive or explicit words, phrases, gestures, or actions will not be tolerated.
- All patients and visitors will respect patient privacy and avoid disrupting another patient’s care or experience.
- All patients and visitors must obtain the consent of everyone involved for any photographing or video/audio recording within all hospitals and patient care locations.
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Why is MedStar Health implementing a Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct?
Every day, we are committed to providing the highest levels of care to our patients. We ask patients and visitors to show the same respect they expect to receive from our associates and providers. Although rare, healthcare facilities across the country and in our region are experiencing an increase in violence directed at healthcare workers. The Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct sets expectations for patients and visitors to follow at our care locations.
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How can I report a Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct violation?
If you witness or experience any unacceptable behavior, please report it to a member of your care team or a MedStar Health Security Officer.
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What happens if a patient or visitor does not comply with the Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct?
If these guidelines are not followed, patients may be asked to leave and make other plans for their non-emergency care. For severe violations, future non-emergency care may require review. Visitors may be asked to leave and could be restricted from future visitation.
For any reported violation of the Patient and Visitor Code of Conduct, patients/visitors will have the opportunity to explain their perspectives. We will always carefully consider their point of view before a decision is made about their future care at MedStar Health.