Patient rights and engagement Open communication between consumers, carers and clinicians underpins the prevailing ethical The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (the framework for contemporary health care. The board Charter) was developed by the Commission and needs to be confident that information provided to adopted by all Health Ministers in 2008. patients is accurate, relevant and meaningful to The Charter defines a right to access, patients and addresses health literacy issues and patient’s safety, respect, communication, participation, related implications faced by the organisation. privacy and comment. These rights should translate Effective systems should be in place for informing for patients into safe, high-quality health care and patients and their carers about their treatment, the provision of information to allow participation in determining their treatment preferences, and for decisions about their care.7 gaining and documenting their consent to treatment. rights Patients’ Patients should be partners in making decisions about their care. (Standard 1, Item 1.17: Implementing through organisational policies and practices a patient care is the process of preparing ‘Advance planning’ charter of rights that is consistent with the current for likely scenarios near the end of life. The process national charter of healthcare rights) usually includes: assessment of, discussion about and documentation of a patient or their carer’s Local charters of healthcare rights should be understanding of the medical history consumer’s consistent with the Charter. Some jurisdictions have and condition, values, preferences, and personal developed supporting information that expands on and family resources. The board should periodically the Charter. receive summary reports on the processes, The board should formally adopt the Charter or its implementation and effectiveness of advanced care jurisdictional equivalent and delegate its planning in its organisation. implementation throughout the organisation to an individual or committee. Board role Ensure an effective system is in place • Board roles that accommodates the use of advance Ensure the Australian Charter of • care planning. Healthcare Rights or its jurisdictional equivalent is adopted. Ensure systems exist for the effective • implementation of the Charter. Planning for care and informed consent (Standard 1, Item 1.18: Implementing processes to enable partnership with patients in decisions about their care, including informed consent to treatment) Consumers and carers have the right to receive easily understood information and to make informed decisions about their health care in a timely and culturally appropriate manner. The health service focus should be patient-centred care. organisation’s
Patient rights and engagement The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (the Charter) was developed by the Commission and adopted by all Health Ministers in 2008. The Charter defines a patient’s right to access, safety, respect, communication, participation, privacy and comment. These rights should translate for patients into safe, high-quality health care and the provision of information to allow participation in decisions about their care.7 Patients’ rights (Standard 1, Item 1.17: Implementing through organisational policies and practices a patient charter of rights that is consistent with the current national charter of healthcare rights) Local charters of healthcare rights should be consistent with the Charter. Some jurisdictions have developed supporting information that expands on the Charter. The board should formally adopt the Charter or its jurisdictional equivalent and delegate its implementation throughout the organisation to an individual or committee. Board roles • Ensure the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights or its jurisdictional equivalent is adopted. • Ensure systems exist for the effective implementation of the Charter. Planning for care and informed consent (Standard 1, Item 1.18: Implementing processes to enable partnership with patients in decisions about their care, including informed consent to treatment) Consumers and carers have the right to receive easily understood information and to make informed decisions about their health care in a timely and culturally appropriate manner. The health service organisation’s focus should be patient-centred care. Open communication between consumers, carers and clinicians underpins the prevailing ethical framework for contemporary health care. The board needs to be confident that information provided to patients is accurate, relevant and meaningful to patients and addresses health literacy issues and related implications faced by the organisation. Effective systems should be in place for informing patients and their carers about their treatment, determining their treatment preferences, and for gaining and documenting their consent to treatment. Patients should be partners in making decisions about their care. ‘Advance care planning’ is the process of preparing for likely scenarios near the end of life. The process usually includes: assessment of, discussion about and documentation of a patient or their carer’s understanding of the consumer’s medical history and condition, values, preferences, and personal and family resources. The board should periodically receive summary reports on the processes, implementation and effectiveness of advanced care planning in its organisation. Board role • Ensure an effective system is in place that accommodates the use of advance care planning.
Guide-to-the-National-Safety-and-Quality-Health-Service-Standards-for-health-service-organisation-boards.docx