Concerns & Confidentiality

Concerns

If you have concerns about Patient Safety or Quality of Care while in the hospital, please speak with the physician in charge or ask for the Nurse Manager. If you still have concerns, please contact Hospital Administration, located in the Special Services Building, which is available by calling the hospital switchboard operator. If the concern cannot be resolved through Hospital Administration, call the Office of Healthcare Assurance 808-692-7400.

Ethics case consultation is available if you feel there is an ethical problem or conflict involving your medical care. The West Hawaii Regionl Bio-Ethics Committee may be contacted by speaking to your nurse, doctor or Department Nurse Manager.

Confidentiality

We will always respect and maintain your confidentiality. If you request “no information” be given, then we will honor that request. We will not reveal to anyone that you are in the hospital.

Medical Records Release of Information

Patients or their legal representatives may have access to the medical records by submitting a written request. Requests are processed within 10 days of receipt of a valid written authorization.

Persons who can have access

Adults, minors, legal representatives, guardians and conservators may process applications for release of information. The hospital requires appropriate authorization before release can be made, except for payment of the bill and where otherwise mandated by law.

Restrictions

Hawaii law governs release of information, authorizing restrictions on release for certain cases.

Fees

You will be notified in advance of the costs for retrieval and copy of records. There is no charge for release of information to physicians or other healthcare facilities involved in your care.

To request your medical records

All requests for release of information are processed in the Medical Records Department. Please contact the Medical Records clerk to make arrangements. The hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the phone number is (808) 899-6211

Family Spokesperson

Our goal is to provide open lines of communication between our staff and our patient’s families. We suggest that every patient have one family member serve as the family “spokesperson.” For our patient’s privacy and confidentiality, medical information is not given over the phone to anyone other than the patient and the person chosen as the spokesperson.