ABSTRACT
Israel's legislature enacted a Patients' Rights Act in 1996. The Act directed hospitals to designate a representative responsible for supervising protection of patients' rights under the new law, investigating complaints, and educating medical staff regarding the provisions of the Act. This survey was conducted in order to evaluate implementation of that section of the law pertaining to hospital representatives of patients' rights. The authors conducted interviews with responsible individuals at government hospitals in Israel, inquiring about their duties, training, complaint procedures, and practices. The authors found that while the representatives shared some basic knowledge of their legal duty, methods of implementation differed widely. It is recommended that a comprehensive program of training be devised for hospital patients' rights representatives, in order to realize the potential of the Act.
Subject(s)
Hospital Administration/standards , Patient Advocacy , Administrative Personnel , Data Collection , Hospital Administration/methods , Humans , Information Services , Inservice Training , Israel , Job Description , Patient Advocacy/legislation & jurisprudence , Patient Satisfaction , RoleABSTRACT
After receiving successful reports on an experimental program of patients' rights advocacy in seven participating hospitals, Hungary has recently given legal status and authority to the office of health care ombudsman. Dr. Kismodi reflects on her experience as a health care ombudsman in two Hungarian hospitals, gives examples of situations in which ombudsmen have been able to make an affirmative difference on behalf of patients seeking reproductive health care, and encourages other countries in circumstances similar to those now facing Hungary to consider whether the ombudsman model might be helpful to them in promoting reproductive health, and health care generally.