Patient Rights & Privacy

At Hartford HealthCare, our patients and team members are expected to maintain a safe environment and be treated with courtesy, dignity and respect.

Rights & Privacy

This place of caregiving will be free of threats, violence, disrespectful communication, abuse or harassment of other patients or members of the Hartford HealthCare community. Hartford HealthCare does not tolerate discrimination against any person, including patients and team members, on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, culture, disability, age, sex, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.


Joint-Notice-LinkHartford HealthCare is committed to providing our patients and families with their rights and responsibilities.

As a patient you have the right to:

  1. Be informed, in an honest and truthful manner, about your care and treatment plans in support of your full and confident participation.
  2. Make informed decisions.
  3. Have your physician and/or a person of your choice notified of your admission to the hospital.
  4. Know the names of the health care providers and their role in your care.
  5. Have consideration for personal privacy and confidentiality.
  6. Have a reasonable response to requests.
  7. Request medically appropriate and necessary treatment.
  8. Refuse treatment as allowed by law.
  9. Receive treatment and accommodations in an environment that is sensitive to your beliefs, values, cultures and spiritual needs.
  10. Request a second opinion about your care.
  11. Receive assessment and be informed of treatment methods and management of your pain or discomfort.
  12. Be provided with free interpreter services as needed.
  13. Create an advance directive.
  14. Be free from abuse or harassment.
  15. Be free from restraint of any kind that is not medically necessary or required to maintain the safety of patients or staff.
  16. Be informed about the care you will need after discharge.
  17. Receive and obtain copies of your medical records.
  18. Receive information about an explanation of costs related to care provided.
  19. Request that an autopsy be performed either here or arrange for any other institution of choice to perform.
  20. The right to receive designated visitors during scheduled visiting hours and ability to withdraw consent for visitation for any or all visitors at any time.
  21. Express a complaint or grievance by contacting the Office of Customer & Patient Relations.

In order to provide the best possible service to our patients, a Patient Advocate is available to assist you. Should you or family have questions about the hospital, comments about your care, suggestions on improving our services or a need for someone to listen, please contact a Patient Advocate (see below).

Backus Hospital

Patient Advocate
Phone: 860.889.8331 ext. 2196
Office of Customer & Patient Relations
326 Washington Street, Norwich, CT 06360
Phone: 860.889.8331 ext. 6828
TTY: 860.545.2247
E-Mail: eastregionadvocacy@hhchealth.org

Charlotte Hungerford Hospital

Patient Advocate
Phone: 860.496.6657
Office of Customer & Patient Relations
540 Litchfield Street, Torrington, CT 06790
Phone: 860.496.6657
TTY: 860.545.2247
E-Mail: northwestadvocacy@hhchealth.org

Hartford Hospital

Patient Advocate
Phone: 860.972.1100
Office of Customer & Patient Relations
80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860.972.1100
TTY: 860.545.2247
E-Mail: hhadvocacy@hhchealth.org

The Hospital of Central Connecticut

Patient Advocate
Phone: 860.224.5391
Office of Customer & Patient Relations
100 Grand Street, New Britain, CT 06052
Phone: 860.224.5391
TTY: 860.545.2247
E-Mail: centralregionadvocacy@hhchealth.org

Midstate Medical Center

Patient Advocate
Phone: 203.694.8350
Office of Customer & Patient Relations
435 Lewis Avenue, Meriden, CT 06451
Phone: 203.694.8350
TTY: 860.545.2247
E-Mail: centralregionadvocacy@hhchealth.org

St. Vincent's Medical Center

Patient Advocate
Phone: 475.210.5164
Office of Customer & Patient Relations
2800 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06606
Phone: 475.210.5164
TTY: 860.545.2247
E-Mail: FairfieldRegionAdvocacy@hhchealth.org

Windham Hospital

Patient Advocate
Phone: 860.456.6107
Office of Customer & Patient Relations
112 Mansfield Avenue, Willimantic, CT 06226
Phone: 860.456.6107
TTY: 860.545.2247
E-Mail: eastregionadvocacy@hhchealth.org

Behavioral Health Network

Patient Advocate

Phone: 888.339.0444
E-Mail: BHNAdvocacy@hhchealth.org

Hartford HealthCare Medical Group

Patient Advocate

Phone 860.696.6198
E-Mail: MedicalGroupExperience@hhchealth.org

Community Network

Patient Advocate

Phone: 860.972.1373
Hartford HealthCare at Home
E-Mail: HHCAHAdvocacy@hhchealth.org
Hartford HealthCare Independence at Home
E-Mail:  IAHAdvocacy@hhchealth.org
Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network
E-Mail: RehabNetworkAdvocacy@hhchealth.org
Hartford HealthCare Senior Services
E-Mail: SSAdvocacy@hhchealth.org

Connecticut Department of Public Health

410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06134
Phone: 860.509.7400 or 1.800.842.0038
TTY: 860.509.7191
Web: portal.ct.gov/DPH

The Joint Commission

The Office of Quality and Patient Safety (OQPS)
One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: 1.800.994.6610
Fax: 630.792.5636
Web: www.jointcommission.org


This Statement of Patient Responsibilities was designated to demonstrate that mutual respect and cooperation are basic to the delivery of quality healthcare.

Joint-Notice-Link

As a patient you are responsible to:

  1. Inform the medical team for any health problems or changes.
  2. Provide accurate and complete information about your health.
  3. Observe all hospital rules and regulations and do everything possible to ensure that your visitors do the same.
  4. Be considerate of other patients and hospital staff and employees.
  5. Meet your financial commitment to Hartford HealthCare. Payment plans and financial assistance available for those who qualify.
  6. Take reasonable measures to protect your personal belongings.

Download the Patient Bill of Rights in your desired language:

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