Patient & Visitor Guide

All ARHS facilities have an Ethics Committee available to give you support and guidance when you are faced with difficult decisions about medical care and treatment issues. These committees do not tell you what you should do, but help affected parties look together at the larger situation and consider all feasible alternatives. Below is a list of how to contact the Ethics Committee at your location:

• Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital: Call Patient Safety Concern Line at ext. 2033 or call 737-7596 to contact care management
• Watauga Medical Center: Call 262-4100 and request pager No. 1400

You have the right to file a complaint or concern with either or both:

The NC Division of Health Service Regulation Complaint Intake Unit
2711 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699
(800) 624-3004

Office of Quality and Patient Safety The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Blvd.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Fax: 630-792-5636
Website: www.jointcommission.org, then click “Report a Safety Event”

Although conflicts often are a part of life, they can add to the stress you feel when you or a loved one is hospitalized. At ARHS, our job is to:

• anticipate potential care-related conflicts and eliminate them
• work with you to resolve conflicts quickly and considerately

While we strive to meet and exceed the expectations of our patients, staff, physicians and visitors, at times we may fall short. An important value at ARHS is receiving, responding to and resolving all complaints in a courteous and timely manner. Your feedback helps us to improve our care and delivery systems.

If you have a complaint, you may contact us online or speak with any facility employee or volunteer, and he or she will initiate the complaint process. If the individual can resolve the problem, he or she has the authority to do so. If not, your concerns are forwarded to the appropriate department manager, and if necessary, to hospital administration.