Q&A: The patient rights chapter leader

Q: Who should I consider as good candidates to lead the patient rights chapter?

A: It is usually the responsibility of the accreditation director or coordinator to establish and lead the team by assigning chapters and responsibilities, facilitating meetings of the team, and reporting deficiencies to senior leadership. Consider the following individuals to lead the patient rights chapter:

• Patient representatives: These individuals already work closely with patients and families, and may already have responsibilities to ensure information is provided in a way the patient or family understands. Patient representatives usually facilitate resolution of complaints and serve as the patient advocate. They may also assist in formulating advance directives.
• Risk managers: These individuals may also assist in resolving complaints and may understand the importance of informed consent and advance directives. They usually facilitate resolution of sentinel events.
• RNs responsible for education to patient and family: These individuals may develop patient educational tools and facility health literacy programs that would be beneficial to them in a chapter leader role.
• HIM directors: These individuals understand confidentiality and privacy for the patient. They are experts in documentation in the medical record as well as legal aspects of the record, and are well-informed with regard to advance directives, informed consent, and other aspects of patient rights.
• Registration directors: These individuals are first-line contacts with patients. They may be responsible for developing the patient handbook and often have the big picture in mind with regard to this chapter.

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