Medical care decisions

Encouraging and assisting patients in their treatment decisions

Having to make a difficult medical care decision for yourself or a loved one can seem like an impossible task when the time calls, especially with emotions running high. At Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center, we understand the difficult position this can create for your family and friends. We are here to help you with difficult medical decisions as well as inform you of the legal tools that are available.

Advance directives

An advance directive is a written description of the medical care you would or would not want in the future if you were unable to speak for yourself. An advance directive also can include the name of someone who will make healthcare decisions for you if you cannot make them for yourself.

We will follow the instructions expressed by your advance directive to the extent required by law. If you are unable to make, or make known, medical decisions and do not have an advance directive, we will obtain consent from your spouse, parents, guardian, nearest relative or other person authorized to speak for you. Learn More.

Ethics committee

There may be a time when you're called upon to make a decision about life-sustaining treatment, either for yourself or for a loved one. Thomas Medical Center has an ethics committee to help you in such circumstances. Learn More.

Lifeline emergency response

If you live alone or need additional assurance that help is at your fingertips 24 hours a day, Lifeline Medical Alert® and its emergency response feature can meet your, or your loved one’s needs.

You can move freely about your home with the confidence that if you fall or require assistance, you can push a button for help and Lifeline will send for it.

Lifeline enables the elderly and physically-challenged to live in their own home for as long as possible. It gives peace of mind to their friends and family knowing that their loved one can get help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information on Lifeline services, call: 336-718-5746.

Organ and tissue donation

An average of 17 people die each day due to a lack of available donated organs. Every organ and tissue donor has the potential to save or enhance the lives of up to 50 people. By becoming a donor, you have the power to change someone's life for the better. There is a great need for organ and tissue donors. By becoming a donor, you can save a life. Learn More.

Patient privacy

Thomasville Medical Center staff is committed to protecting your health information, which is a right you have as detailed in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA was signed into law on August 21, 1996, Public Law 104-191. This law impacts all areas of the healthcare industry and was designed to combat waste, fraud and abuse in health insurance and healthcare delivery. The law is designed to:

• Protect the privacy, confidentiality and security of healthcare information.
• Improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage.
• Promote the use of medical savings accounts.
• Improve access to long-term care services and coverage.
• Simplify health insurance administration by standardizing the exchange of administrative and financial data.

Under federal law, Thomasville Medical Center can only release your personal health information to those directly involved with providing your care; however, you have the right to grant access to your personal medical or billing information to other individuals or organizations of your choice. If you choose to do so, we require a written authorization.

For more information about medical care decisions and your rights as a patient, call 336-476-2499.