Essentia Health’s Code of Conduct for Patients & Visitors

Essentia Health’s goal is to provide high quality care in a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment that supports health and healing. Essentia Health will not tolerate violent, inappropriate or disrespectful language or behavior. This conduct will have consequences, including dismissal from Essentia Health. We expect our patients and visitors to treat everyone with kindness, dignity and respect.

Essentia Health’s Rules and Expectations for Patients or Visitors

Essentia Health, in its sole discretion, will determine when a patient or visitor violates Essentia Health’s Code of Conduct, as well as Essentia’s response to violation(s).

Prohibited Speech, Actions or Behaviors

Essentia Health will not tolerate the following speech, actions or behaviors from our patients or visitors:

• Physical assault or aggression of any kind, including striking, kicking, scratching, biting, unwanted touching, throwing objects, spitting, or using other bodily fluids as weapons
• Any form of hostile, disruptive, derogatory, racist, harassing, threatening, or aggressive speech or behaviors
• Actions intended intimidate, frighten or sexually harass
• Any yelling, swearing or other verbal disruption
• Destruction, vandalism, or theft of property
• Entering restricted, staff-only, procedural, medication preparation, or sterile areas without authorization
• Tampering with medical equipment, life-sustaining devices, alarms, IV lines, oxygen delivery systems, monitors, or other clinical equipment
• Use of prohibited substances such as tobacco, vapes, alcohol, cannabis, street drugs, or other bioactive substances not approved by the health care team
• Public display of sexually explicit acts or media
• Any audio or video recording, livestreaming or photographs in either clinical or nonclinical areas without authorization by Essentia Health
• Disruption to another patient’s care or experience
• Possession or use of any weapons on Essentia property.  Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, firearms, knives, blades, clubs, chemicals, and any other object that can be used to inflict bodily harm or physical damage

Patients and visitors are expected to follow all Essentia rules and expectations

This includes any communications or directives from Essentia Health staff while on Essentia Health property or while using Essentia Health technology, including WiFi or Essentia’s MyChart. 

Patients and Visitors are expected to respect and protect the privacy of other patients, visitors and Essentia staff

• Audio or video recording, livestreaming or photographs is not permitted on Essentia Health property, except as authorized by Essentia Health.
• Federal and state patient privacy protections, including HIPAA, applies to all patients and patient health information.
• Access to patient health information is strictly controlled and limited to those with a legitimate need and authorization.

Patients are expected to attend appointments as scheduled

If you are unable to attend a scheduled appointment, you must provide reasonable prior notice and cancellation to Essentia Health.

Patients are responsible for the conduct of their visitors

A patient is responsible for the acts and omissions of his or her visitors. If a patient’s visitor engages in prohibited speech, actions or behaviors, the patient is responsible and may face consequences, including dismissal from Essentia Health.

Essentia Health’s Responses for Failure to Follow its Rules and Expectations

In the sole discretion of Essentia, a patient may be dismissed from Essentia Health for:

• Repeated missed appointments without appropriate cancelation.
• Failure to follow a controlled substance agreement with Essentia Health (i.e., Opioid Contract).
• Failure to follow a behavioral contract established with you, your family member or your visitor.
• Failure to follow your care team’s treatment or care plan.
• Failure to follow the rules and expectations contained in Essentia Health’s Code of Conduct.

Additionally, Essentia Health may:

• Place restrictions on in-person visitations.
• Remove a person from an Essentia Health site with an order not to return.
• Involve Essentia Health Security staff during patient appointments and any other interactions with Essentia Health staff.
• Involve local law enforcement.
• Issue a No Trespass Order and prosecute for trespassing and/or criminal behavior for acts committed on Essentia Health property.

Essentia Health will not discourage or deter individuals and patients from seeking emergency care and treatment. Individuals and patients may always seek emergency care and treatment at a dedicated Essentia Health emergency department.