Patient and Guest Code of Conduct

Cooper University Health Care is committed to providing high-quality health care and building healthy and thriving communities. Everyone should expect a safe, caring, and inclusive environment in all our spaces.

Our Patient and Guest Code of Conduct helps us to meet this goal and applies to all patients, visitors, and accompanying family members. Words or actions that are disrespectful, racist, discriminatory, hostile, or harassing are not welcome. Examples include:

• Offensive comments about others’ race, accent, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or other personal traits
• Refusal to see a clinician or other team member based on these personal traits
• Physical assaults or verbal threatening to inflict bodily harm or destroy property
• Making threats of violence through phone calls, letters, voicemail messages, email, or other forms of written, spoken, or electronic communication, including social media
• Intimidating or harassing staff or other patients
• Damaging business equipment or property
• Bringing weapons of any kind
• Use of alcohol or illegal drugs; visitors may be removed if they are under the influence
• Using sexual or vulgar words or actions
• Disrupting another patient’s care or experience

If we believe you have violated the Code of Conduct with unwelcome words or actions, you will be given an opportunity to share your point of view. We will carefully consider all of the information before any decisions are made on how to proceed.

Repeated or continued violations of the Patient and Guest Code of Conduct may lead to patients being asked to make other plans for their non-emergency care needs.

If you witness or are the target of any of these behaviors, please report it to a member of your care team.