Patient Rights

Considerate and Respectful Care

Our Considerate and Respectful Care Policy gives you the right to:

Fair, high-quality, safe and professional care
Care regardless of color, race, religion, creed, etc.
Consideration, respect, and recognition of you and your individuality
Treatment privacy
Safe environment
Ask for (except in emergencies) a person of the same sex to be available for any part of an exam, treatment or procedures performed by a person of the opposite sex
Not be undressed any longer than needed for the exam, test, procedure, or other reason
Private and discreet consultation, exam, and care. See Notice of Privacy Practices (NOPP) for the full list of privacy and security of health information/medical record rights
To wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items, as long as they do not interfere with your treatment or diagnostic procedures

Our Health Status and Care Policy gives you the right to:

Be informed of your health status in terms and / or language that you, your family, and caregivers can be expected to understand
Take part and be active in your care and treatment plan
Participate in decisions in your care, unless your doctors or others believe it is harmful to you
Know, be told, and understand:
- the names and roles of your health care experts that provide your care
- your follow-up care
- risks, benefits and side effects of all medicines and treatment procedures for your diagnoses
- innovative or experimental medicines and treatment procedures of diagnosis offered
- alternative treatment options offered
- your procedure and to “give informed consent” before it begins
- possible outcomes of your care and treatment
- the assessment and management of your pain
When and if the Practice recommends other health care institutions:
- to participate in your care
- to know who these other health care places are and what they will do
- to refuse their care
Get help from the doctor and others for follow-up care, if available
To change providers or get a second opinion, including specialists at your request and expense

Our Decision Making and Notification Policy gives you the right to:

Choose a person to be your health care representative or decision-maker
Exclude those you do not want help from or to join in your care or decisions
Ask for, but not have the right to demand, services the Practice does not think are needed or appropriate
Refuse treatment
Be included in experimental research only with your written consent
Refuse experimental research including new drug and medical device investigations
Receive the information necessary to approve a treatment or procedure
Give consent to a procedure or treatment

Our Access to Services Policy gives you the right to:

Receive translator, interpreter or other necessary services or devices to help you communicate with the Practice in a timely manner
Bring a service animal except where prohibited pursuant to Practice policy
Have access to our facility buildings and grounds in compliance with The Americans with Disabilities Act, a law that stops discrimination against people with disabilities. The ADA policy is available upon request
Prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests for service

Our Ethical Decision Policy gives you the right to:

Talk to and join in with your doctor about:
- conflict resolutions
- withholding resuscitative services
- foregoing or withdrawing life sustaining care
- investigational study or clinical trials
Know that if your health care expert decides your refusal to accept treatment prevents you from getting the right care (as stated by its ethical and professional standards), it can end the relationship

Our Protective Service Policy gives you the right to:

Receive available protective and advocacy services
Be given the Practice’s policies and procedures for:
- Initiation, review, resolution of patient complaints, including the address and phone number to file complaints
Discuss complaints, issues, or problems with your doctor and the Practice management team
File a complaint with the Department of Health or others with your concerns about patient abuse, neglect, misuse of your property at the Practice, other unresolved complaints, patient safety, and quality concerns
Have a fair review of alleged patient right violations
Receive, as offered by state law:
- care and treatment for mental illness or development disability
- all legal and civil rights as a citizen
Understand and expect emergency procedures without unneeded delay within Practice scope
Get needed information to approve a treatment or procedure

Our Payment and Administrative Policy gives you the right to:

Review your health care bill regardless of your ability to pay it or the payment source
Receive information about available financial resources
Know if the Practice, doctors and other team members accept Medicare, the government’s health insurance for those aged 65+ or disabled
Know and understand the Medicare charges for your services and treatment provided
Receive if you ask, with explanation, a reasonable estimate of your health care charges before treatment
To be free from any requirement to purchase drugs, or rent or purchase medical supplies or equipment from any particular source (specifically in accordance with the provisions of the CA Section 1320 of the Health and Safety Code) and also to receive patient choice in these type of decisions

You are an important and active member of your care plan. You have certain responsibilities to yourself and to your care team.

In the spirit of shared trust and respect, we ask you to: