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Walk-ins and appointments 855.887.9229

Patients Rights and Responsibilities

ISSUES OF CARE

The PHMC Health Network is committed to your participation in care decisions. As a Patient, you have the right to ask questions and receive answers regarding the clinical care recommended by any of our health providers, including discontinuing care. We urge you to follow the healthcare directions given to you by our providers. However, if you have any doubts or concerns, or if you question the care prescribed by our providers, please ask for any clarification you need.

Patient Rights

  • You have the right to respectful care given by competent personnel, which considers your personal value and belief systems and which places high value on your comfort and dignity.
  • You have the right to know which clinic policies, rules, and regulations apply to you as a patient.
  • You have the right to expect emergency procedures to be implemented without unnecessary delay.
  • You have the right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed.
  • You have the right to expect good management techniques to be applied within this health care facility, which is respectful of your time and avoids your personal discomfort.
  • You have the right to medical and nursing services without discrimination based upon race, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, handicap, nation origin, or source of payment.
  • You have the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.
  • You have the right, in collaboration with your care provider, to make decisions involving your health care. This right applies to the family and/or guardian of neonates, children, and adolescents.
  • While this health care facility recognizes your right to participate in your care and treatment to the fullest extent possible, there are some instances in which you may not be able to do so. In these situations (e.g., if you have been decided incompetent in accordance with the law, are found by your care provider to be medically incapable of understanding the proposed treatment or procedure, are unable to communicate your wishes regarding treatment, or are an unemancipated minor), your rights are to be exercised to the extent permitted by law by your designated representative or other legally designated person.
  • You have the right to make decisions regarding the withholding of resuscitative services or the foregoing or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment within the limits of the law.
  • You have the right, upon request, to be given the names and professional status of all health care personnel, including medical students, or other trainees, having direct contact with you while being treated in our clinic.
  • You have the right to every consideration of privacy concerning your medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are considered confidential and should be conducted discreetly, giving reasonable visual and auditory privacy when possible. This includes the right, if requested, to have someone present while physical examinations, treatments, or procedures are being performed, as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment.
  • You have the right to receive care in a safe setting, and be free from all forms of abuse and harassment.
  • You have the right to have all information, including records pertaining to your medical care, treated as confidential except as otherwise provided by law or third-party contractual arrangement.
  • You have the right to be free from restraint and seclusion not medically necessary or used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff.
  • You have the right to have your medical records read only by individuals directly involved in your care, by individuals monitoring the quality of your care, or by individuals authorized by law or regulation. You or your designated/legal representative, upon request, will have access to all information contained in your medical records, unless access is specifically restricted by your care provider for medical reasons.
  • You have the right to be communicated with in a manner that is clear, concise and understandable. If you do not speak English, you should have access, where possible, to an interpreter.
  • You have the right to full information in layman’s terms, concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, including information about alternative treatments and possible complications. When it is not medically advisable that such information be given to you, the information shall be given on your behalf to your designated/legal representative.
  • Except for emergencies, your care provider must obtain the necessary informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment, or both.
  • You have the right to access protective services.
  • You have the right to not be involved in any experimental, research, donor program, or educational activities unless you have, or your designated/legal representative has, given informed consent prior to the actual participation in such a program. You or your designated/legal representative may, at any time, refuse to continue in any such program to which informed consent has previously been given.
  • You have the right to accept medical care or to refuse any drugs, treatment, or procedure offered by the clinic, to the extent permitted by law, and a care provider shall inform you of the medical consequences of such refusal.
  • You have the right to participate in the consideration of ethical issues surrounding your care within the framework established by this organization to consider such issues.
  • You have the right to formulate an “advance directive,” or to appoint someone to make health care decisions on your behalf. These decisions will be honored by this facility and its health care professionals within the limits of the law and this organization’s mission, values and philosophy. If applicable, you are responsible for providing a copy of your “advance directive” to the facility or caregiver.
  • You are not required to have or complete an “advance directive” in order to receive care and treatment in this facility.
  • You have the right to assistance in obtaining consultation with another physician at your request and expense.
  • You have the right to full information and counseling on the availability of known financial resources for your health care, if appropriate.
  • You have the right to expect that your care provider will provide information on continuing health care requirements or instructions after your appointment.
  • You cannot be denied the right of access to an individual or agency who is authorized to act on your behalf to assert or protect the rights set out in this section.
  • Information regarding your rights as a patient will be made available to you upon request and will be easily visible to you on each visit to the clinic.
  • You have the right, without recrimination, to voice complaints regarding your care, to have those complaints reviewed, and, when possible, resolved.
  • If you or a family member thinks that a complaint or grievance remains unresolved through the PHMC Health Network process, you also have the right to contact:

    Division of Acute and Ambulatory Care
    PA Department of Health
    P.O. Box 90
    Health and Welfare Building
    Harrisburg, PA 17180-0900
    1-800-254-5164
    OR
    Department of Health Services Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
    1-800-MEDICARE

Patient Responsibilities

  • To the extent possible, you or your designee has a responsibility to be truthful and to express your concerns clearly to your health providers.
  • You have a responsibility to provide a complete medical history, to the extent possible, including information about past illnesses, medications, hospitalizations, family history of illness and other matters relating to present health.
  • You have the responsibility to request information or clarification about your health status or treatment when you do not fully understand what has been described.
  • Once you and your health providers agree upon your health care goals, you have a responsibility to follow the treatment plan and notify your care provider of any concerns or potential needs for modification of the treatment plan. You also have a responsibility to disclose whether previously agreed-upon treatments are being followed and to indicate when you would like to reconsider the treatment plan.
  • You have the responsibility to participate as fully as possible in your care, including attending appointments as is feasible, and complying with your identified treatment plan.
  • You have the responsibility to respect fellow patients and office staff in any office communications or interactions.
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