Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Here are the patient rights and responsibilities from ASU West:

RIGHTS

SOURCE: Student Health

POLICY:

TREATMENT

Patients have the right to seek care at Student Health.

DIGNITY

Patients have the right to considerate respectful treatment.

INFORMATION

Patients have the right to know the names and level of training of all staff who provide care.

Patients have the right to an explanation concerning diagnoses, planned tests and treatments and any possible risks involved. If the physician plans to use a treatment or test which is part of a research experiment or education project, the patient will be informed.

MEDICAL RECORDS

Patients have the right to review their medical chart. The patient also has the right to make arrangements for copies to be sent to a health care provider outside of Student Health.

Medical Records will be maintained in accordance with applicable state and federal rules and regulations, and Student Health policies. Access to some mental health records may be limited.

DECISIONS

Patients have the right to consent to or refuse any or all tests or treatments proposed by the health care provider. Patients also have the right to ask for another health care provider's opinion or ask that a new physician take charge of their case.

PRIVACY

Patients have the right to have all physical examinations, interviews and discussions take place privately and have all communications and records about their care handled confidentially.

PROMPT ATTENTION

Patients have the right to medical attention within a reasonable time when care is sought.

ASSISTANCE

Patients have the right to expect that Student Health will provide necessary assistance such as an interpreter or a wheel chair during a Student Health visit.

CONTINUITY OF CARE

Patients have the right to continuity of care, both within Student Health proper and when transferred to other health care providers.

BILLS

Patients have the right to an explanation of any charges.

QUESTIONS

Patients have the right to question their health care provider about anything that is not understood about their care.

PROBLEMS

Patients have the right to express their concern about any treatment they consider unfair. If the patient does not receive a satisfactory response from the health care provider, or if the patient has a suggestion or question about services, the patient has the right to contact any member of the Management Team or Director of Student Health.

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

PURPOSE: To outline the patient's responsibilities as a recipient of quality medical care.

SOURCE: Student Health

POLICY: A patient who receives care at Student Health has the following responsibilities:

UNDERSTANDING

The patient has the responsibility to know his/her health care provider by name, and to make an effort to understand instructions including treatments proposed and medications prescribed. If the instructions or explanation are unclear, the patient has the responsibility to ask questions until the explanations are understood.

COOPERATION

The patient has the responsibility to

• respect the rules of Student Health
• inform the unit assistant of change of address, phone number, or enrollment status
• present the student I.D. card prior to all visits
• abstain from the use of alcohol or any non-prescribed substances prior to the visit

APPOINTMENTS

The patient has the responsibility to keep appointments and to be on time. If the appointment cannot be kept, the patient should notify the appointment staff as soon as possible to cancel and/or reschedule the appointment.

COURTESY

Student Health has the responsibility to provide the best possible medical care as courteously and promptly as possible. The patient also has the responsibility to be courteous to the Student Health staff.

HONESTY

The patient has the responsibility to be honest with the Student Health staff and to inform the attending health care provider of:

• objections to the proposed treatment program
• medications being taken that have been prescribeed by another health care provider
• provide accurate information
• provide current and past medical conditions/treatments

FOLLOWING INSTRUCTION

The patient has the responsibility to carefully follow the health care provider's instructions and to take medications as directed. The patient also has the responsibility, when asked, to bring medications to Student Health.

ADMISSION PROCEDURES

During the initial visit to Student Health, the patient will be asked to answer health related questions. It is the patient's responsibility to read and understand what is signed and to ask for clarification when needed.

HEALTH CARE

In the event that a patient's health needs exceed the services available at Student Health, the patient has the responsibility to make provisions for needed services, through health insurance or other means.

Go to the menu of selections in the Winter 1996 issue of CQ.