Patient Rights

The Patient has the right to:


1. Personal Privacy.

2. Receive verbal and written notice of patient rights in advance of the date of the procedure, in a language and manner that the patient or the patient's respresentative understands.

3. Exercise his or her rights without being subjected to discrimination or reprisal.

4. Treatment without regard to race, sex, age, national origin or cultural, economic, educational, or religious background, or the source of payment of his/her care.

5. Considerate, dignified and respectful care in a safe environment that is free from all forms of abuse or harassment.

6. Receive information from his/her physician about his/her illness, his/her course of

treatment, and his prospects for recovery in terms that he/she can understand. Interpreters will be provided when necessary. When it is medically inadvisable to give such information to a patient, the information is provided to a person designated by the patient or to a legally authorized person.

7 Be fully informed about treatment or a procedure and the expected outcome before it is performed. Except in emergencies, this information shall include a description of all the procedure(s) or treatment(s), the medically significant risk(s) involved in the treatment, an alternate course of treatment or non-treatment, and the risk(s) involved in each, including the name of the person who would carry out the treatment(s) or procedure(s).

8. If a patient is adjudged incompetent under applicate State health and safety laws by a court of proper jurisdiction, the rights of the patient are exercised by the person appointed under State law to act on the patient's behalf.

9. If the State court has not adjudged a patient incompetent, any legal representative designated by the patient in accordance with the State law may exercise the patient's rights to the extent allowed by State law.

10. To make informed decisions regarding the patient's medical care. To the extent it is permitted by law, this include the right to refuse treatment.

11. Reasonable responses to any reasonable request he/she makes for services.

12. Reasonable continuity of care & to know, in advance, the time & location of appointment(s), as well as, the practitioner providing the care.

13. Consult with another physician.

14. Agree to or refuse to participate in research projects.

15. Be informed by his/her physician, or designee, of his/her continuing health care requirements.

16. The knowledge of the name and the professional status of the physician who has primary responsibility for coordination of his/her care and the names and professional relationships of other practitioners who will see him/her.

17. Obtain written knowledge of his/her physician's financial interest or ownership prior to the date of the procedure:

The Gastroenterology Endoscopy Center is owned entirely by physicians. Many of
the physician owners are those who perform the procedures. If you would like a
list of the physician owners, please see our website, ask your physician or contact
our Executive Director at 503-692-3750 for further details.

18. Receive, in advance of the date of the procedure, information concerning the Endoscopy Center's policy on advance directives, including a description of applicable State Health and Safety laws, and if requested, official State advance directive forms. These are available upon request. Documentation is in a prominent part of the patient's chart whether or not the patient has executed an advance directive.

19. Full privacy and security of individually identifiable health information. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and shall be conducted discreetly. The patient has the right to be advised as to the reason for the presence of any individual. HIPAA regulations will be observed.

20. Confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to his/her care. His/her written permission shall be obtained before his/her medical records are made available to anyone not concerned with his/her care, except when required by law.

21. Examine and receive an explanation of his bill regardless of the source of payment.

22. Payment policy arrangements, as the need exists.

23. Offer appropriate suggestions.

24. Voice grievances regarding treatment or care that is, or fails to be, furnished. The Endoscopy Center will investigate all grievances made by the patient or the patient's representative regarding treatment or care that is, or fails to be furnished.

A grievance procedure for documenting the existence, submission, investigation and disposition of a patient's written or verbal grievance. All alleged violations/grievances relating, but not limited to, mistreatment, neglect, verbal, mental, sexual, or physical abuse will be documented. All allegations will be immediately reported to a person in authority. All substantiated allegations will be reported to the appropriate State or Local authority, or both. The process for review of the grievance and the provisions of a response will be within 90 days. Written notice, of the Endoscopy Center's decision, the steps taken to investigate the grievance, the result of the grievance process, and the date the grievance process was completed, will be sent to the patient. The decision will include the name of the Endoscopy Center's contact person.

25. Submit a grievance form regarding a circumstance to be addressed (Form available upon request.)

26. Twenty four hour access to physician owners via phone (503)692-3750. Emergency measures are available as needed.

27. Access to the Practice and Endoscopy Center's website, www.gispecialists.org.

Patient Responsibilities

Provision of Information
A patient has the responsibility to provide to the best of his/her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalization, medications, and other matters relating to his/her health. He/she has the responsibility to report unexpected changes in his/her conditions to the responsible practitioner. A patient is responsible for making it known whether he/she clearly comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him/her.

Compliance with Instructions
A patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for his/her care. This may include following the instructions of nurses and allied health personnel as they carry out the coordinated plan of care and implement the responsible practitioner’s orders, and as they enforce the applicable rules and regulations. The patient is responsible for keeping appointments and, when he/she is unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the responsible practitioner or the facility.

Refusal of Treatment
The patient is responsible for his/her actions if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow the practitioner’s instructions.

Charges
The patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his/her health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

Rules and Regulations
The patient is responsible for following rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

Respect and Consideration
The patient is responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and personnel, and for assisting in the control of the noise, smoking, and the number of visitors. The patient is responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the facility. Failure to comply with this may lead to termination from Practice.

Patient Grievance Form

Grievance Contact Information:

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc
5250 Old Orchard Road
Suite 200
Skokie, IL 60077
Phone: (847) 853-6060

Oregon Department of Health
800 NE Oregon Street
Portland, Or 97232
Phone: (971) 673-1222
Oregon Medical Board
1500 SW 1st Avenue
Suite 620
Portland, OR 97201-5847
Phone: (971) 673-2700

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa  
Quality Improvement Organization
Acumentra Health
2020 SW 4th Avenue
Suite 520
Portland, OR 97201
Phone: (800) 344-4354

Office of the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman
www.cms.hhs.gov/center/ombudsman.asp