Patient Rights and Responsibilities
PURPOSE:
To outline the rights of the patient with Student Health Services.
POLICY:
The Rights of Patients shall be prominently displayed in each exam room in the Student Health Center.
They include:
- Patients have the right to seek health care through Student Health Services.
- Patients have the right to medical attention within a reasonable time when care is sought.
- Patients have the right to be treated with respect, consideration and dignity, and to have all physical examinations, interviews, and discussions take place privately.
- Patients have the right to know the names and level of training of all staff that provide care.
- Patients have a right to confidential treatment of all personal communications and records, and, except when required by law, patients are given the opportunity to approve or refuse their release. Students can request a copy of the "Notice of Information Practices" from SHS.
- Patients have the right to review their medical charts. The patient also has the right to make arrangements for copies to be sent to an off-campus provider. 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.
- Patients have a right to complete and accurate information concerning their diagnosis, evaluation [i.e., planned tests], treatment, risks and benefits involved, and prognosis. 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.
- The patient will be informed if the physician plans to use a treatment or test which is part of a research experiment or educational project.
- Patients are given the opportunity to participate in decisions involving their health care, except when such participation is contraindicated for medical reasons. 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 different clinician take charge of their case. Patients have the right to expect continuity of care; both within SHS and when transferred to other off-campus providers.
- Patients have the right to question their health care provider about anything that is not understood about their care.
- Patients have the right to an explanation of any charges.
- Patients have a right to appropriately 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, question, or grievance about services, the patient has the right to contact the Director of Student Health Services.
PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES PURPOSE:
To outline the patient's responsibilities as the recipient of quality medical care.
POLICY:
A patient who receives care through Student Health Services has the following responsibilities:
- Each patient is responsible for his or her own health.
- The patient has the responsibility to know his/her health care provider by name, and to make an effort to understand their health condition and 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 to their level of satisfaction.
- The patient has the responsibility to:
- Respect the policies and guidelines of Student Health Services.
- Inform the senior secretary of change of any address, phone number, or enrollment status.
- Present the student identification card (One-card) prior to all visits.
- Abstain from the use of alcohol or any illegal substances prior to the visit.
- The patient has the responsibility to keep appointments and to be on time. If the appointment cannot be kept, the patient should notify the staff as soon as possible to cancel the appointment and/or to reschedule the appointment.
- Student Health Services has the responsibility to provide the best possible medical care as courteously and promptly as possible. The patient also has the responsibility to be respectful of and courteous to the Student Health staff.
- The patient has the responsibility to be honest and direct with the Student Health staff and to inform the health care provider of:
- objections to the proposed treatment plan;
- medications being taken that have been prescribed by another health care provider;
- accurate information;
- current and past medical conditions/treatments.
This information can impact medical management.
- The patient has the responsibility to carefully follow the health care provider's instructions and take medicines as directed. The patient also has the responsibility, when asked, to bring medications to Student Health Services.
- The patient is responsible for communicating any negative changes, side effects, or failed improvement following treatment within a reasonable period of time.
- During the initial visit to Student Health Services, 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. Patients that have difficulty speaking or understanding English are encouraged to bring someone with them to translate.
- In the event that a patient's health needs exceed the services available through Student Health Services, the patient has the responsibility to make provision for needed services, through health insurance or other means.
- If patients (students) have a problem about their care, they can inform a member of the staff. Initially, if the problem cannot be corrected, the Director of Student Health Services can be contacted.