Your Patient RIGHTS
and Patient RESPONSIBILITIES

You have the RIGHT to:

	Quality services, appropriate to your health care needs, delivered on a timely basis.
	Medically necessary care and reasonable access to care.
	Be treated with dignity and respect.
	Have confidentiality in regard to ALL medical records, including all medical and social history.
	Be informed of your medical condition as related to diagnostic tests, treatment plans, etc.
	Change physicians at any time. Those enrolled in Managed Care insurance plans must notify their plans and make arrangements with their insurance companies to select another doctor on the plan.
	A second opinion if you so wish, and if your insurance company allows this. If the plan does not allow for payment for a second opinion, the patient may still seek a second opinion realizing the patient will be financially responsible for the bill.
	Deny participation in regards to any research studies or projects. However, if you do wish to participate, you must sign an informed consent.
	Auditory and visual privacy during your visit.
	Approve or refuse the release of information except where required by law.
	Have information made available to another person who you have legally authorized, should concern for your health make it inadvisable to give you such information.
	Refuse treatment or therapy. However, we will make you aware of the consequences of your decision.
	Create Advance Directives to let your physician and others know your wishes in regard to medical treatment.
	Express your complaints and grievances.
	Be informed in the role medical students and nursing students, and also have the right to refuse student care.

You have the RESPONSIBILITY to:

	Be informed about your insurance coverage, benefit rules, etc.
	Know your insurance company's rules regarding access into the medical system in and out of your insurance's network.
	Keep all scheduled appointments and notify us in advance when unable to keep a scheduled appointment.
	Follow physician orders and prescription dosing and to ask questions if unsure about anything.
	Treat our staff with courtesy and dignity.
	Provide complete and correct health status information to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
	Call our office before receiving urgent and emergency care UNLESS the situation is life-threatening. In that case, a call should be made to our office by you or a family member within 24 hours of emergency care.
	Take responsibility for your own health. Community Health Care serves in an advisory role in health care decisions. The patient is responsible for following up with us in regard to diagnostic testing, medication follow-up, etc. We recommend follow-up appointments; however, the patient or patient's guardian is responsible for scheduling and keeping those appointments.