Your Bill of Rights As A Patient - Specialty Eye Institute

Bill of Rights

Your Rights and Our Responsibilities
You have a right to:

Considerate and respectful care
Obtain from your health care professionals and other direct providers of patient care services relevant, current, and understandable information concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
Know the identity of your care professionals, and others involved in their care and their credentials, as well as when those care providers are students, residents, or other trainees
Know the immediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices, if known
Make decisions about the plan of care prior to and during the course of treatment
Refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care to the extent permitted by law and standard operating procedures of the Center and to be informed of the consequences of this action. In case of such refusal, you are entitled to other appropriate care and services that the Center provides or transfer to another provider of health care services. The Center should notify you of any policy that might affect patient choice.
Have the information contained in your record explained or interpreted as necessary, except where restricted by law
Expect that, within its capacity and policies, the Center will, within reason, respond to your request for appropriate health care services. The Center must provide evaluation, service, and/or referral appropriate to your condition. When clinically appropriate and legally permissible, or at your request, your care may be transferred to another health care professional, provided the health care professional has accepted your transfer.
Ask for and be informed of the existence of business relationships among the Center, manufacturers of products and services, educational institutions, other healthcare professionals, and/or payers, if any, that might influence your treatment and care
Consent to or decline to participate in proposed research studies or human experimentation affecting care and treatment or requiring direct patient involvement, and to have those studies fully explained prior to consent. If you decline to participate in research or experimentation, you are entitled to the most effective care that the Center can otherwise provide.
Expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed by your health care professionals and others participating in your care of available and realistic patient care options when care within the Center is no longer appropriate
Be informed of the policies and practices of the Center that relate to your care and the responsibilities of providers of healthcare services
Be informed of available resources for resolving disputes, grievances, and conflicts
Be informed of the fees for services provided by your healthcare professionals and the Center

Your Responsibilities

The collaborative nature of health care requires that a patient (and their family members/guardian and/or Personal Representative) participate in their care. The effectiveness of care and patient satisfaction depends, in part, on the patient fulfilling certain responsibilities. You are responsible for providing information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters related to your health. To participate effectively in decision-making, you must take responsibility for requesting additional information or clarification about your condition or treatment when you do not fully understand information and/or instructions. You are also responsible for informing your healthcare professionals if you anticipate problems following the prescribed treatment or post-operative care.

You should be aware of the Center’s obligation to be reasonable, efficient and equitable in providing care to other patients and the community; the Center’s policies and standard operating procedures are designed to fulfill this obligation. You are responsible for making reasonable accommodations for the needs of other patients, the professional staff and employees of the Center. You are responsible for providing necessary information for insurance claims and working with the Center to make payment arrangements, when necessary.

Your vision depends on much more than the health care you receive at the Center. As a result, you are responsible for recognizing the impact of your lifestyle on the health of your eyes and vision.

Changes to this Notice

By law, we must abide by the terms of the Privacy Practices; however, we reserve the right to change our Privacy Practices and/or this Notice. If we revise this Notice, the new Notice will be effective for all medical information we maintain. Any new Notices will be available by accessing the website, by calling 1-800-551-7347 and requesting that a copy be sent to you in the mail, or asking for a copy at the time of your next appointment or visit.

Personal Representative

Your Personal Representative may exercise your rights on your behalf. A Personal Representative may include your guardian if you are a minor, lack decision-making capacity or are legally incompetent, or a person you have authorized to act on your behalf as specified in a written document (such as a power of attorney).

For More Information or to Report a Complaint

If you have questions or would like more information about this Notice, you may contact the Privacy Officer at 850 W. North St., Suite 104, Jackson, MI 49202.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a written complaint with the Privacy Officer or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Effective Date: April 14, 2003.