Rights and Responsibilities
At Health First Physicians, we are committed to providing you with the best possible health care. It has been and continues to be our guiding principle to protect the interest of patients by the adoption of a Patient Rights and Responsibilities policy. We encourage you to become an active partner in your health care team by being informed about your rights and responsibilities.
I. Patient Rights
As a patient, you have the right to:
- Quality services, appropriate to their health care needs, which are delivered in a timely manner
- Care that is appropriate for medical necessity
- Reasonable access to medical care.
- Confidentiality in regard to medical and social history, individual medical records and medical information
- Be treated with dignity, respect and consideration
- Be informed about personal health as it concerns medical conditions, diagnostic tests and treatment plans
- Change physicians/providers
- A second opinion
- Involvement in decision-making regarding treatment
- Refuse to participate in research (Human experimentation affecting care or treatment shall be performed only with a patient's informed consent.)
- Auditory and visual privacy during a visit
- Approve or refuse the release of information except when a release is required by law
- Refuse treatment or therapy (Such persons will be made aware of the consequences of their decision and it will be documented in their medical record.)
- Create Advance Directives, which let providers and others know the person's wishes concerning medical treatment
- Assert complaints and grievances about the providers and health care provided
- Be informed about the role of medical students/supervised practitioners and the right to refuse such care
II. Patient Responsibilities
As a patient you are responsible to:
- Become fully informed about the extent of your insurance coverage
- Become knowledgeable of the system to access medical care
- Keep all scheduled appointments and to notify the provider when unable to keep a scheduled appointment
- Be on time for all scheduled appointments
- Follow all medically appropriate physicians orders and prescriptions
- Treat all personnel with courtesy and respect
- Provide complete health status information for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment
- Always call your PCP before receiving urgent care and, when possible, emergency care when mandated by their insurance plan
- Notify your PCP when you receive emergency care within twenty-four (24) hours, or as soon as possible when mandated by their insurance plan
