Patient Rights and Responsibilities

As a patient-centered healthcare provider, SouthCoast Health is passionate about protecting and honoring your rights and responsibilities as a patient. We live that philosophy in everything we do. As one part of our commitment, we have adopted the following policy expressing our beliefs regarding your rights and responsibilities.

Purpose

It shall be the policy of SouthCoast Health to protect patient rights to the best of our abilities.

Patient Rights

• The patient has the right to receive considerate and respectful care.
• The patient has the right and is encouraged to obtain from physicians and other healthcare providers relevant, current and understandable information about his or her healthcare.
• The patient has the right to know the names of their physician, nurses, and other staff who are involved with their care.
• The patient has the right to know all treatment options and to participate in decisions about care.
• The patient has the right to talk privately and in confidence with the healthcare providers and to have their health information protected.
• The patient has the right to review his or her medical records and to have the information explained or interpreted except where restricted by law.
• The patient has the right to a fair and timely review of any complaint against our doctors, staff or other healthcare professional.

Patient Responsibilities

The effectiveness of care and patient satisfaction with the course of treatment depends, in part, on the patient fulfilling certain responsibilities.

• The patient is responsible for providing information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other health-related matters.
• Patients are responsible for providing necessary information for insurance claims and for working with the staff at SouthCoast Health as needed to make payment arrangements.
• Patients are responsible to provide updated information regarding name, address, and phone number changes.
• Patients are asked to recognize that their healthcare depends on the healthcare services they receive and the impact of their lifestyles and habits.
• Patients are responsible to keep appointments scheduled with their physician and other ancillary care providers to cancel with 24 hours notice if they are unable to keep their appointment.
• Patients are expected to inform their physician if they are not compliant with the treatment plan or their doctor's treatment recommendations.
• Patients are expected to be compliant with the course of treatment recommended by their physician including but not limited to medications, referrals and follow up appointments.
• Patients must take responsibility for requesting additional information or clarification about their health, treatment or instructions.