Patient Rights and Responsibilities
As our patient at Golden Springs Surgical Center, you have the right to:
- Receive care in a safe and secure setting, free from any form of abuse or harassment.
- Receive appropriate assessment and management of pain.
- Have a family member or representative of your choice and your personal physician promptly notified if you are admitted to the hospital.
- Receive treatment free from restraints or seclusion unless clinically necessary to provide acute medical, surgical, or behavioral care.
- Change your provider if other qualified providers are available.
- Exercise your rights without being subjected to discrimination or reprisal.
You are entitled to personal and informational privacy as required by law. This includes your right to:
- Know the identity, professional status, role, and business relationship of all those involved in your care.
- Undergo examinations in reasonably private visual and auditory surroundings.
- Request that a person of your own gender be present during physical examinations.
- Review or obtain copies of your medical and financial records.
- Obtain a list of certain disclosures of your medical information made in accordance with state and federal laws.
- Request an amendment to your medical records if you believe information is not correct.
- Have your medical records read and discreetly discussed only by those directly involved with or related to your care, by anyone to whom you have given permission, or by those who have legal custody, or other authorized individuals.
- Experience confidentiality in all aspects of your care and payment sources.
- Golden Springs Surgical Center will involve only those acting in an official capacity for the Center and will exclude any individuals you choose to exclude.
- Protective privacy when necessary to provide for your personal safety or for the safety of other patients, visitors, and staff.
- Preservation of the safety and security of your personal belongings from search or seizure, except for reasonable cause.
As a patient at Golden Springs Surgical Center, you have the right to:
- Receive information in a manner tailored to your level of understanding.
- Be involved in all aspects of your care and to participate in decisions regarding your care. This includes your right to be informed of the diagnosis and prognosis of your condition. When it is medically inadvisable to give such information to you, it will be provided to a person designated by you or to a legally authorized person.
- Be informed of appropriate treatment options, including their risks and benefits, alternative treatment options, the consequences of no treatment, and the results of medical care provided – including any unanticipated adverse outcomes.
- Request restrictions on how your medical and financial records are used and shared. However, Golden Springs Surgical Center may choose not to accept these restrictions if necessary, to your care.
- Have access to appropriate staff for the purpose of reporting suspected child abuse or adult abuse.
- Communicate with individuals outside the Center.
- Have access to interpreter services at no cost to you, if you are not fluent in English you have the choice of using an interpreter of your own, or one supplied by the facility.
- Have access to auxiliary aids or an assistive animal, if you have an impairment which requires use of these.
- Refuse treatment (to the extent permitted by law).
- Examine and receive an explanation of all bills regardless of the source of payment.
- Request Golden Springs Surgical Center to communicate with you at an alternative telephone number or address.
You will not be transferred to another facility or location without a complete explanation of the necessity for such an action.
You and your family/guardian have the right to express dissatisfaction regarding the quality of care without jeopardizing future care, including reprisals or discrimination.
You have the right to expect plans for reasonable continuity of care after discharge so that continuing health care needs may be met.
Formal Advance Directives are documents that state your choices for health care. Advance Directives allow you to make known your wishes regarding the medical care you do or do not want to receive if you become too sick to speak for yourself. Procedures in an ambulatory care setting are generally performed to enhance or improve the patient’s quality of life; therefore, it is our policy that if you suffer a cardiac or respiratory arrest or other life-threatening situation, resuscitative measures will be initiated, and you will be transferred to a hospital. At the hospital, further treatments or withdrawal of treatment measures will be exercised in accordance with your Advance Directive. The Center respects your right to make decisions regarding your medical care. If you present an Advance Directive at time of your admission, a copy will be made and become part of your medical record and will be transferred with you to a hospital, if a higher level of care should be required. If you disagree with this policy, please address this issue with your physician prior to your procedure.
As a patient, you are encouraged to promote your own safety by becoming an active, involved, and informed member of your health care team. This includes your right to:
- Ask questions if you are concerned about your health or safety.
- Verify the site/side of the body that will be operated on prior to the procedure.
- Remind staff to check your ID before medications are given, blood samples are obtained or prior to an invasive procedure.
- Remind the caregivers to wash their hands prior to giving care.
- Be informed about which medications you are taking and why you are taking them.
As a patient at Golden Springs Surgical Center, you are responsible for providing accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications (including over the counter and dietary supplements), allergies, sensitivities, piercings and jewelry and other matters relating to your health.
As a patient at Golden Springs Surgical Center, it is your responsibility to:
- Provide a responsible adult to transport you home from the facility and remain with you for 24 hours, if required by your physician.
- Ask questions.
- Follow the treatment plan recommended by your caregivers and ask questions if necessary.
- Accept personal responsibility if you refuse treatment.
- Observe the Center’s rules.
- Adhere to Golden Springs Surgical Center’s TOBACCO-FREE Policy.
- Recognize and respect the rights of other patients, families and staff, including property.
- Report perceived risks and unexpected changes in your condition to your health care provider.
- Accept financial responsibility for any charges not covered by your insurance.
- Be respectful of all the healthcare providers and staff, as well as other patients and visitors.
- Adhere to the facility’s no weapons policy.
- Keeping appointments and when unable to do so for any reason, notify the Center and physician.
You are encouraged to ask questions about any of these rights that you do not understand. If you would like to express concerns regarding the quality of care you received at Golden Springs Surgical Center, contact the Nursing Manager or Administrator. If you have concerns regarding your insurance or financial responsibility, contact the Benefits & Eligibility department or Administrator. You will receive a personal response. In the event you are not satisfied with the results, you may file a complaint with us or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. You may file a complaint with us by notifying our privacy officer of your complaint. The Center will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
We appreciate the trust you have placed in the staff at Golden Springs Surgical Center. We will make every attempt to honor that trust by providing the highest quality medical care you expect and deserve from our facility. We want your visit to be as pleasant as possible and welcome any comments or suggestions that you may have. You will be given a patient satisfaction survey upon discharge. Your comments are important to us as we strive to continually improve our services for you and your family.
If you do not speak English assistance is available to you free of charge. Please ask for assistance from a staff member.