The Patient Bill of Rights & Responsibilities

Health Services is committed to providing quality health care that recognizes the individual needs of the students. Healthcare professionals provide services, programs and wellness education to enable students to become well integrated in mind, body and spirit.

AS A PATIENT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT:

  1. To receive considerate care that is respectful of your privacy, personal beliefs and cultural and spiritual values.
  2. To be provided, to the degree known, complete information concerning his/her diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and prognosis. Explanations will be in terms that the patient can understand. When it is medically inadvisable to give such information to the patient, the information is provided to a person designated by the patient or to a legally authorized person.
  3. To have all the common side effects of a drug explained.
  4. To know the contents of your medical records through interpretation by the provider.
  5. To know who it is that is interviewing and examining you. To ask about their credentials.
  6. To change health care providers if other qualified providers are available.
  7. To have the opportunity to refuse care offered by medical or nursing students.
  8. To have explained to you ways that you can prevent your medical problem from recurring.
  9. To refuse to be examined or treated by health practitioners and to be informed of the consequence of such decisions.
  10. To be assured of the confidential treatment of disclosures  and records and to have the opportunity to approve or refuse the release of such information except when release of specific information is required by law or is necessary to safeguard you or the College community.
  11. To be informed and asked whether you wish to participate in medical research when it is being conducted in Health Services.
  12. To be given the opportunity to participate in decisions involving your health care.
  13. To participate in the consideration of ethical issues that may arise in the provision of your care.
  14. You have the right to have an advanced directive, such as a living will or health care proxy. These documents express your choices about your future care or name someone to decide for you if you cannot speak for yourself. If you have a written advance directive, you should provide a copy to Health Services, the hospital, your family and your doctor.
  15. You have the right to present a concern or complaint regarding treatment or care that is (or fails to be) furnished with the knowledge that your care or service will not be jeopardized. Health Services will give you feedback regarding your concerns.

AS A PATIENT YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY:

  1. To provide Health Services with information about past immunizations, illnesses, hospitalizations and medications including over-the-counter products and dietary supplements and any allergies or sensitivities.
  2. To follow the treatment plan prescribed and to ask questions if you do not understand the directions or treatment being given by a provider.
  3. To provide a responsible adult to transport him/her home from the facility and provide adequate observation as requested by his/her provider.
  4. To accept personal financial responsibility for any charges not covered by his/her insurance.
  5. To keep appointments or telephone Health Services within a reasonable time ahead if you need to cancel.
  6. To be respectful of all health care professionals and staff as well as other patients/visitors and others' property while in Health Services. 
  7. You are responsible for recognizing the effect of life-style on your personal health. Your health depends not just on Health Services care, but in the long term, on the decisions you make in your daily life.
  8. To bring forward suggestions or grievances, please contact the Director of Health Services can be reached at 508-793-2276, the Board of Registration in Medicine at 781-876-8200 or the Department of Public Health at 617-624-6000.