Patient Rights & Responsibilities

“To Provide Quality Healthcare for Everyone”

Welcome to Gateway Community Health Center, Inc. Our goal is to provide quality health care to people in our community regardless of their ability to pay. As a patient, you have rights and responsibilities. Gateway also has rights and responsibilities. We want you to understand these rights and responsibilities so you can help us provide better health care for you. Please read this statement and feel free to ask us any questions you may have.

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Human Rights

You have a right to be treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, color, marital status, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, political affiliation, physical or mental disabilities (handicap), age, veteran status, ability to pay for services or other grounds as applicable federal, state and local laws or regulations..

Payment for Services

You are responsible for giving us accurate information about your present financial status and any changes in your financial status. We need this information to decide how much to charge you and/or so we can bill your private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or other benefits you may be eligible. If your income is less than the federal poverty guidelines, you will be charge a discounted fee.

You have a right to receive explanations of our bill. You must pay, or arrange to pay all agreed fees for medical services with the exception of dental services, which are provided on a prepaid basis. If you cannot pay right away, please let us know so we can provide care for you now and work out a payment plan.

Federal law prohibits us from denying you primary health care services, which are medically necessary, solely because you cannot pay for these services.

Privacy

You have a right to have your interviews, examinations and treatment in privacy. Your medical records are also private. Only legally authorized persons may see your records, unless you request in writing for us to show them to someone else. A complete discussion of your privacy rights is attached as “Notice of Client Privacy Rights.” By signing this document you are indicating that you have received this Notice. The Notice details the various rights granted to you by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Health Care

You are responsible for providing us complete and current information about your health or illness, so that we can give you proper health care. You have a right and are encouraged to participate in decisions about your treatment.

You have a right to information and explanations in the language you normally speak and in words that you understand. You have a right to information about your health or illness, treatment plan (including risks) and expected outcome, if known and information regarding Advance Directives. If you do not wish to receive this information, or if it is not medically advisable to share that information with you, we will provide it to a legally authorized person.

You are responsible for appropriate use of our services, which includes following our staff’s instructions, making and keeping scheduled appointments, and only requesting a “walk in” appointment only when you are ill. We may not be able to see you unless you have an appointment. If you cannot follow the staff’s instructions, please tell us so we can help you.

If you are an adult (older than 18 years old), you have a right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the risks of refusing such care. You are responsible for the outcome of refusing treatment.

You have a right to health care and treatment that is reasonable for your condition and within our capability. You have a right to be transferred or referred to another facility for services that we cannot provide. But, we do not pay for services that you get somewhere else. Note: Gateway is not an emergency facility .

You have the right to receive an appropriate assessment and a pain management plan.

Center Rules

You have a right to receive information on how to appropriately use Gateway’s services. You are responsible for using Gateway’s services in an appropriate manner. If you have any questions, please ask us.

You are responsible for the supervision of children you bring with you to the Center. You are responsible for their safety and the protection of other clients and our property.

You have a responsibility to keep your scheduled appointments. Missed scheduled appointments cause delay in treating other patients. If you do not keep scheduled appointments you may be asked to meet with the Executive Director or designee staff to determine the reason for your missed appointments and whether you can continue as a patient of the Center.

Complaints

If you are not satisfied with our services, please tell us. We want suggestions so we can improve our services. We will tell you how to file a complaint. If you are not satisfied with how we handle your complaint, you may file a complaint with the Board of Directors.

We will not punish you for filing a complaint, and will continue to see you as a patient.

Termination

If we decide that we must stop treating you as a patient, you have a right to advance notice that explains the reason for the decision, and you will be given 30 days to find other health services. We can decide to stop treating you immediately and without notice if you have created a threat to the safety of the staff and/or other clients. You have a right to receive a copy of Gateway’s termination policy. Reasons for which we may stop seeing you include: A) Failure to obey our rules, such as nor keeping scheduled appointments, B) Intentional failure to report accurately your financial status, C) Intentional failure to report accurate information concerning your health or illness, D) Intentional failure to follow the health care program, such as instructions about taking medications, personal health practices, or follow-up appointments, as recommended by your provider and/or E) Creating a threat to the safety of the staff and/or clients.

If we decide to stop treating you as a patient, you have the right to appeal the decision to the Board of Directors or through the courts. Unless you have a medical emergency, we will not continue to see you as a patient while you are appealing the decision.

CLOSE ACCORDION

PATIENT COMPLAINTS

If you have a complaint regarding your care, personnel,
housekeeping or if you feel you are not being treated with dignity and respect,
please call Elmo Lopez Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Gateway Community Health
Center, Inc. at (956) 795-8100 or request to speak with the supervisor on site.

For all other Complaints

patient complaints