Policy on Confidentiality for Patients        Patient Rights and Responsibilities        Disclaimer       Patient Advocacy

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

It is the goal of the North End Waterfront Health to give you the care that is right for your illness and to help you get well as soon as possible. We are committed to maintaining the rights, dignity and well-being of all patients.

These are your rights:

• You have the right to be treated in a caring and polite way.
• You have a right to know all the facts we have about your illness, treatments and possible outcomes. Your doctor or other healthcare provider will give these facts to you.
• You have the right to know the names of the people who are taking care of you and how they will help you or provide for you. This is also true if you are being taken care of by students, resident doctors or other people in training.
• You have the right to say yes to treatment.
• You also have the right to say no or refuse treatment.
• You have the right to agree to an advance directive, such as a health care proxy, which tells the health center and the doctor how you want to be treated and who you want to make decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself at the time.
• You have the right to be examined in private by your doctor or other health care giver, and you have the right to talk to your doctor in private.
• You have the right to look at your medical records and get a copy for a reasonable fee.
• You have the right to take part in a research study if you are asked.
• You also have the right to say no if you do not want to take part.
• You have the right to expect evaluation and treatment of pain.
• You have the right to expect that we will try to get back to you as quickly as possible when you ask us to do something.
• You have the right to receive written notice of how your health information will be used and shared in order for you to receive the highest quality of care. This is called our Privacy Notice and it contains patient rights and our legal duties regarding your health information. You may request a copy of this Privacy Notice from any staff member.
• You, your family, or your guardians have the right to tell us when something is seriously wrong. This is called presenting a complaint. If you present a complaint, your care will not be affected in any way. Also, if you have a problem that you cannot solve with your doctor, nurse, or other caregiver, please call the office of Patient Advocacy at 617-643-8106.
• You have the right to file a complaint with an outside agency. You can file a quality of care complaint to the Massachusetts Division of Healthcare Quality at 617-753-8100 or to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations at 800-994-6610. If you think your civil rights have been violated, you can call the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office at 617-727-2200.

Thank you for taking the time to read this Patient’s Bill of Rights. If you have any questions about these rights or would like a complete set of the law called the Massachusetts Patient Bill of Rights, please call the office of the Chief Compliance Officer at 617-643-8105.

These are your responsibilities:

• Be honest with us and tell us all you know about your present illness, including other times you have been treated, your health history, your current symptoms and anything else you know about your health that would help us treat you.
• Tell us the medicines you are taking, including the strength and how often you take them, include over the counter medications, dietary supplements and herbal products you take and/or alternative medicines or treatments that you receive. Talk about any allergies or reactions you have had to any medications.
• Follow the treatment plan recommended by the practitioner primarily responsible for your care.
• Ask your doctor or nurse when and how you will get the results of tests and procedures.
• Tell us if you do not understand what our staff is saying to you or if you do not understand what they are telling you to do; also please tell us if you think you will not be able to do what is asked of you during your care.
• Accept the responsibility for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow your practitioner’s instructions.
• Report unexpected changes in your condition to your doctor, nurse or other caregiver.
• Be considerate of the rights of other patients and health center personnel.
• Follow health center rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct; including the No Smoking policy.
• Respect the property of others and of the health center.
• Give the health center all of the information they will need about the payment of your medical care.
• Ask questions if you do not understand instructions given to you about the treatment plan that you will use at home, including the medication that you will take and the activities that you can do.

If you have any questions about any of this information, or would like a copy of the law called the Massachusetts Patient Bill of rights, please call the office of the Chief Compliance Officer at 617-643-8105.