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Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Rights

The University Health Center (UHC) recognizes its responsibility to respect the basic human rights of all patients who seek treatment here.

As a patient, you have a right to:

  1. Health care regardless of age, race, gender, religion, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation.
  2. Be treated with respect for personal dignity and privacy.
  3. Confidentiality of medical records: State and federal law forbids the release of medical records without written consent of the patient, except in specific situations where law requires the University Health Center to release information.
  4. Know the identity of the health care professional providing services.
  5. Expect diagnosis, prognosis, and methods to be explained clearly.
  6. Be informed about any risk of mortality or serious side effects.
  7. The opportunity to participate in decisions related to your health care.
  8. Know what alternatives exist for health care and treatment.
  9. Refuse treatment or leave the UHC against your doctor's advice to the extent permitted by law and you have the right to be informed of the consequences of those decisions.
  10. Request information regarding:
    1. your rights as a patient,
    2. your responsibilities as a patient,
    3. available services,
    4. hours of operation,
    5. provisions for after-hours and emergency coverage,
    6. fee schedules for services, payment policies, and explanation of your individual bill, and
    7. data contained in your medical record.
  11. Treament by the health care provider of your choice, to change providers, and/or be informed of specialists available for your health care needs.
  12. A second opinion or referral.
  13. Know if treatment involves experimental or research methods and the right to refuse to participate.
  14. Know if the examination is by a health professions student and the right to refuse.
  15. Expect reasonable environmental safety practices.
  16. Bring any violation of these principles to the attention of the UHC Executive Staff.

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Patient Responsibilites

We recognize that to be effective, the effort must be a partnership. The patient and the health care team work together for a common goal. As a patient you will be expected, to the best of your ability, to assume a share of the responsibility for your health care.

As a patient, you have the responsibility to:

  1. Bring with you information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to your health.
  2. Cooperate in the treatment plan recommended by the UHC personnel caring for you.
  3. To ask questions to ensure understanding of your health problem and treatment.
  4. Accept personal responsibility for refusing treatment.
  5. Consult a medical provider at the UHC if your health problem does not follow the expected course.
  6. Keep appointments or to telephone the UHC when you cannot keep a scheduled appointment.
  7. Stay informed regarding UHC services, hours of operation, and status of your health insurance.
  8. Be prompt in your payment of bills, to provide the information necessary for insurance processing, and to be prompt about asking questions you may have concerning your bill.
  9. Be respectful of others, of other peoples' property, and that of the UHC.
  10. Abide by University Health Center rules and regulations.

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