Patient Rights and Responsibilities

The Student Health Center recognizes the basic human rights of its patients. As a healthcare organization, we have established these rights and responsibilities to guide our actions and service.

Patient Rights

  1. Patients are treated with respect, consideration and dignity.
  2. Information is available to patients and staff concerning: Patients are provided reasonable access to care within our mission and scope of service, regardless of race, creed, age, gender, national original, disability or sexual orientation.
  3. Patients are to receive considerate care that respects personal values and beliefs, including the expression of psychosocial, spiritual and cultural variables.
  4. Patients have the right to expect personal privacy, safety and security within the facility.
  5. Patients are provided the identity and professional status of the provider.
  6. Patients are provided appropriate privacy.
  7. Patient disclosures and records are treated confidentially, and except when required by law, patients are given the opportunity to approve or refuse their release.
  8. Patients are provided, to the degree known, complete information concerning their diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and prognosis. When it is medically inadvisable to give such information to a patient, the information is provided to a person designated by the patient or to a legally authorized person.
  9. Patients are given the opportunity to participate in decisions involving their health care, except when such participation is contraindicated for medical reasons.
  10. Information is available to staff and patients concerning:
    • Patients Rights, including those specified in 1,2,3,4 and 5 above;
    • Patient Conduct and Responsibilities;
    • Services Available at The Student Health Center;
    • Provisions for After-Hours and Emergency Care;
    • Fees for Services;
    • Payment Policies;
    • Methods for expressing grievances and suggestions to the Health Center.
  11. Patients are provided referrals to other providers when additional, alternative or special services are needed.
  12. Marketing or advertising regarding the competence and capabilities of the Health Center is not misleading to patients.
  13. Patients are encouraged to present concerns and complaints and are entitled to receive a timely and researched response focused on problem-solving.

Patient Responsibilities

  1. Staff is treated with respect, consideration and dignity.
  2. Patients need to provide accurate and complete health information.
  3. Patients need to report clearly whether the plan of treatment is understandable and follow-up steps are manageable.
  4. Patients are expected to follow the treatment plan.
  5. Patients are encouraged to express any concerns about the plan of care and the ability to follow it.
  6. Patients are expected to understand the consequences of non-compliance with the treatment plan.
  7. Patients are expected to accept responsibility for refusing treatment or failing to follow instructions.
  8. Patients are expected to keep appointments in a timely manner, or if unable, to inform the provider with sufficient notice.
  9. Patients are expected to follow SHS facility rules and procedures.
  10. Patients are expected to respect the privacy, rights and property of patients and staff.
  11. Patients are expected to fulfill financial obligations.
  12. Patients are expected to present significant concerns to the provider or another health center representative.
  13. Patients are encouraged to respond to health center requests for feedback and evaluation of care provided in order to improve service delivery.