Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Patient Rights
You have the right to:
- Impartial access to treatment or accommodations that are available or medically necessary regardless of your gender, race, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or source of payment for care.
- Considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of your personal dignity.
- Have the staff make a reasonable attempt to communicate with you in your primary language or manner.
- Appropriate privacy and confidentiality.
- Ask and be informed of all charges prior to receiving care and to receive an itemized statement of your charges and have them explained to you.
- Have a person of your own choice present during a physical examination, treatment, or procedure that is performed by a health professional.
- Obtain from the practitioner responsible for coordinating your care, complete and current information concerning your diagnosis (to the degree known), treatment, risks to treatment, and any known prognosis.
- Participate in making decisions regarding your health care, except when contraindicated.
- Request a practitioner of choice, within the limitations of scheduling and care needed.
- Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law. If your refusal of treatment prevents the provision of care in accordance with professional standards, you will be asked to sign a Refusal of Treatment form, and the practitioner may terminate the relationship with you upon reasonable notice.
- Receive an itemized list of SHWC fees for services.
- Review your record with a provider to address any questions or concerns
- Request in writing to have any information considered erroneous to be addressed. The provider has the right to refuse your request.
- Give written permission to release records to yourself or to other external care providers.
- Receive, or request, information regarding current credentialing of a provider(s) that you are seeing.
- Submit a complaint or compliment on an INFORM US form.
- Submit a complaint or compliment to the Directors of the SHWC.
- If you have a grievance that you feel has not been resolved satisfactorily with the Directors of the SHWC, then appeal to the Office of the Associate Provost.
- Refuse to participate in any form of research that may be performed at SHWC.
- To request an Advanced Directive from health center staff.
Patient Responsibilities
You are responsible for:
- Appropriate behavior will be held accountable as outlined in the SOU Student Code of Conduct.
- Being respectful of all of the health care professionals and staff, as well as other patients.
- Providing, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about past and present complaints, illnesses, hospitalization, medications, and other matters relating to your health.
- Reporting changes and communicating concerns regarding your health to the responsible or available provider.
- Asking and seeking information until you understand your diagnosis and treatment plan, including any charges that may be placed on your account.
- Following the recommended treatment plan and accepting health consequences if you do not follow the treatment plan.
- Keeping scheduled appointment or calling ahead to reschedule or cancel.
- Provide your own transportation to and from the SHWC.
- Accepting personal financial responsibility for any charges.
- Asking for an itemized bill if you plan to bill insurance. You are the only one who can request your itemized bill to submit charges to any major medical insurance if you desire reimbursement.
- Providing directory information for any previous provider you authorize us to get records from.
- Informing your provider or front desk personnel of any anticipated changes in your enrollment status.
- Informing the provider about any living will, medical power of attorney or other directive that could affect your care.
Confidentiality
Personal health information is treated with respect and confidence. Records are kept in a locked secure area within the SHWC.
The SHWC is obligated to operate under several rules that govern your information: Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA), Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA), and state law governing medical and mental health records. Your information will be managed under the strictest of the laws.
Your medical and mental health records are confidential information and will not be released without your signed consent except as follows:
- as necessary within the SHWC for diagnosis, treatment.
- in a medical emergency;
- to comply with mandatory state reporting to the public health department on certain communicable diseases;
- through subpoena or court order; however, we will attempt to reach you prior to disclosure;
- as required by law, your provider must notify legally designated agencies and/or other concerned parties if your provider has reasonable cause to believe you:
- Are under 18 and have been abused;
- Are abusing or allowing abuse to a person under the age of 18, or a senior or disabled and dependent adult;
- If you are over the age of 18 and engaging in sexual activities with someone under the age of 18.
- Your provider reserves the right to notify your emergency contact and/or SOU officials, if you are believed to be at risk of self harm or harm to others. Every effort will be made to engage you in your own plan of care, which may include provider recommendation of informing others of your risk.
Integrated Service Model
The SHWC provides an integrated service model. Recognizing the value of a holistic approach, if a student is being seen by both medical and mental health professionals within the SHWC, information will be shared between providers on a need to know basis to optimize the student’s treatment and care plan.
Section Contents: About Us
Student Health & Wellness Center
Southern Oregon University
560 Indiana St.
Ashland, OR 97520
Phone: 541.552.6136
Email: shwcfeedback@sou.edu