PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS

In recognition of the responsibility of this facility in the rendering of patient care, these rights are affirmed in the policies and procedures of the:

Ambulatory Surgery Center of Greater New York, Inc.

1. The patient has the right to receive services without regard to age, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, sex, national origin or sponsor. If, for any reason, a patient does not understand or needs help, the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) will provide him/her with an interpreter.

2. The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care.

3. The patient has the right to obtain from the physician complete and current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be made available to an appropriate person on his/her behalf. The patient has the right to know, by name, the physician responsible for coordinating his/her care.

4. The patient has the right to receive from his/her physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment. Except in emergencies, such information for informed consent should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the specific procedure and/or treatment, the medically significant risks involved, and the probable duration of incapacitation. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, or when the patient requests information concerning medical alternatives, the patient has the right to such information. The patient has the right to know the name of the person responsible for the procedures and/or treatment.

5. The patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of his action.

6. The patient has the right to every consideration of his privacy concerning his own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Those not directly involved in his/her care must have the permission of the patient to be present.

7. The patient has the right to expect that communications and records pertaining to his/her care will be treated as confidential.

8. The patient has the right to plan in advance for medical care. Each patient, on his/her first admission, will receive a copy of the New York State Proxy Law. A copy of the Law will also be posted in the ASC.

9. The patient has the right to expect that, within its capacity, the ASC must make a reasonable response to the request of a patient for services. The ASC must provide evaluation, service and/or referral, as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically permissible, a patient may be transferred to another facility only after he/she has received complete information and explanation concerning the needs for and alternatives to such a transfer. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer.

10. The patient has the right to obtain information as to any relationship of the ASC to other health care and educational institutions insofar as his/her care is concerned. The patient has the right to obtain information as to the existence of any professional relationships among individuals, by name, who are treating him.

11. The patient has the right to be advised if the ASC proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting his/her care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.

12. The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care. He/she has the right to know, in advance. what appointment times and physicians are available and where. The patient has the right to expect that the ASC will provide a mechanism whereby he/she is informed by the physician, or a delegate of the physician, of the patient's continuing health care requirements following discharge.

13. The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill regardless of the source of payment.

14. The patient has the right to know what ASC rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct as a patient.

15. The patient has the right to see his/her medical record, but must adhere to the ASC's policies. The patient may review his/her record, and may receive a copy at no cost if he/she cannot afford to pay for a copy at the reasonable fee of $.75 per page.

16. The patient has the right to voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to the ASC's staff, the surgeon director and the New York State Department of Health without fear of reprisal.

17. The patient has the right to express complaints about the care and services provided and have the ASC investigate such complaints. The ASC will be responsible for providing the patient with a written response within 30 days of the result of the investigation, if requested by the patient. The patient has a right, if he/she is not satisfied with the ASC's response, to complain to the New York State Department of Health. A complaint can be called in directly to the ASC Administrator at 718-515-3500, extension 3204.