Patient Rights:

• The Family Health Center has the responsibility to provide patients with easily understood information and the opportunity to decide among treatment options consistent with the informed consent process. Specifically to,
• Discuss all treatment options with a patient in a culturally competent manner, including the option of no treatment at all.
• Ensure persons with disabilities have effective communications with members of the health care system in making such decisions.
• Discuss all current treatments a patient may be undergoing, including those alternative treatments that are self-administered.
• Discuss all risks, benefits and consequences to treatment or no treatment.
• Give patients the opportunity to refuse treatment and to express preferences about future treatment decisions.
• Discuss the use of advance directives — both living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care — with patients and their designated family members.
• Abide by the decisions made by our patients and/or their designated representatives consistent with the informed choice process.
• Patients have the right to considerate, respectful care from all members of our health care team, at all times and under all circumstances.
• Patients have the right to communicate with health care providers in confidence and to have confidentiality of their individually identifiable health care information protected. Patients also have the right to review and get copies of their own medical records.
• Patients have the right to receive services without regard to race, creed, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.
• Patients have the right to practice the religion of choice as long as the practice does not infringe on the rights and treatment of others or the treatment service. Individual participants have the right to refuse participation in any religious practice.
• Patients have the right to be free of any sexual harassment and of exploitation, including physical and financial exploitation.
• Patients have the right to review their clinical record in the presence of the administrator or designee and be given an opportunity to request amendments or corrections.
• Patients have the right to receive a copy of agency complaint and grievance procedures upon request and to lodge a complaint or grievance with Cowlitz Family Health Center or regulatory agencies if they believe their rights have been violated or they believe Cowlitz Family Health Center has violated a law or regulatory requirement.

Patient Responsibilities:

• Patients have the responsibility for maximizing healthy habits such as exercising, not smoking, and eating a healthy diet.
• Patients have the responsibility to be involved in decisions about their health care.
• Patients have the responsibility to work collaboratively with health care providers in developing and carrying out agreed upon treatment plans.
• Patients have the responsibility to disclose relevant information and clearly communicate their wants and needs.
• Patients have the responsibility to use the Family Health Center’s internal complaint process to address concerns that may arise.
• Patients have the responsibility to avoid knowingly spreading disease.
• Patients have the responsibility to recognize the reality of risks and limits of the science of medical, dental, behavioral health and other forms of healthcare and the human fallibility of the health care professional.
• Patients have the responsibility to be aware of a health care provider’s obligation to be reasonably efficient and equitable in providing care to other patients and the community.
• Patients have the responsibility to show respect for other patients and Cowlitz Family Health Center staff.
• Patients have the responsibility to make a good faith effort to meet financial obligations.
• Patients have the responsibility to abide by administrative and operational procedures of the Cowlitz Family Health Center.