Patient Rights and responsibilities

PATIENT RIGHTS

GENERAL

At Desert Sound Audiology,  we are concerned that each patient entrusted to our care is treated with dignity, respect and compassion. We recognize that all patients have basic rights, and we are committed to honoring these rights. Likewise, Desert Sound Audiology has a right to expect reasonable and responsible behavior from patients, their relatives and friends. The following is a summary of rights and responsibilities that we believe serve as a foundation for a good relationship between patients and staff. 

 ACCESS TO CARE

 Individuals shall be given impartial access to treatment or accommodations that are available or medically indicated regardless of race, creed, sex, national origin, cultural or spiritual values, disability or source of payment. 

PROVIDERS OF CARE

You have the right to know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service and to know which audiologist or other hearing care professional is primarily responsible for your care. Your health-care team may include other audiologist, hearing instrument specialist, office staff, health-care students, and other health-care providers. 

RESPECT AND DIGNITY 

You have the right to receive considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of personal dignity, diversity, and religious or other spiritual preferences. Privacy and confidentiality You have the right, within the law, to personal and informational privacy, as demonstrated by the following rights: 

     ■ As a patient, to refuse to talk with or see anyone not officially connected with the your hearing care. 

     ■ To wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items, as long as they do not 

         interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatments. 

     ■ To be interviewed and examined in surroundings designed to assure reasonable visual and auditory

         privacy. This includes the right to request to have another person present during certain parts of your 

         hearing care appointment.

     ■ To expect that any discussion or consultation involving your hearing care will be conducted discreetly 

         and that individuals not directly involved in your care will not be present without permission. 

     ■ To have the medical record accessed only by individuals for legitimate business purposes and as 

         permitted under law. 

     ■ To expect all communications and other records pertaining to hearing care, including the source of 

         payment, be treated as confidential. 

 SAFETY 

Patient safety is our priority. As a patient Desert Sound Audiology, you have the right to have care provided in a safe setting. Everyone has a role in making health care safe. You play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active, involved and informed member of your health-care team. Your perception of risks to safety and suggestions for improvement will be heard and responded to appropriately. Please make your audiologist or any health care provider is aware of any concerns you have. Your suggestions for improvement are always welcome. 

COMMUNICATION 

You have the right to know what patient support services are offered, including whether an interpreter is available if you don’t speak English or are hearing impaired. Accommodations can be made for patients with hearing, speech, visual and cognitive impairments by requesting these services at the time the appointment is made. You have a right to a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests. If an inpatient, you have the right to have visitors and to receive phone calls and written communication. You have the right to have a family member, your physician or a representative of your choice notified of your admission to the hospital. 

INFORMATION AND EDUCATION

You have the right to obtain, from the practitioners responsible for coordinating and providing your hearing care, complete and current information about diagnosis (to the degree known), treatment, alternatives, risks and any known prognosis. This information should be communicated in terms you can understand. When it is not medically advisable to give you such information, it should be made available to your legal representative.

 If an inpatient, you can expect to be provided with information: 

     ■ That is necessary for you to safely continue your care when you leave the hospital 

     ■ To help promote recovery and maintain or improve function 

     ■ To help with disease management or symptom progression 

     ■ To help improve outcomes 

CHARGES 

You have the right to receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable itemized bill and have the charges explained upon request. You have the right to be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for your hearing care. You have the right to receive, upon request and prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for your care.

CONSENT 

You have the right to reasonable, informed participation in decisions involving your hearing care. To the degree possible, this should be based on a clear and concise explanation of your condition and planned procedures, including potential benefits, the possible side effects, problems related to recuperation, and probability of success. You have the right to know who is responsible for authorizing and performing the procedures or treatment. You have the right to refuse participation at any time in the process.

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION 

You are responsible for being considerate of the rights of other patients and hearing care staff. This includes not smoking and controlling noise. You are responsible for being respectful of others and their property. You understand that any abusive or disrespectful behavior could result in your dismissal from being a patient of Hometown Hearing.

SAFETY 

You play a vital role in making your care safe by becoming an active, involved and informed member of your hearing-care team. You are responsible to: 

     ■ Work with your audiologist and other hearing-care staff to make decisions about your care.

     ■ Ask questions until you understand the answers (about evaluations, treatments, procedures, etc.). 

     ■ Learn about the possible risks of refusing a test or procedure. 

     ■ Ask why a test or treatment is needed, how it can help you and if you would be better off without it. 

         Know that more is not always better.

     ■ Ask your audiologist to explain the recommended or prescribed treatment plan. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS 

 You are responsible for following rules and regulations that apply to patients of Hometown Hearing.

PROVIDING INFORMATION 

As a patient, you are an integral part of the hearing-care team. Therefore, you are responsible for: 

     ■ Participating in your care and hearing-care decisions  

     ■ Providing, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about present hearing   

         complaints, past illnesses, noise exposures, hospitalizations, medications, allergies and other matters relating to your hearing-care.

     ■ Reporting unexpected changes in your hearing condition to the hearing care provider. 

     ■ Communicating whether you clearly understand your hearing care plan and what is expected of you.

EDUCATION 

You are expected to participate in the teaching/learning process so that you will acquire and understand the skills and behaviors that promote a successful hear-care. 

CHARGES 

You are responsible for assuring that your financial obligations for health care received are fulfilled as promptly as possible. 

COMPLIANCE 

You are responsible for following the hearing-care treatment plan recommended by the audiologist responsible for your hearing care. This may include following the instructions of the hearing instrument specialist assigned to assist you to carry out your hearing care. You are responsible for keeping appointments and for notifying Hometown Hearing when you are unable to do so. To cancel or reschedule an appointment, call (435) 414-8282. 

REFUSING TREATMENT OR HEARING CARE 

You are responsible for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow the practitioner’s instructions. 

PERSONAL PROPERTY

Desert Sound Audiology is not responsible for your missing, stolen, or damaged property. 

ETHICS 

You may ask any your hearing-care provider to review this document with you.