POLICY STATEMENT:

Family Medical Care is committed to providing high quality care that is fair, responsive, and accountable to the needs of our patients and their families.  We are committed to providing our patients and their families with a means to not only receive appropriate health care and related services, but also to address any concerns they may have regarding such services.  We encourage all of our patients to be aware of their rights and responsibilities and to take an active role in maintaining and improving their health and strengthening their relationships with our health care providers.

We strongly urge anyone with questions or concerns regarding our “Bill of Rights and Responsibilities” to contact the business office they will be happy to assist you. 

EVERY PATIENT HAS A RIGHT TO:

1.Receive high quality care based on professional standards of practice, regardless of his or
her (or his or her family’s) ability to pay for such services.
2.Obtain services without discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex,
age, ethnicity, national origin,  sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, sexual
orientation or preference, marital status, socio-economic status or diagnosis/condition. 
3.Be treated with courtesy, consideration and respect by all Family Medical Care staff, at all
times and under all circumstances, and in a manner that respects his or her dignity and
privacy. 
4.Be informed of the Family Medical Care’s Privacy Policies and Procedures, as the policies
relate to individually identifiable health information. 
5.Expect that Family Medical Care will keep all medical records confidential and will release
such information only with his or her written authorization, in response to court order or
subpoenas, or as otherwise permitted or required by law. 
6.Access, receive and/or copy his or her medical records, upon request, at a mutually
designated time (or, as appropriate, have a legal custodian access, review and/or copy
such records), and request amendment to such records
7.Know the name and qualifications of all individuals responsible for his or her health care
and be informed of how to contact these individuals. 
8.Request a different health care provider if her or she is dissatisfied with the person
assigned to him or her by Family Medical Care.  Family Medical Care will use best efforts,
but cannot guarantee, that re-assignment requests will be accommodated. 
9.Receive a complete, accurate, easily understood, and culturally and linguistically competent
explanation of (and, as necessary, other information regarding) any diagnosis, treatment,
prognosis, and/or planned course of treatment, alternatives (including no treatment), and
associated risks/benefits 
10.Receive information regarding the availability of support services, including translation,
transportation and education services. 
11.Receive sufficient information to participate fully in decisions related to his or her health
care and to provide informed consent prior to any diagnostic or therapeutic procedure
(except in emergencies).  If a patient if unable to participate fully, he or she has the right to
be represented by parents, guardians, family members or other designated surrogates.
12.Ask questions (at any time before, during or after receiving services) regarding any
diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and/or planned course of treatment, alternatives and
risks, and receive understandable and clear answers to such questions. 
13.Refuse a treatment (except as prohibited by law), be informed of the alternatives and/or
consequences of refusing treatment, which may include the Family Medical Care having
to inform the appropriate authorities of this decision, and express preferences regarding
any future treatments. 
14.Obtain another medical opinion prior to any procedure. 
15.Be informed if any treatment is for purposes of research or is experimental in nature, and
be given the opportunity to provide his or her informed consent before such research or
experiment will begin (unless such consent is otherwise waived). 
16.Develop advance directives and be assured that all health care providers will comply with
those directives in accordance with the law.
17.Designate a surrogate to make health care decision if he or she is or becomes
incapacitated.
18.Ask for and receive information regarding his or her financial responsibility for services.
19.Receive a copy of the bill for his or her services, an explanation of charges, and description
of the services that will be charged to his/her insurance. 
20.Request any additional assistance necessary to understand and/or comply with Family
Medical Care administrative procedures and rules, access health care related services,
participate in treatments, or satisfy payment obligations by contacting the business office.
21.File a grievance or complaint about Family Medical Care or its staff without fear of
discrimination or retaliation and have it resolved in a fair, efficient and timely manner. 

EVERY PATIENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

1.Providing accurate personal, financial, insurance, and medical information (including all
current treatments and medications) prior to receiving services from Family Medical Care
and its health care providers. 
2.Following all administrative and operational rules and procedures posted within the Family
Medical Care facility(s) 
3.Behaving at all times in a polite, courteous, considerate and respectful manner to all Family
Medical Care staff.and patients, including respecting the privacy and dignity of other
patients. 
4.Supervising his or her children while in the Family Medical Care facility(s) 
5.Refraining from abusive, harmful, threatening, or rude conduct towards other patients
and/or Family Medical Care staff. 
6.Nor carrying any type of weapons or explosives into the Family Medical Care facility(s). 
7.Keeping all scheduled appointments and arriving on time. 
8.Notifying Family Medical Care no later than 24 hours (or as soon as possible with 24 hours)
prior to the time of an appointment that he/she cannot keep the appointment as
scheduled.  Failure to follow this policy may result in being charged for the visit and/or
being placed on a waiting list for the next visit. 
9.Participating in and following the treatment plan recommended by his or her health care
providers, to the extent he or she is able, and working with providers to achieve desired
health outcomes. 
10.Asking questions if he or she does not understand the explanation of  (or information
regarding) his or her diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and/or planned course of treatment,
alternatives or associated risks/benefits, or any other information provided to him or her
regarding services. 
11.Providing an explanation to his or her health care providers if refusing to (or unable to)
participate in treatment, to the extent he or she is able and clearly communication wants
and needs. 
12.Informing his or her health care providers of any changes or reactions to medication and/or
treatment.
13.Familiarizing himself or herself with his or her health benefits and any exclusions,
deductibles, co-payments, and treatment costs. 
14.As applicable, making a good faith effort to meet financial obligations, including promptly
paying for services provided.
15.Advising Family Medical Care of any concerns, problems, or dissatisfaction with the
services provided or the manner in which )or by whom) they are furnished.
16.Utilizing all services, including grievance and complaint procedures, in a responsible, non-
abusive manner, consistent  with the rules and procedures of Family Medical Care
(including being aware of Family Medical Care’s obligation to treat all patients in an
efficient and equitable manner)

If you have a complaint or feel that your rights have been violated, you may contact the Chief Operating Officer  at 304-797-7733.




PATIENT RIGHTS