Access to Care

Patients will be given impartial access to treatment regardless of color, age, disability, race, creed, sex, nationality, or sources of payment for care.

Respect and Dignity

The patient has the right to considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of his/her personal dignity.

Privacy and Confidentiality

The patient has the right, within the law, to personal and informational privacy, as is manifested by the following rights.

1. To refuse to talk with or see anyone not affiliated with Atlanta Oncology Associates
2. To wear appropriate personal clothing and religious or other symbolic items, as long as they do not interfere with diagnostic procedures or treatment
3. To be interviewed and examined in surroundings designed to assure reasonable visual and auditory privacy. This includes the right to have a person of one’s own sex present during certain parts of a physical examination, treatment, or procedure performed by a health professional of the opposite sex and the right to not remain disrobed any longer than is required for accomplishing the medical purpose for which the patient was asked to disrobe.
4. To expect that any discussion or consultation involving the patient’s case will be conducted discreetly and that individuals not directly involved in the patient’s care will not be present without the patient’s permission.
5. To have the patient’s medical record read only by those individuals directly involved with the patient’s care in the monitoring of the its quality. Other individuals can only read the patient’s medical record upon the patient’s written authorization or that of a legally authorized representative.
6. To expect all communications and other records pertaining to the patient’s care, including the source of payment for treatment to be treated as confidential.

 Identity

The patient has the right to know the identity and professional status of the individuals providing care and service to him/her and to know which physician primarily responsible for care. This includes the patient’s right to know of the existence of any professional relationships among individuals who are treating him/her, as well as the relationship to any other health-care or educational institutions involved in the care. Participation by patients in clinical training programs or in gathering of data for research purposes is voluntary.

Communications

When the patient does not speak or understand the predominant language of the community, the patient will have access to an interpreter.

Consent

The patient has the right to reasonable informed participation in decisions involving his/her care. This should be based on a clear, concise explanation of the patient’s condition and of all proposed technical procedures, including any possibilities of any risk of mortality or serious side effects, problems related to recuperation, and probability of success. The patient should not be subjected to any procedure without his/her voluntary, competent and understanding consent or the consent of his/her legally authorized representative. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, the patient shall so be informed.

The patient has the right to know who is responsible for authorizing and performing the procedures and treatment. The patient shall be informed if Atlanta Oncology Associates proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation or other research/educational projects affecting the patient’s care or treatment; the patient has the right to refuse to participate in any such activity.

Refusal of Treatment

The patient may refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law. When refusal of treatment by the patient or his/her legally authorized representative prevents the provision of appropriate care in accordance with professional standards, the relationship with the patient may be terminated upon reasonable notice.

Transfer and Continuity of Care

A patient may not be transferred to another facility unless he/she has received a complete explanation of the need for transfer and the alternatives to such a transfer and unless the transfer is acceptable to the other facility or organization.

Treatment Charges

Regardless of the source of payment for care, the patient has the right to request and receive an itemized and detailed explanation of the total bill for services rendered. The patient has the right to timely notice prior to termination of his/her eligibility for reimbursement by any third-party payer for the cost of care.

Rules and Regulations

The patient should be informed of the rules of Atlanta Oncology Associates, and regulations applicable to his/her conduct as a patient. Patients are entitled to information about the initiation, review, and resolution of patient complaints.

Information

The patient has the right to obtain, from the practitioner responsible for coordinating care, complete and current information concerning diagnosis (to the degree known), treatment, and any known prognosis. This information should be communicated in terms the patient can reasonable be expected to understand. When not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information should be made available to a legally authorized individual.