Patient Rights | Internal Medicine and Cardiology

The Patient’s Bill of Rights was established in 1997, in an effort to protect Consumers’ access to health care and health care records.

There are eight key parts of the Patient’s Bill of Rights (summarized):

Patient Bill of Rights

Consumers have the right to receive accurate, easily understood information and required assistance in making informed health care decisions.
Consumers have a right to a choice of health care Providers that is sufficient to ensure access to appropriate high quality health care.
Consumers have the right to emergency healthcare when and where the need arises.
Consumers have a right and responsibility to fully participate in all decisions related to healthcare.
Consumers have a right to considerate, respectful care from all members of the healthcare system at all times and under all circumstances.
Consumers have the right to communicate with healthcare providers in confidence and to have the confidentiality of their individual, identifiable health care information protected. They also have the right to review and copy their own records and request amendments.
Consumers have a right to a fair and efficient process for resolving differences with health plans, healthcare providers and the institutions that serve them, including a rigorous system of internal review and an independent system of external review.
Consumers assume a reasonable responsibility for their own health. They are responsible for being involved in their healthcare decisions, for acquiring healthy habits, and for disclosing relevant information, among other responsibilities.