About the Health & Counseling Center

This policy is applicable to every patient and client receiving services at the Health and Counseling Center (the Center) and is intended to establish the rights and responsibilities of all patients/clients and to clearly express these rights to students who are recipients of services.

I. All patients/clients shall receive a copy of the patient rights and responsibilities upon their first visit to the Center.

II. As an active participant in your care, you have the following responsibilities:

• It is your responsibility to provide full information about your illness or problem to allow proper evaluation and treatment.
• It is your responsibility to show courtesy and respect to health care personnel and other patients/clients.
• It is your responsibility to be informed. Ask you health care provider sufficient questions to ensure appropriate comprehension of your illness or problem. If you find the care or course of treatment unacceptable for any reason, please discuss this with a member of the staff. If you are dissatisfied, we request that you discuss your concerns with the Director of Health and Counseling.
• It is your responsibility to use identified methods of expressing grievances and suggestions, whenever indicated, rather than remaining silent in order to assist the Center in improving quality of its services.
• You are responsible for continued care after you leave the Health and Counseling Center. You may meet with a provider prior to your departure to explore possible avenues for continued treatment. It is your responsibility to be aware of when and where to get further treatment, as well as what you need to do at home to assist in your recovery. If your continuity of care is disrupted, it is your responsibility to seek additional resources by contacting your primary healthcare provider.
• You are responsible for keeping all appointments. If you are unable to keep an appointment, please cancel or reschedule within 24 hours. A missed appointment fee is charged if you do not cancel or reschedule your appointment.
• You are responsible for communicating with your healthcare provider if your condition worsens or does not follow the expected course.

III. All patients/clients are entitled to the following patient rights:

• The right to be treated with respect, dignity, and consideration.
• The right to know who is counseling, caring for, and treating you, as well as the practitioner’s name and professional qualifications.
• The right to accurate information to the extent known, concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of an illness or health related condition in terms you can understand. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the student, the information should be available to an appropriate person.
• The right to receive information necessary to give informed consent prior to start of any procedure or treatment from the health care provider. Except in emergencies, this information shall include the purpose and description of the procedure or treatment, medically significant risks and alternate courses of treatment.
• The right to participate in decisions which are made regarding your health care treatment. We respect your right to make decisions based on your personal beliefs and values, as well as on available medical information. This includes the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences and actions.
• The right to expect that all communication and record pertaining to your care will be treated as confidential and require your written request for release except as required by law.
• The right to information about continuing health care requirements such as return visits and required medications.
• The right to application of all your patient rights by the person who may have legal responsibility to make decisions regarding medical care on your behalf.
• The right to register a complaint regarding the quality of care provided, the quality of service delivered, or other valid concerns.
• The right to information regarding the fees for service, particularly notification as to what services may involve additional charges. You have the right to examine and receive full explanation of your bill.