PATIENTS' RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a patient of CIC Associates you have the right to:
1. Considerate and respectful care. 2. Knowledge of the name of the physician who has primary responsibility
for coordination of your care and the names and professional relationships
of other physicians who will be seeing you. 3. Receive information from your physician about your illness, your course
of treatment, and your prospects for recovery in terms that you can understand. 4. Know your responsibilities concerning your health, participate actively
in decisions regarding your medical care, including the right to refuse
treatment and to be made aware of changes in your medical condition. 5. Confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining
to your care. Written permission shall be obtained before your medical
records can be made available to anyone not directly concerned with your
medical care. 6. Be informed by your physician or nurse regarding continuing health
care requirements as well as the need for return appointments. 7. Communication by CIC physician to your primary care giver to facilitate
continuity of care. 8. Examine and receive an explanation of your bill regardless of the
source of payment. 9. Receive prompt attention to your complaints, questions and/or concerns
from the appropriate source. 10. It is my responsibility to keep my appointments as instructed, notify
CIC staff of any changes in my health status, cooperate with the health
care providers and treat them with respect and consideration. 11.To exercise these rights regardless of your sex, cultural, economic,
educational or religious background.
It is our goal to provide our patients with quality medical care. Please contact our office with any questions, concerns or complaints by calling the clinic administrator at 224-1777.
CANCELLATION OF APPOINTMENTS
If you cannot keep an appointment, reasonable notice should be given to the office to cancel the appointment. Too frequently we are notified of a cancellation after the appointment time has passed, or, what is worse, no notice is given whatsoever. This courtesy on your part, makes it possible to give an appointment to another patient who needs to see the doctor.
WHY ALL THE QUESTIONS?
You will be asked information that is necessary for the provision of your care.These questions are a necessary part of the examination. Your address and phone number are needed in case the doctor writes prescriptions for you. Information concerning your occupation, age and other statistics is important for it has a bearing upon your health and physical status and if you have any insurance claims made by this office, the information is needed on the forms. This information will be regularly updated.
WHAT GOES ON HERE?
You may be disturbed to see patients called in ahead of you, although you have waited longer than they did. These are patients whom the nurse takes care of under the doctor's supervision. They may be getting blood pressure checks, laboratory examination, injections or x-rays.
NO SMOKING PLEASE!
Since exposure to tobacco smoke is detrimental to your health, you are asked to refrain from smoking while in this office.
SHOULD I COME IN TOO?
If the patient is an adult, it is best if he or she comes into the treatment room alone. Perfect freedom in doctor-patient relationship is best attained when the patient can speak in privacy with the physician. However, this is a decision that is left up to the parties concerned.