Patient Rights

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  1. The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care given by competent personnel, to be free from abuse or harassment, and to receive care in a safe and secure setting in which their person, and their property are respected and safeguarded.
  2. The patient has the right, upon request, to be given the name of his attending practitioner, the names of all other practitioners participating in his care, and the names, functions and credentials of other health care persons having direct contact with the patient.
  3. The patient has the right to consideration of his/her privacy concerning his/her own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, patient disclosures, records, examination and treatment are considered confidential and should be conducted discretely.
  4. The patient has the right to have records pertaining to his/her medical care should be treated as confidential, except as otherwise provided by law or third party contractual arrangements.
  5. Patients have the right to know what facility rules and regulations apply to their conduct as a patient. The patient is informed of after-hours and emergency care.
  6. Patients have the right to expect emergency procedures to begin without unnecessary delay.
  7. The patient has the right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained and reviewed; to expect and receive appropriate assessment, management and treatment of pain as an integral component of care; and to be free from all forms of harassment and abuse. Patients are given the opportunity to participate in decisions involving their healthcare, unless otherwise contraindicated.
  8. The patient has the right to full information in layman’s terms concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, including information about alternative treatments and possible complications. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information shall be given on his behalf to a responsible person.
  9. Except for emergencies, the practitioners shall obtain the necessary informed consent prior to the start of the procedure. Also prior to the day of the procedure, the patient has a right to information regarding Advance Directives if requested, and to have the presence of an Advanced Directive documented in the patient’s medical record.
  10. A patient, or if the patient is unable to give informed consent, a responsible person, has the right to be advised when practitioner is considering the patient as part of a medical care experimental research program or donor program, and the patient or responsible person, shall give informed consent prior to actual participation in the program. A patient, or responsible person, may refuse to continue in a program to which he has previously given informed consent
  11. The patient has the right to refuse drugs or procedures, to the extent permitted by statute, and a practitioner shall inform the patient of the medical consequences of a refusal of drugs or procedures. The patient has the right to change their provided if other qualified providers are available.
  12. A patient has the right to medical and nursing services, without discrimination based upon age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, disability, or source of payment.
  13. A patient who does not speak English shall have access to an interpreter.
  14. The facility shall provide the patient, or patient designee, upon request, access to the information contained in his medical records, unless access is specifically restricted by the attending practitioner for medical reasons.
  15. The patient has the right to expect good management techniques to be implemented within this surgery center. These techniques shall make effective use of the time of the patient and avoid the personal discomfort of the patient.
  16. When an emergency occurs and the patient is transferred to another facility, the responsible person shall be notified. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred shall be notified prior to the patient’s transfer.
  17. The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill.
  18. The patient has the right to expect that the surgery center will provide information for continuing health care requirements following discharge and the means for meeting them.
  19. The patient has the right to be informed of these rights at the time of admission.
  20. The patient has the right to obtain information as to any relationship of the facility to other health care and educational institutions insofar as his/her care is concerned. The patient has the right to obtain information as to the existence of any professional relationships among individuals, by name, which are treating him/her.
  21. The patient has the right to make recommendations or lodge a complaint about any aspect of care. Grievances will be investigated promptly and the Clinical Director or Administrator will contact the patient within 7 days and a written response provided within 30 days, along with the information on any further rights of appeal that may apply. The patient may make a complaint to the Center’s Administrator or Medical Director   at (781) 891-9300.
  22. The patient may also file a complaint with the Mass. Department of Health Complaints Hotline, (800) 462-5542, and on line at; or with the Office of the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman,; or with the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) at (847) 853-6060.