Patient Bill of Rights

The patient has the right to:

  • the most appropriate health care for their particular problem, regardless of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin or ability to pay.
  • considerate, respectful, and compassionate care and treatment. Out of respect, the patient should be addressed by his or her proper name and without undue familiarity, and to be listened to and to receive an appropriate response to questions and comments.
  • be treated timely and competently in a warm, friendly and unhurried manner in an atmosphere of concern and frankness, and to be seen in comfortable and appealing surroundings.
  • expect that individuality will be respected and that differences in educational and cultural backgrounds will be taken into consideration.
  • privacy and a right to talk with students, clinic staff, providers and other personnel about their care without being overheard.
  • confidentiality of their patient care records, and to be able to review the information in his/her record and request changes to factual errors in the record. The patient may request that copies of records be sent to other health care providers responsible for his/her care.
  • know the name of the student, provider, or technician rendering their care and to talk with all health care providers attending their case. Because our clinical facilities are major teaching facilities of Salus University, patients may encounter health care providers in training. We believe that the presence of these professionals-in-training adds to the quality of care.
  • expect continuity of care and to know in advance about appointment times and anticipated times for diagnostic and therapeutic visits, and to expect prompt attention in emergency situations.
  • a full explanation, in language easily understood by them, about their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of his/her case, and to learn from his/her providers all the facts needed to give advanced informed consent to any procedure or treatment.
  • be given the choice, when a diagnosis has been made and a treatment plan developed, of continuing with patient care services at our facility or seeking care elsewhere, and to expect that our providers will make an appropriate referral, when indicated.
  • another opinion of his/her case, if desired.
  • refuse any prescribed treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be informed of the medical consequences of this action.
  • be advised if the student or provider proposes to engage in or perform research affecting his/her care or treatment, and to refuse to participate in such research projects and to receive more traditional care or to be referred for such care, if it is available.
  • know the relationship between the clinical entities, the Salus college the clinic supports, the clinical teaching process, and any affiliated institutions.
  • examine and receive an explanation of his/her bill, regardless of the source of payment.
  • present concerns about services and be informed on the status of resolutions.

Salus Clinical facilities:

  • provide free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:
    • using qualified sign language interpreters; and
    • written information in other formats (large print, accessible electronic formats (screen readable) and other formats), as needed.
  • provide free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:
    • qualified interpreters; and
    • information written in other languages, as needed.

If you need these services, contact the clinic and let them know what your needs are.

  • The Eye Institute: 215.276.6070
  • Pennsylvania Ear Institute: 215.780.3180
  • Speech-Language Institute: 215.780.3150
  • Or visit any of the clinical websites at salusuhealth.com and select the online contact form

If you believe that Salus Health has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex, you can file a grievance with:

Vice President for Clinical Operations
1200 West Godfrey Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141-3323
215.276.6070 (office)
215.276.1329 (fax)
jg3978@drexel.edu

You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax or email.

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, DC 20201
1-800-368-1019; 1-200-537-7697 (TDD)

Complaint forms are available online here

Patient Responsibilities

It is the patient’s responsibility to:

  • provide their health care provider with accurate personal information, including correct and full name, address, telephone contact information, and date of birth.
  • provide their health care provider with accurate information about their medical history and other matters related to their health (past illnesses, hospitalizations, and medications).
  • participate actively in their health care and ask questions of health care providers and staff when an examination technique, diagnosis, or prescribed treatment is not understood.
  • be on time for appointments and, if not possible to do so, cancel appointments at least 24 hours in advance of the appointment.
  • satisfy the financial obligations to the clinical facility promptly. This responsibility includes providing information necessary for insurance processing, arranging for payment plans, and paying all co-payments at the time that care is rendered.
  • follow the treatment plan prescribed and notify the health care provider of any changes in health status or if unable to comply with the treatment plan.
  • observe the clinical facility’s policies and respect the rights of other patients, clinical staff, and students, and to ensure that their companions are compliant with policies and respectful to clinical personnel.