Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
The patient and the patient's representative or surrogate has the right to:
- Be free from discrimination or reprisal
- Voice grievances regarding treatment or care that is (or fails to be) provided
- Be fully informed about a treatment or procedure and the expected outcome before it is performed
- Personal privacy
- Respect, dignity, and comfort
- Receive care in a safe setting
- Be free from all forms of abuse or harassment
- Receive information about their privacy rights and how their information can be used
- Privacy and confidentiality of medical record information
- Make informed decisions regarding care
- Formulate an Advance Directive
- Delegate his/her right to make informed decisions to another person
- Know if your physician has a financial interest or ownership in the center
- File a grievance
If a patient is adjudged incompetent under applicable State laws by a court of proper jurisdiction, the rights of the patient are exercised by the person appointed under State law to act on the patient's behalf.
If a State court has not adjudged a patient incompetent, any legal representative or surrogate designated by the patient in accordance with State law may exercise the patient's rights to the extent allowed by State law.
AZ State
The patient and the patient's representative or surrogate has the right to:
- Be treated with dignity, respect, and consideration
- Not be subjected to: Abuse, neglect, exploitation, coercion, manipulation, sexual abuse, sexual assault, seclusion, or restraint
- Not be retaliated against for submitting a complaint to the Department of Health or other entity
- Not have misappropriation of personal and private property by the center's medical staff, personnel members,
employees, volunteers, or students
- Except in an emergency, either consents to or refuses treatment
- Refuse or withdraw consent for treatment before treatment is initiated
- Except in an emergency is informed of alternatives to a proposed surgical procedure and the associated risks and
possible complications of the proposed surgical procedure
- Be informed of the center's policies and procedures on health care advance directives
- Be informed of the center's complaint process
- Consent to photographs before being photographed, except when admitted to an outpatient surgery center for
identification and administrative purposes
- Except as otherwise permitted by law, provides written consent to the release of information in the patient's medical record or financial records
- Not be discriminated against based on race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or diagnosis
- Receive treatment that supports and respects the patient's individuality, choices, strengths, and abilities
- Receive privacy in treatment and care for personal needs
- Review, upon written request, the patient's own medical record
- Receive a referral to another healthcare institution if the outpatient surgical center is unable to provide physical health services for the patient
- Participate, or have the patient's representative participate, in the development of or decisions concerning treatment
- Participate or refuse to participate in research or experimental treatment
- Receive assistance from a family member, representative, or other individual in understanding, protecting, or
exercising the patient's rights
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
The patient and the patient's representative or surrogate has the right to:
- Be treated with respect, consideration, and dignity
- Be provided appropriate privacy
- When the need arises, reasonable attempts are made for health care professionals and other staff to communicate
in the language or manner primarily used by patients
- Be provided to the degree known, information concerning their diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and prognosis.
When it is medically inadvisable to give such information to a patient, the information is provided to a person
designated by the patient or to a legally authorized person
- Be given the opportunity to participate in decisions involving their health care, except when such participation is contraindicated for medical reasons
- Know services available at the facility
- Know provisions for after-hours and emergency care
- Know fees for services
- Know payment policies
- Formulate advance directives
- Know the credentials of health care professionals
- Know if there is an absence of malpractice insurance coverage
- Know how to voice grievances regarding treatment or care
- Know methods for providing feedback, including complaints
- Be informed of their right to change providers if other qualified providers are available
The patient or as appropriate the patient's representative is responsible for:
- Providing complete and accurate information the best of his/her ability about his/her health, any medications taken, including over-the-counter products and dietary supplements, and any allergies or sensitivities
- Following the treatment plan prescribed by his/her provider and participating in his/her care
- Providing a responsible adult to transport him/her home from the facility and remain with him/her for 24 hours,
if required by the provider
- Accepting personal financial responsibility for any charges not covered by insurance
- Behaving respectfully toward all the health care professionals and staff, as well as other patients
Complaint/grievance process:
If you, your representative, or surrogate has a problem or complaint, please speak to the receptionist, nurse, physician or your caregiver; we will address your concern(s). You may also contact the Facility Administrator:
Nichole Machalik - Regional Administrator
Mail: 2121 N Craycroft Rd, Bldg 8
Tucson, AZ 85712
Phone: 520-731-5500
If your concern cannot be immediately resolved the facility will investigate the complaint/grievance and notify you, in writing, the outcome of the investigation.
If you are not satisfied with the response of the Surgery Center, you may contact the State of Arizona via:
Mail: Arizona Department of Health Services
150 N 18th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 1-602-542-1025
Website: www.medicaid.arizona.gov
You may also contact AAAHC via
Mail: Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc.
5250 Old Orchard Road, Suite 200
Skokie, Illinois 60077
Phone: 1-847-853-6060
NOTE: Role of Medicare Ombudsman is to ensure that Medicare Beneficiaries receive the information and help them need to understand their Medicare options and to apply their Medicare rights and protections.
All Medicare beneficiaries may also file a complaint or grievance with the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman. Visit
the Ombudsman's webpage on the web at:
https://www.medicare.gov/claims-appeals/your-medicare-rights/get-help-with-your-rights-protections