Palmer College of Chiropractic West

Clinics

Rights & Responsibilities

Patient Rights

You have the right to:

• Exercise these rights without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, language, creeds, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, veteran status, physical or mental disability, cultural, economic, educational background or the source of payment of care.
• Considerate and respectful care and to be made comfortable.
• Know of the name of the doctor who has primary responsibility for coordinating the care and the names and professional relationships of other doctors who may see you.
• Know contact information (i.e. phone number[s]) for the clinic, primary doctor and intern who are involved in your care.
• Request a consultation with your clinician or request a second opinion.
• Receive information about your health status, the course of treatment and prospects for recovery in terms that you can understand.
• Receive information about any proposed treatment or procedure in order to give informed consent or to refuse the course of treatment. This information shall include a description of the procedure or treatment, any significant risks involved in each treatment, and alternate courses of treatment or non-treatment.
• Participate actively in decisions regarding your care. This includes the right to refuse treatment. You do not have the right, though,  to receive treatment or services deemed unnecessary or inappropriate by your clinician.
• Have your personal privacy respected.
• Be advised to the presence of any individual and the purpose of their presence. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly.
• Confidential treatment of all communications and records pertaining to care. Medical records will not be made available to anyone not directly concerned with your care without your written permission, except to the extent allowed by law.
• Access to information contained in your medical records within a reasonable time frame.
• Reasonable responses to any reasonable requests made for service.
• Reasonable continuity of care (e.g. appropriate frequency of visits).
• Examine and receive an explanation of the charges for your care.
• File a grievance/complaint about care, service or discrimination based on physical or mental disability and be informed of the action taken, with the assurance that your future access to and quality of care will not be affected. This may be done in writing or by calling the Director of Clinic Business at (408) 944-6109.
• File a complaint with the Department of Health Services whether or not you use the college’s grievance process. Contact the California Chiropractic Board of Examiners.
• Be advised if a doctor proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting your care or treatment. You have the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.

Patient Responsibilities

You have the responsibility to:

• Make informed decisions. Gather as much information as you need. You may be asked to consent in writing to certain tests or procedures. Ask questions to fully understand each document you are asked to sign.
• Understand. If the explanation of your condition or treatment is not clear ask such questions as:
  • Why is a treatment recommended?
  • What are the potential benefits or risks?
  • What side effects are involved?
  • What alternatives are available?
  • Will the treatment cause discomfort or pain?
• Be honest. Give an accurate, complete medical history and report changes in your health to your doctor. This includes reporting your degree of pain and the effects of treatment on his/her pain.
• Report any changes in your condition prior to your appointment when you anticipate that a new evaluation or consultation with a clinician may be necessary.
• Respect others. Be considerate of others by allowing them privacy and maintaining a quiet atmosphere. Respect the property of others including the clinics. Respect your intern as a professional.
• Arrive on time for appointments. If unable to make the appointment time, call to cancel your appointment.
• Follow the treatment plan. Tell your doctor if you believe you cannot follow through with the treatment plan and why you cannot. Find out about the consequences of refusing treatment or of selecting an alternative treatment not recommended by your doctor. You do not have the right, though, to receive treatment that is considered unnecessary.
• Recognize, as a teaching institution, Palmer College of Chiropractic West has a commitment to the education of future chiropractors. Patients receiving care at this college are a part of this educational process.
• Recognize the effect of life-style on your personal health.

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