Patients’ Rights

• Patients of Columbia Basin Health Association have the right to:
  • Medical, Dental, and Eye care from providers who are experienced and trained to meet their medical/dental/eye care needs.
  • Receive proper and timely health care.
  • Be treated with respect, consideration and without judgment by all staff and volunteers.
  • Actively participate in their health care, including decision making, treatment options and ethical decisions.
  • Have their privacy, confidentiality and dignity respected.
  • Receive an explanation of any charges for services in a language they can understand. (CBHA has access to a Language Line service to accommodate patients with their native language)
• Receive medically necessary treatment regardless of the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
• Be provided care in a safe, secure, comfortable and clean environment.
• Participate in decisions about their treatment, and patients are encouraged to participate.
• Accept or refuse treatment, and to be informed of the possible results of refusal.
• Care and services that respects their values and belief system.
• Have their medical record and information regarding their health care treated confidentially.
• Know the name, title and qualifications of the providers and staff who provide their care.
• Affordable health care and information about our organization.
• Information about the health plans used by CBHA.
• Be informed regarding billing practices, contract agreements with outside providers and available financial assistance for medical treatment.
• Be informed about the complaint/concern process and to receive an answer in a timely manner.
• Be informed of advance directives, receive assistance with their formulation and have them implemented properly at CBHA.
• Guardian, next of kin, or legally authorized responsible person can exercise their rights for them if they are unable to participate.

Patient’s Responsibilities

• Columbia Basin Health Association is a health care system that protects patients’ rights; therefore, patients are expected and encouraged to assume reasonable responsibilities.
• Greater individual involvement by patients in their care increases the likelihood of achieving the best outcomes and helps support a quality improvement, cost-conscious environment.
• CBHA requests that our patients:
  • Be involved in health care decisions
  • Follow the treatment plan that they and their provider agree to.
  • Provide complete and accurate information regarding their health history, current medical status and changes in symptoms and medical conditions.
  • Fulfill financial obligations for the health care services provided.
  • Use their health plan CBHA’s internal patient concern and appeal processes to address concerns that may arise.
  • Avoid knowingly spreading disease
  • Accept the risks that have been explained to them if they decide to refuse recommended treatment.
  • Make and keep appointments for non-emergency care and notify the center if they are going to be late or need to cancel any appointment.
  • Treat health care professionals, staff, other patients and the health center’s property in a considerate and respectful manner.
  • Receive proper authorization from their primary care provider before going to a specialist.