Patient Rights & Responsibilities

You, or your legal guardian, have the right to:

  1. To have impartial access to the medical resources of the Surgery Center indicated for your care without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, handicap, or source of payment.
  2. To expect reasonable safety insofar as the Surgery Center’s practices and environment is concerned.
  3. To know by name the physician, nurse, and staff members providing service to you.
  4. To hear from your primary physician (in language you understand) your medical problem, the treatment prescribed for you, and the expected outcome of your illness.
  5. To know the general nature and inherent risk of any procedure or treatment prescribed for you, as well as any alternatives available.
  6. To change your mind about any procedure for which you have given your consent.
  7. To refuse to sign a consent form if you feel everything has not been explained to your satisfaction.
  8. To cross out any part of the consent form that you do not want applied to your care.
  9. To refuse treatment and to be informed of the medical consequences of this action.
  10. To change physicians.
  11. To request a consultation or second opinion from another physician.
  12. To refuse to participate in medical training programs and research projects.
  13. To leave the Surgery Center or to transfer to another facility.
  14. To have visitors.
  15. To be informed by your physician, or his delegate, of any instructions required for follow up care.
  16. To inform your head nurse, physician, or patient representative of any dissatisfaction you may have in regard to your care at Upstate Surgery Center.
  17. To receive a response from the Surgery Center concerning any major complaint about your care.
  18. To expect that informing us of a complaint will not compromise your care now or in the future.
  19. To expect your personal privacy to be respected to the fullest extent consistent with the care prescribed for you.
  20. To examine your Surgery Center bill and receive and explanation of it.

You, in turn, have the responsibility:

  1. To know and follow the Surgery Center rules and regulations.
  2. To accurately inform your physician and the nursing staff about your present illness, past history, and medications related to your health.
  3. To report any changes in your condition to your physician and the nursing staff.
  4. To give cooperation and to follow the care prescribed or recommended for you by your physician, nurses, or allied health personnel.
  5. To notify your physician or head nurse if you do not understand your diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis.
  6. To accept the consequences of your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow the doctor’s instructions.
  7. To be considerate of the rights of other patients and Surgery Center personnel and to assist in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors you receive. Smoking is not allowed at Upstate Surgery Center.
  8. To advise your head nurse, physician, or patient representative of any dissatisfaction you may have in regard to your care at the Surgery Center.
  9. To accept your financial obligations associated with your care.

If you have any questions concerning your rights and responsibilities, or have concerns about your care, please call 864-458-7141.