Westchester Community Health Center

(formerly Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center)

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Home | For Patients | Patient Rights

Care with compassion and respect.

We strive to provide care with dignity and transparency to all our patients. Our patient rights and standards of care are outlined in our Patient Bill of Rights which we post throughout all our Centers. If you have any questions or concerns about patient rights or your treatment as our patient, please contact Patient Advocate Program Director, Clecy Cesario, at (914) 669-7200, ext. 8018, or at patientadvocacy@wchchealth.org.

Our patient rights are outlined in our Patient Bill of Rights posted throughout our centers.

OUR PATIENT BILL OF RIGHTS

As a patient at our Healthcare Center, you have the right, consistent with law, to:

  1. Receive services without discrimination to age, gender, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin, or ability to pay.
  2. Be informed of the services available at the Health Center and the provision for off-hours emergency coverage.
  3. Considerate and respectful care, including privacy in treatment.
  4. Information regarding charges for services, eligibility for third-party reimbursements, receive an itemized copy of your account upon request and, when applicable, be informed of the availability of free or reduced-cost care.
  5. Obtain from your physician complete current information concerning your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms you can be reasonably expected to understand.
  6. Expect a quick response to reports of pain.
  7. Receive from your physician the information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any non-emergency procedure or treatment or both. Informed consent shall include at a minimum, information concerning the specific procedure, the reasonably foreseeable risks involved, and alternatives for care or treatment in a manner permitting you to make a knowledgeable decision.
  8. Refuse treatment, to the extent permitted by law, be informed of the medical consequences of your action, and refuse to participate in experimental research.
  9. Access to your medical records within 10 days of request.
  10. Approve or refuse the release or disclosure of your medical record to any healthcare practitioner, and/or healthcare facility except as required by law or third-party payment contract.
  11. Voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to the Center’s staff, the operator, and the New York State Department of Health without fear of reprisal.
  12. Express complaints about the care and services provided and have the Center investigate such complaints.
  13. Expect a written response to complaints/grievances by the Center within 30 days regarding the outcome and be informed that you may complain to the New York State Office Health System Management at (914) 632-3701 or call the hotline at (800) 804-5447 if you are not satisfied with the Center’s response.

As a patient at our Health Center, you can expect:

  • Your reports of pain will be believed
  • Information about pain and pain relief measures
  • A concerned staff committed to pain prevention and management
  • Healthcare professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain
  • Effective pain management

Updated on June 10, 2022