Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Thank you for choosing Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists for your orthopedic surgery. We look forward to providing the care and services you need. Please review your patient rights and responsibilities below.

As a patient, you have the right to:

  • Exercise your rights without being subjected to discrimination or reprisal.
  • Be fully informed about a treatment or procedure and the expected outcome before it is performed.
  • Be informed of unanticipated outcomes.
  • Be free from all forms of abuse, harassment, and neglect and to access protective services.
  • Be treated with respect for your personal values and beliefs and with consideration and dignity.
  • Appropriate privacy as the facility layout permits and to receive care in a safe setting.
  • Have your disclosures and records treated confidentially, and, except when required by law, the right to approve or refuse their release.
  • Complete information concerning your diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and prognosis to the degree known. When it is medically inadvisable to give such information to you, the information is provided to a person designated by the patient or to a legally authorized person.
  • Participate in decisions involving your health care, and to include your family in these decisions, except when such participation is contraindicated for medical reasons.
  • Information concerning the services and access to care available at Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, fees for service, and payment policies and the credentialing process used to give providers admitting privileges.
  • Express grievances, concerns, or complaints by speaking with your physician, a Director, or any staff member by filing a written grievance or complaining to the State Department of Health or Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Office of the Medicare Ombudsman.
    • Please contact one of the following if you have complaints or grievances:
      • Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists Administrator: 509-344-8672
      • Washington State Healthcare Quality Assurance: 360-236-4700
      • Washington Relay Service: TTY Users dial 711
      • The Office of the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman is available to help patients understand their rights, protections, and options.
      • State Office of Healthcare Survey, Investigations Mgr, PO Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, 360-236-2920
  • Designate a surrogate decision-maker and/or have family members' input in care decisions.
  • Refuse treatment, change physicians, or utilize another surgical facility.
  • Refuse to participate in investigational studies and/or clinical trials.
  • Know that supervised students and observers may be involved in your care.
  • Know that the physicians who operate at Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists all have a financial interest in the practice.
  • Place health care directives in your medical record so that should you be transferred, the accepting institution is aware of your directives. Understand that Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists personnel will always attempt to resuscitate you and transfer you to a hospital in the event of deterioration of your condition.
  • Timely resolution of complaints/grievances (a copy of our policy will be provided if requested).

As a patient, you are responsible for:

  • Providing, to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about your present health status and past medical history and reporting any unexpected changes to the appropriate practitioner(s).
  • Following the treatment plan recommended by the primary practitioner involved in your case.
  • Providing an adult to transport you home after surgery and an adult to be responsible for you at home for the first 24 hours after surgery.
  • Indicating whether you clearly understand a contemplated course of action and what is expected of you.
  • Your actions if you refuse treatment, leave the facility against the advice of the practitioner, and/or do not follow the practitioner's instructions relating to your case.
  • Assuring that the financial obligations of your health care are fulfilled as expediently as possible.
  • Providing information about and/or copies of any living will, power of attorney, or other directives that you desire us to know about.
  • Inform our staff that you do not want observers or students involved in your care.

Обратите внимание на наши русскоязычных пациентов: "Больной человек" Документ доступен на русском языке по вашему запросу.

Aviso a nuestros pacientes de habla hispana: Los "Derechos del paciente" documento está disponible en español a su solicitud.

If you have any questions regarding your rights and responsibilities, please call us at 509-344-8672.

For your convenience, you may download and print this information by clicking the link below.

Patient Rights & Responsibilities (PDF)