Your Rights

PATIENT RIGHTS

As a patient of Unity Health Care, Inc.(“Unity”), you have a right to:

1. Receive high-quality care regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, number of pregnancies, and/or place of residence. Receive care in an environment that promotes dignity and respect for all. 
2. Receive services from licensed and credentialed Unity staff members. 
3. Receive confidential medical advice and treatment in a private setting. Your medical information will be released only in compliance with the law. 
4. Receive clinical evaluation, diagnostic testing, treatment, and appropriate follow-up care and/or referral. 
5. Have medical conditions, medications and treatments thoroughly explained and discussed in a language you can understand. 
6. Provide consent or refuse to consent to testing, medications, and treatment. 
7. Participate or refuse to participate in research projects. If you participate, you have the right to a complete explanation of the purpose and use of the research information and to withdraw from the project at any time.
8. Receive pre-and post-test counseling for HIV testing.
9. Receive information about patients’ rights and responsibilities.
10. Receive information concerning the resolution of patient complaints.
11. Have family members participate in your health care decisions.
12. Designate a surrogate decision maker for your health care decisions.
13. Receive information about fee schedules and payment policies, including costs for services and information about what your insurance will cover.
14. Know the rules of behavior in all Unity settings.
15. Appeal termination of services through the Health Center Director of each health center.
16. Security of self and property.
17. Request hearing, language, literacy, or other communication assistance required by law.
18. Access the health center, regardless of physical impairment.            

Your Responsibilities 

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES 

As a patient, you are responsible for:  

1. Treating Unity staff members and other patients with dignity and respect at all times.
2. Maintaining continuity of care with an assigned provider and using the walk-in system only when you need immediate care.
3. Keeping your scheduled appointments. When this is impossible, you have a responsibility to notify the clinic and reschedule your appointment.
4. Providing complete, accurate, and truthful information about your present and past medical conditions and all other matters pertaining to your health and providing copies of records from other physicians and clinics where you have received treatment.
5. Raising questions about instructions that are given to you. If for any reason you feel you cannot comply with the instructions, speak with a staff member right away.
6. Providing and updating your current home and email address and phone number.
7. Providing complete, accurate, and truthful information to enrollment and to medical services to make certain that the information you give for inclusion in your medical record is accurate and complete.
8. Providing complete, accurate, and truthful information regarding entitlements (e.g. Medicaid, Medicare) or other third-party insurance coverage that you have in order to enable Unity to bill appropriately.
9. Utilizing electronic means, such as the patient portal, when appropriate to obtain lab results and communicate with Unity.

PATIENT COMPLAINTS/GRIEVANCES

All patients have the right to present grievances, verbally or in writing, either to the Health Center Director or supervisor, who will respond directly. If you feel that your grievance has not been addressed to your satisfaction by the Health Center Director, you can call 202-238-4248 for resolution.