As a patient of the Saratoga Schenectady Endoscopy Center, you have the right to:

1. Understand and use these rights.  If for any reason you do not understand or you need help, the Center must provide assistance, including an interpreter.
2. Receive services without regard to age, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, sex, national origin or source of payment.
3. Be treated with consideration, respect and dignity including privacy in treatment.
4. Be informed of the services available at the Center.
5. Be informed of the provisions of off-hour emergency coverage.
6. Be informed of the charges for services, eligibility for third-party reimbursements and, when applicable, the availability of free or reduced cost care.
7. Be informed of the right to change providers if other qualified providers are available.
8. Receive an itemized copy of his/her account statement, upon request.
9. Obtain from his/her health care practitioner, or the health care practitioner’s delegate, complete and current information concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in terms the patient can be reasonably expected to understand.
10. Receive from his/her physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any non-emergent procedure or treatment or both.  An informed consent shall include, as a minimum, the provision of information concerning the specific procedure or treatment or both, the risks involved, and alternatives for care or treatment, if any.
11. Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be fully informed of the medical consequences of his/her action.
12. Refuse to participate in experimental research.
13. Express complaints about the care and services provided and to have the Center investigate such complaints, without fear of reprisal.  A patient may express their concern verbally to the Administrator at 518-831-1550 ext. 1510 or in writing.  The Center is responsible for providing the patient or his/her designee with a written response within 30 days indicating the findings of the investigation. The Center is also responsible for notifying the patient or his/her designee that if the patient is not satisfied by the Center’s response, the patient may complain to the New York State Department of Health’s Office of Health Systems Management by calling 1-800-804-5447.  Also, you may contact the Office of the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman through the website www.cms.hhs.gov/center/ombudsman.asp.  Understand that it is not required to complain to the Center first; you may complain directly to the NYSDOH or to the Office of the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman.
14. Privacy and confidentiality of all information and records pertaining to the patient’s treatment.
15. Approve or refuse the release or disclosure of the contents of his/her medical record to any health-care practitioner and/or health-care facility except as required by law or third-party payment contract.
16. Access his/her medical record pursuant to the provisions of section 18 of the Public Health Law, and Subpart 50-3 of the Title.