For Patients
Patient rights and responsibilities
These are given to every patient before their procedure. They are here as well, so you can read them before you arrive rather than on a clipboard on the morning.
Every patient has the right to be treated as an individual and to actively participate in and make informed decisions regarding their care. The facility and medical staff have adopted the following patient rights and responsibilities, which are communicated to each patient, or the patient's representative or surrogate, before the procedure.
As a patient, you have the right
- To receive treatment without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or source of payment.
- To receive considerate, respectful, and dignified care.
- To be provided privacy and security during the delivery of patient care service.
- To receive information from their physician about their illness, their course of treatment, and prospects for recovery in terms that they can understand.
- To receive as much information about any proposed treatment or procedure as they may need in order to give informed consent before the start of any procedure or treatment.
- Reasonable continuity of care, and to know in advance the time and location of the appointment as well as the physician providing the care.
- When it is medically inadvisable to give such information to a patient, the information is provided to a person designated by the patient or to a legally authorized person.
- To make decisions regarding the health care that the physician recommends. Accordingly, the patient may accept or refuse any recommended medical treatment. If treatment is refused, the patient has the right to be told what effect this may have on their health. The reason shall be reported to the physician and documented in the medical record.
- To be free from mental and physical abuse or exploitation during patient care.
- Full consideration of privacy concerning their medical care. Case discussion, consultation, examination, and treatment are confidential and shall be conducted discreetly.
- Confidential treatment of all communications and records about their care and their stay in the facility. Their written permission shall be obtained before their medical records can be made available to anyone not directly concerned with their care. The facility has established policies to govern access and duplication of patient records.
- To have care delivered in a safe environment, free from all forms of abuse, neglect, harassment, or reprisal.
- To be informed by their physician, or a delegate of their physician, of the continuing health care requirements following their discharge from the facility.
- To know the identity and professional status of individuals providing services to them, and the name of the physician who is primarily responsible for the coordination of their care.
- To know which facility rules and policies apply to their conduct while a patient.
- To have all patients' rights apply to the person who may have legal responsibility to make decisions regarding medical care on behalf of the patient. All personnel shall observe these patients' rights.
- To be informed of any research or experimental treatment or drugs, and to refuse participation without compromise to the patient's care. The patient's written consent for participation in research shall be obtained and retained in their patient record.
- To examine and receive an explanation of their bill regardless of the source of payment.
- To appropriate assessment and management of pain.
- To be advised if the physician providing care has a financial interest in the surgery center, and to be informed of your right to change providers if other qualified providers are available.
- To exercise their rights without being subjected to discrimination or reprisal.
- To voice a grievance regarding treatment or care that is, or fails to be, furnished.
- To be fully informed about a treatment or procedure and the expected outcome before it is performed.
- To personal privacy, to receive care in a safe setting, and to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.
If you need an interpreter, please tell us and one will be provided at no cost to you. See our nondiscrimination notice for more.
What we ask of you
- To provide complete and accurate information, to the best of their ability, about their health, any medications — including over-the-counter products and dietary supplements — and any allergies or sensitivities.
- To follow the treatment plan prescribed by their provider, including pre-operative and discharge instructions.
- To provide a responsible adult to transport them home from the facility and remain with them for 24 hours, if required by their provider.
- To inform their provider about any living will, medical power of attorney, or other advance health care directive in effect.
- To accept personal financial responsibility for any charges not covered by their insurance.
- To be respectful of health care personnel and staff, as well as other patients.
Advance directives
An advance directive is a general term that refers to your instructions about your medical care in the event you become unable to voice these instructions yourself. Arizona law regarding advance directives is found at Arizona Revised Statutes Title 36, sections 36-3201 through 36-3210, which defines a health care directive as a document drafted in compliance with the statute to deal with a person's future health care decisions. All adults have the fundamental right to control their medical care.
Arizona law recognizes three distinct types of document that can be executed in advance to provide a mechanism for health care decision making when a patient is no longer able to make those decisions directly: health care powers of attorney, living wills, and pre-hospital medical care directives. You have the right to informed decision making regarding your care, including information regarding advance directives and this facility's policy on them. Applicable state forms will also be provided on request, and a member of our staff will discuss advance directives with the patient, or the patient's representative or surrogate, before the procedure is performed.
Heart Health Center respects the right of patients to make informed decisions regarding their care. The Center has adopted the position that an ambulatory surgery center is not the most appropriate setting for end-of-life decisions. It is therefore the policy of this Center that, in the absence of an applicable, properly executed advance directive, if there is deterioration in the patient's condition during treatment at the Center, personnel will initiate resuscitative or other stabilizing measures and the patient will be transferred to an acute care hospital, where further treatment decisions will be made. If the patient has provided the Center with advance directives that affect resuscitative measures being taken, we will discuss the treatment plan with the patient and their physician to determine the appropriate course of action regarding the patient's care.
Complaints and grievances
If you have a problem or complaint, please speak to one of our staff to address your concern. If necessary, your problem will be advanced to Center management for resolution. You have the right to have your verbal or written grievances investigated and to receive written notification of actions taken. You may also contact any of the following directly — you do not have to raise a concern with us first.
Center administrator
Anthony Sebastiano, Administrator
Heart Health Center
1848 E. Thomas Road, Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85016
State agency
Arizona Department of Health Services
150 N. 18th Avenue, Suite 450
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Medicare beneficiaries
Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman
Medicare beneficiaries may also file a complaint with the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman.
Office of the Inspector General: oig.hhs.gov
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
www.medicare.gov/claims-and-appeals/medicare-rights/get-help/ombudsman →
Concerns specifically about your health information go to the privacy contact on our Notice of Privacy Practices.
Physician ownership
The Center is owned, in part, by physicians. The physician who referred you to this Center and who will be performing your procedure may have a financial and ownership interest in it. Patients have the right to be treated at another health care facility of their choice. We are making this disclosure in accordance with federal regulations.
Physicians with a financial interest in Heart Health Center
- Vijay Swarup, MD
Questions about your procedure?
Our team will confirm your date, walk you through preparation, and answer questions about insurance, sedation, and recovery.