HSS Palm Beach ASC

Florida law requires that your health care provider or health care facility recognize your rights while you are receiving medical care and that you respect the health care provider’s or health care facility's right to expect certain behavior on the part of patients. You may request a copy of the full text of this law from your health care provider or health care facility. A summary of your rights and responsibilities follows:

A patient has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his or her individual dignity, and with protection of his or her need for privacy.

A patient has the right to a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.

A patient has the right to know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for his or her care.

A patient has the right to know what patient support services are available, including whether an interpreter is available if he or she does not speak English.

A patient has the right to bring any person of his or her choosing to the patient-accessible areas of the health care facility or provider’s office to accompany the patient while the patient is receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment or is consulting with his or her health care provider, unless doing so would risk the safety or health of the patient, other patients, or staff of the facility or office or cannot be reasonably accommodated by the facility or provider.

A patient has the right to know what rules and regulations apply to his or her conduct.

A patient has the right to be given by the health care provider information concerning diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.

A patient has the right to refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.

A patient has the right to be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for his or her care.

A patient who is eligible for Medicare has the right to know, upon request and in advance of treatment, whether the health care provider or health care facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate.

A patient has the right to receive, upon request, prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.

A patient has the right to receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable, itemized bill and, upon request, to have the charges explained.

A patient has the right to impartial access to medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment.

A patient has the right to treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.

A patient has the right to know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give his or her consent or refusal to participate in such experimental research.

A patient has the right to express grievances regarding any violation of his or her rights, as stated in Florida law, through the grievance procedure of the health care provider or health care facility which served him or her and to the appropriate state licensing agency.

A patient is responsible for providing to the health care provider, to the best of his or her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to his or her health.

A patient is responsible for reporting unexpected changes in his or her condition to the health care provider.

A patient is responsible for reporting to the health care provider whether he or she comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him or her.

A patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the health care provider.

A patient is responsible for keeping appointments and, when he or she is unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the health care provider or health care facility.

A patient is responsible for his or her actions if he or she refuses treatment or does not follow the health care provider’s instructions.

A patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his or her health care are fulfilled as promptly as possible.

A patient is responsible for following health care facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.

View the HSS Palm Beach ASC Nondiscrimination Notice

English - Notice of Privacy Practices (pdf)

Español - Aviso De Prácticas De Privacidad (pdf)

HSS Palm Beach ASC is committed to your well-being and safety. Our mission is to provide the highest-quality patient care and to improve your mobility and quality of life. One of the ways in which we achieve these goals is by making you an active partner in your care. The purpose of this information is to explain ways in which you, your friends and family and your healthcare team can all play a vital role in providing you with the best care and the best outcomes.

Please share this information with your family and friends while you are at HSS Palm Beach ASC. We welcome your questions and concerns.

What Should I Know About Safety?

Be an active partner in your care.
We urge patients to become involved in their care. Research shows that patients who take part in decisions about their healthcare are more likely to have better outcomes.

Speak up.

• Ask questions if you have concerns or do not understand something about your care.
• Let us know if English is not your primary language. We will gladly provide you with interpreter services.
• Say something if you think you are about to receive the wrong medication or if you think the healthcare professional has confused you with another patient.
• Ask members of your healthcare team if they have washed their hands prior to delivering care.
• Share your medical history with your healthcare team.
• Tell us if you have any allergies.
• Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.

Seeking education about your medical issues and your treatment allows you to be a better partner in your care. Good communication with your healthcare team benefits everyone. 

Know what medications you take and why and when you take them.

• Have a list of all the medications you are currently taking, as advised, prior to admission. This includes prescriptions and over-the-counter items like vitamins, herbal supplements, pain relievers, antacids and allergy medications.
• Also have your contact information for your primary care doctor, or the doctor who will be following your care once you leave HSS Palm Beach ASC, including their name, telephone number and fax number.
• Always ask about any medication that is given to you and know why you are taking it.
• Carefully review the medications you are to take once you leave HSS Palm Beach ASC. Be sure you have the prescriptions and that you understand the discharge and follow-up instructions.
• Throw away any old medication lists and update your records with any retail pharmacies or providers.
• Should you be discharged on medications such as Coumadin or Lovenox, which are anticoagulants (medications to prevent blood clots), our nurses will provide careful teaching to you and your family or caregivers as to dose, time, diet and follow-up instructions that are all very important for your safety.

Check and double-check identification.

• Patient identification:
  You will be given an identification (ID) band when you arrive at the HSS Palm Beach ASC. This ID band has your name, date of birth (DOB) and medical record number, which helps us to identify you and ensures that we are giving you the proper care and treatment. You will find that your healthcare team will check your ID band and ask for your name and DOB throughout your stay. Please know that this is for your safety. If your ID band falls off or is not easy to read, please ask us for another one.
• Surgical site identification:
  You will be asked to identify the correct surgical site by pointing to the area where you are due to have surgery. Your surgeon will initial the correct surgical site using a special marker. Another safety measure that happens right before your procedure is a “Time Out,” in which the healthcare team will confirm your identity, surgical site, correct procedure and surgery consent form.

Prevent infections.
Hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infection. HSS Palm Beach ASC staff members are aware of this and will clean their hands with either soap and water or a sanitizing solution before and after they provide care for you. If you have not seen someone on your healthcare team wash their hands, we suggest that you ask them to do so.