​Patient Bill of Rights

The doctors and staff of Columbia University College of Dental Medicine/Columbia University Health Care, Inc. recognize that while you are a patient here you have the right, consistent with law, to:

1. Receive service(s) without regard to age, race, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, sex, gender identity, national origin or sponsor
2. Be treated with consideration, respect and dignity including privacy in treatment
3. Be informed of the services available at the center
4. Be informed of the provisions for off-hour emergency coverage
5. Be informed of and receive an estimate of the charges for services, view a list of the health plans and the hospitals that the center participates with; eligibility for third-party reimbursements and, when applicable, the availability of free or reduced cost care 
6. Receive an itemized copy of his/her account statement, upon request
7. 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
8. Receive from his/her physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any nonemergency 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 reasonably foreseeable risks involved, and alternatives for care or treatment, if any, as a reasonable medical practitioner under similar circumstances would disclose in a manner permitting the patient to make a knowledgeable decision
9. Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and to be fully informed of the medical consequences of his/her action
10. Refuse to participate in experimental research
11. Voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to the center’s staff, the operator and the New York State Department of Health without fear of reprisal 
12. Express complaints about the care and services provided and to have the center investigate such complaints. The center is responsible for providing the patient or his/her designee with a written response within 30 days if requested by the patient 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 response, the patient may complain to the section administrator of your area of care, the faculty program director or the Office of Patient Services (212) 305-8624 and if you are still not satisfied, you may contact the New York State Department at 1-800-804-5447
13. Privacy and confidentiality of all information and records pertaining to the patient’s treatment
14. 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
15. Access to his/her medical record per Section 18 of the Public Health Law, and Subpart 50-3. For additional information link to: http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1449/section_1.htm#access;
16. Authorize those family members and other adults who will be given priority to visit consistent with your ability to receive visitors
17. When applicable, make known your wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. Persons sixteen years of age or older may document their consent to donate their organs, eyes and/or tissues, upon their death, by enrolling in the NYS Donate Life Registry or by documenting their authorization for organ and/or tissue donation in writing in a number of ways (such as health care proxy, will, donor card, or other signed paper). The health care proxy is available from the center
18. View a list of the health plans and the hospitals with which the center participates
19. Receive an estimate of the amount that you will be billed after services are rendered