Important Things to Know

We believe that every patient should be informed of their rights and responsibilities:

As a patient, you have the right to:

• Considerate, respectful care at all times and under all circumstances with recognition of your personal dignity.
• Personal and informational privacy within the law.
• Be fully informed about your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis to the degree known.
• Confidentiality of records and disclosures.  Except when required by law, you have the right to approve or refuse the release of records.
• The opportunity to participate in decisions involving your health care, including the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment, unless contraindicated by concerns for your health.
• Change primary or specialty physician or dentist if others are available.
• Information concerning implementation of any advance care directive.
• Impartial access to treatment regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, handicap or disability.  (The Surgery Center adheres to all Federal and State rules, regulations, and policies to promote a safe and non-discriminatory environment for all of our guests).
• Request information on fees for services or payment policies and receive a bill for services upon request.
• Know the identity and professional status of individuals providing service to you.
• Report any comments concerning the quality of services provided to you during the time spent at the facility and receive fair follow-up on your comments, complaints or grievances without discrimination or reprisal.

As a patient you are responsible for:

• Providing to the best of your knowledge, accurate and complete information about your present health status and past medical history and reporting any unexpected changes to the appropriate practitioner(s).
• Following the treatment plan recommended by the primary practitioner involved in your case.
• Providing an adult to transport you home after surgery and an adult to be responsible for you at home for the first twenty-four (24) hours after surgery.
• Indicating whether you clearly understand a contemplated course of action and what is expected of you.
• Your actions if you refuse treatment, leave the facility against the advice of the practitioner, and/or do not follow the practitioner's instructions relating to your case. 
• Assuring that the financial obligations of your health care are fulfilled as expediently as possible.
• Providing information about and/or copies of any living will, power of attorney or other directives that you desire us to know about.
• Being respectful of all healthcare providers and staff as well as other patients.

Important Information About Advance Directives:

It is our policy, regardless of the contents of any Advance Directive, that if an adverse event occurs during treatment at the ASC (Ambulatory Surgery Center), we will initiate resuscitative or other stabilizing measures and transfer the patient to an acute care hospital for further evaluation.  At the acute care hospital, further treatment or withdrawal of treatment measures already begun, will be ordered in accordance with the patient's wishes, Advance Directives or Health Care Power of Attorney.  If you have an Advance Directive, and would like a copy placed in your medical record at the ASC, we would be happy to do so.

ASC Ownership Information: 

Ownership of the Northwest Michigan Surgery Center is as follows:

                          49% Munson Medical Center
                         51% ASC Partnership, LLC

ASC Partnership, LLC is composed of a group of area physicians who provide medical and surgical care to patients of all ages in the Grand Traverse Area and beyond.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your rights or responsibilities, or have any complaints or grievances on how these rights were or were not administered, please contact the Chief Executive Officer who will investigate your issue.  The CEO can be reached at:

                                 Northwest Michigan Surgery Center
                                         4100 Park Forest Drive
                                         Traverse City, MI  49684
                                         (231) 392-8900
                                          

You may also register complaints with the state of Michigan through the following:

                             Department of Community Health
                                         Bureau of Health Systems (BHS), Division of Operations
                                Complaint Investigation Unit
                                   611 W. Ottawa Street
                                   P.O. Box 30664
                                   Lansing, MI  48909
                                    Complaint Investigation Unit:  (517) 241-4712
                                 Hotline:  (800) 882-6006

Or with the Office of the Medicare Beneficiary at:  www.medicare.gov/Ombudsman/resources.asp