(509) 228-1000 WA
(208) 754-3100 ID

Patient Responsibilities and Rights

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RESPONSIBILITIES 
As a Patient, I have the RESPONSIBILITY to: 
  • Keep my appointments and notify Cancer Care Northwest within 24 hours of my scheduled appointment if I am unable to keep my appointment. 
  • Tell Cancer Care Northwest everything I know about my health.
  • Tell Cancer Care Northwest if there are changes in my condition or any new problems or concerns.
  • Participate in my care. Provide help in making decisions, following directions, and accepting responsibility for my choices.
  • Follow my treatment plan.
  • Let someone know if I don’t understand what I am being told.
  • Participate in developing a Care Plan, Advance Directives, and Living Will.
  • Assist in maintaining a safe, peaceful, and efficient environment, avoiding behaviors that are abusive or threatening.
  • Provide new/changed information related to my health insurance to the business office, and be prepared to meet my agreed-upon co-pay during my office visit.
  • Communicate any temporary/permanent change in my address or telephone number that might hinder contact by Cancer Care Northwest staff.
  • Relate my levels of discomfort and/or pain and perceived changes in my pain management to my physician.
  • Inform my physician or nurse when I am going to need a prescription refill before my supply is gone.
  • Not bring weapons (of any kind) or illegal substances onto Cancer Care Northwest property.
 
RIGHTS 
As a Patient, I have the RIGHT to: 
  • Full information about my rights and responsibilities as a patient at Cancer Care Northwest.
  • Reasonable access to care and treatment and/ or accommodations that are available or medically advisable regardless of one’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, language, age, disability, or sex (including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, pregnancy or other related conditions, including pregnancy termination) marital status, veteran or military status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other basis prohibited by federal or state law, having an Advance Directive or ability to pay for care (socioeconomic status). Discrimination on the basis of any of the above is prohibited.
  • Receive information that I can understand.
  • Access to interpreter services if you are non-English speaking or have vision, speech, hearing, or cognitive impairments.
  • Access to an interpreter when I (or my family member or companion) do not speak or understand the English language.
  • To be informed of my care: Receive an explanation of my diagnosis, benefits of treatment, alternatives, recuperation, risks/unanticipated outcomes, and an explanation of consequences if treatment is not pursued.
  • Care that is considerate and respectful of my cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual preferences.
  • Be treated with courtesy, dignity, and respect by all employees of Cancer Care Northwest.
  • Be free of physical/mental abuse and/or neglect by all employees of Cancer Care Northwest.
  • Participate in the development of a care plan, including Advance Directives, Living Wills, and have my own copies.
  • Refuse participation in any protocol or aspect of care, including investigational studies, and freely withdraw my previously given consent for further treatment.
  • Disclosure of any teaching programs, research, or experimental programs in which the facility is participating.
  • Complain or file a grievance with Cancer Care Northwest without fear of retaliation or discrimination.
  • Confidentiality, privacy, security, the right to file a complaint, complaint resolution, and communication regarding the treatment of my condition, medical record, and financial information. 
  • Access to copies of my medical records, request an amendment to it, and request an accounting of disclosures of it, as permitted by law, by contacting HIM at (509) 228-1000.
  • Request and receive a detailed description of my bill for services rendered.
  • Assistance and consideration in the management of pain as deemed medically appropriate.
 
REVISED May 2025