Patient Information

  • Patient Responsibilities

  • Patient Rights

SUBJECT: ADVANCE DIRECTIVES AND RELEASE OF MEDICAL RECORDS TO TRANSFER SITE

As specialists providing outpatient services in an ambulatory setting, Bethlehem Endoscopy Center does not directly address advance directives with patients scheduled for procedures at the facility.  It is the policy of the Medical Director and staff to honor advance directives presented to them by their patients.  However, should an untoward event happen to a patient while in the facility, it is also our policy to stabilize the patient and transport to the hospital of their choice with a copy of their advanced directive, if made available.

There are many types of advance directives, but the two most common forms are:

        LIVING WILLS : These generally state the type of medical care an individual wants or does not want if she/he becomes unable to make her/his own decisions.

 DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE:  This is a signed, dated and witnessed paper naming another person as an individual’s agent or proxy to make medical decisions for that individual if she/he should become unable to make her/his own decisions.

POLICY

PROCEDURE:  In the event a patient should suffer a cardiac or respiratory arrest or other life-threatening situration, the signed consent implies consent for resuscitation and transfer to a higher level of care.  Therefore, in accordance with federal and state law, Bethlehem Endoscopy Center will stabilize the patient and transport them to a hospital with a copy of the advance directives, if it has been provided to the facility.

Patients are notified of our policy regarding Advance Directives in the Patient Conduct and Responsibilities Policy posted in our waiting room and on the Outpatient Admission Summary, which is completed by the patient prior to the procedure date.  Advance Directive information is available upon request.

Under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), BEC is required to post 2 kinds of notices of nondiscrimination and taglines that alert individuals with limited English proficency (LEP) to the availability of laguage assistance services.

http://hcsiinc.blogspot.com/2016/09/hhs-section-1557-discrimination.html