Patients' Rights & Responsibilities

As a Patient of New Bedford Community Health, You Have the Right To:

• Choose your doctor or nurse.
• Get an estimate of the charges before your visit.
• Know the names and jobs of the people who take care of you.
• Have your records seen only by your doctor or nurse.
• Get an answer quickly when you ask something.
• Know how we work with other places to take care of you.
• Get a copy of our patient rules.
• Know about free and low-cost health care.
• See your records and get a copy of them.
• Say no to having students or other staff help care for or observe you.
• Say no to being in research or education projects.
• Be alone with your doctor or nurse when they treat you.
• Be treated right away if you might die, even if you don’t have insurance or cannot pay.
• Know the facts about any test or treatment before you say yes to it.
• Get copies of bills we sent to other places that take care of you.
• Know how your doctor works with the other places that take care of you – including if they pay him or her.
• Get copies of bills or payments from your insurer or health care program.
• For patients with breast cancer, to be told about all the ways it can be treated.
• Get help with pain.
• Establish a Health Care Proxy (Advance Directives). A copy of this will be in the medical record.
• For female rape victims of childbearing age, are to be given written information on emergency contraception that is medically and factually accurate.
• If refused treatment due to lack of money, to have prompt and safe transfer to a facility that agrees to receive and treat you.

Under federal and Massachusetts state laws, you have broad and specific rights about your care. You also have the right to privacy of your medical records including your treatment and your communications with us. For more about our values and your rights as a patient, visit our Patient Privacy page or ask for our pamphlet about patient records and privacy. 

As a Patient of New Bedford Community Health, It Is My Responsibility To:

• Participate in my own healthcare and treatment.
• Provide, to the best of my knowledge, accurate information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters related to my health.
• Ask questions when I do not understand my care, treatment, or services, or what I am expected to do.
• Follow and express concern about my ability to follow the plan of care, treatment, or services.
• Accept my share of the responsibility for the outcomes of care, treatment, or services if I do not follow the plan.
• Keep all my scheduled appointments. I will give 24 hours’ notice if I am unable to keep a scheduled appointment. After three repeat missed appointments, I may not be allowed to make another appointment at New Bedford Community Health.
• Know and understand my health insurance plan.
• Meet any financial obligations agreed to with New Bedford Community Health.
• Follow New Bedford Community Health’s policies and procedures.
• Treat the staff at New Bedford Community Health with courtesy and respect.
• Be considerate of New Bedford Community Health’s staff and property, as well as other patients and their property.
• Use respectful language when speaking in the Health Center or while speaking on the phone to NBCH staff.
• Use a normal tone of voice when speaking with staff.
• Not use threatening, loud, or otherwise offensive language or hate speech.
• Not carry, use, or display firearms, knives, or weaponry of any kind while at New Bedford Community Health.
• Refrain from inappropriate, aggressive, violent, or any unwelcome physical contact.
• Refrain from smoking, vaping, or using any tobacco products while at New Bedford Community Health.
• Refrain from using any alcohol, marijuana, or any recreational drugs prior to my appointment or while on the grounds of New Bedford Community Health.
• Not film, photograph, or otherwise record in patient areas without prior consent.
• Not film, photograph, or otherwise record any staff members without prior consent.
• Not share identifying information about patients and staff on social media or elsewhere.

Failure to meet these responsibilities may result in a patient no longer being able to receive services at New Bedford Community Health.

In the event you have a complaint regarding your care or if you have a question concerning your rights and responsibilities as a patient, please call (508) 992-6553 and ask to speak to the Patient Care Advocate.

No person shall be denied treatment, which is available or medically indicated, on the basis of age, sex, race, color, creed, nationality, origin, or handicap.