Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) is accredited by The Joint Commission as a Primary Care Medical Home and a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). These organizations are dedicated to enhancing health care quality and safety.

At a PCMH, patients receive quality care through a direct and long-term relationship with their chosen provider and health care team. This team is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs and values, ensuring all clinical decisions are guided by these principles. Patients, and their families, also receive support to become engaged in healthy behaviors.

Everyone at FHCSD — from clinicians to receptionists — plays a role in creating a PCMH that supports whole-person care and improves access, self-care and care coordination within and outside FHCSD.

Part of our duty as a PCMH facility is to inform patients of their rights and responsibilities. We encourage patients to review our Patient Rights and Responsibilities below as well our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

We are pleased you have chosen FHCSD. We want to provide you with exceptional health care services. As a health care patient, you have choices, rights and responsibilities.

You have the right to:

1. Be treated with dignity and respect and be acknowledged as an individual with unique health care needs.
2. Not be discriminated against for any reason, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, religion, physical and mental disability, sex, including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, age, genetic information, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, political activities or affiliations, military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, assault, human trafficking or stalking unless required by the eligibility guidelines for services.
3. Receive care in a clean and comfortable environment.
4. Have cultural, ethnic, psychological, spiritual and personal beliefs, values and preferences, learning needs and language preferences acknowledged and respected.
5. Know the name, education and title of the staff member serving you.
6. Receive an understandable explanation of your health condition or status.
7. Be actively involved in decisions regarding your treatment plan, obtain copies of referrals and have your care needs coordinated by our interdisciplinary team.
8. Consent to, or refuse, any care or treatment.
9. Accept or refuse participation in any clinical research opportunity that is offered.
10. Receive appropriate assessment and management of pain.
11. Involve family members and/or significant others in care decisions as you request and as appropriate.
12. Have your medical and personal information treated confidentially.
13. Be involved in resolving conflicts about care decisions or service perceptions.
14. Be encouraged to share questions and concerns regarding safety, quality and ethical issues.
15. Receive, upon request, information about surrogate decision-making and advance health care directives.
16. Seek second opinions. We encourage you to discuss this with your primary care provider.
17. Receive services regardless of ability to pay and on a sliding-scale basis.

Family Health Centers of San Diego complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate, exclude people or treat them differently on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, physical and mental disability, sex, including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, age, genetic information, language preference/ability, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity, AIDS/HIV, medical condition, political activities or affiliations, military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, assault or stalking.

You have the responsibility to:

1. Treat FHCSD staff with courtesy and respect, and show appreciation for their cultural, ethnic, psychosocial, spiritual and personal values.
2. Be honest about your medical, dental, sexual and mental health history.
3. Ask questions until you understand what you need to know about your health care.
4. Follow health advice, medical instructions and express any concerns about your ability to follow the proposed plan of care.
5. Accept the consequences and outcomes if you do not follow the care, treatment and service plan.
6. Report any changes in your health condition to your medical provider.
7. Provide feedback about your service needs and expectations.
8. Respect clinic staff and property and comply with clinic rules and regulations.
9. Help maintain a safe environment by not bringing weapons, knives, illegal drugs or alcoholic beverages onto any FHCSD site.
10. Keep appointments or cancel at least 24 hours in advance.
11. Notify staff of any changes to your legal name, phone number, email address or mailing address.
12. Accurately represent and report your true financial situation and earnings
13. Pay patient fees when services are rendered or take personal responsibility to make payment arrangements.
14. Disclose a complete health history and all current medications to your primary care provider.

Commitment to a safe and respectful environment

To help maintain a safe and respectful environment, we ask all patients and visitors to treat staff and other patients with courtesy and respect. Harassment, threats, yelling, discriminatory language and disruptive behavior are not permitted.

Weapons of any kind are prohibited on FHCSD property. Patients or visitors who do not follow these expectations may be asked to leave and may be subject to termination of care.