Samaritan Behavioral Health

Legal Information

Client/Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Welcome to Samaritan Behavioral Health, Inc.

  • Samaritan CrisisCare
  • School Based Services
  • SBHI – Preble
  • Youth & Adult Outpatient
  • Miami County Office
  • Substance Abuse Services
  • Young Children’s Assessment and Treatment Services (YCATS)

THESE RIGHTS APPLY TO ADULTS, CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS (AND THEIR PARENTS AND/OR GUARDIANS) TREATED AT SAMARITAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INC. IN THE ABOVE PROGRAMS.

CLIENT/PATIENT RIGHTS: Healthcare is a shared experience involving clients/patients and those who give care. Recognizing the personal worth and dignity of each client/patient at Samaritan Behavioral Health, this statement of your rights is offered as an expression of our philosophy and commitment to you.

YOUR RIGHTS:

  • The right to be treated with consideration and respect for personal dignity, autonomy and privacy;
  • The right to services in a humane setting that is the least restrictive we can feasibly provide within the treatment plan;
  • The right to be informed of one’s own condition, of proposed or current services, treatment or therapies, and of the alternatives;
  • The right to consent to or refuse any service, treatment or therapy upon full explanation of the expected consequences of such consent or refusal. A parent or legal guardian may consent to or refuse any service, treatment or therapy on behalf of a minor client/patient;
  • The right to a copy of a current, written, individualized service plan that addresses one’s own mental health, physical health, social and economic needs, and specifies the provision of appropriate and adequate services, as available, either directly or by referral;
  • The right to active and informed participation in the establishment, periodic review, and reassessment of the service plan;
  • The right to freedom from unnecessary or excessive medication;
  • The right to freedom from unnecessary restraint or seclusion;
  • The right to participate in any appropriate and available agency service, regardless of refusal of one or more other services, treatment, or therapies, or regardless of relapse from earlier treatment in that or another service, unless there is a valid and specific necessity which precludes and/or requires the client’s/patient’s participation in other services. This necessity shall be explained to the client/patient and written in the client’s/patient’s current service plan;
  • The right to be informed of and refuse any unusual or hazardous treatment procedures;
  • The right to be advised of and refuse observation by techniques such as one-way vision mirrors, tape recorders, televisions, movies or photographs;
  • The right to have the opportunity to consult with independent treatment specialists or legal counsel, at one’s own expense;
  • The right to confidentiality of communications and all personally identifying information within the limitations and requirements for disclosure of various funding and/or certifying sources, state or federal statutes, unless release of information is specifically authorized by the client/patient, parent or legal guardian of a minor client/patient or court-appointed guardian of the person of an adult client/patient in accordance with Rule 5122:2-3-11 of the Administrative Code;
  • The right to be informed of the circumstances under which disclosure of personal health information may be disclosed without client/patient prior permission;
  • The right to have access to one’s own psychiatric, medical or other treatment, unless access to particular identified items of information is specifically restricted for that individual client/patient for clear treatment reasons in the client’s/patient’s treatment plan. “Clear treatment reasons” shall be understood to mean only severe emotional damage to the client/patient such that dangerous or self-injurious behavior is an imminent risk. The person restricting the information shall explain to the client/patient and other persons authorized by the client/patient the factual information about the individual client/patient that necessitates the restrictions. The restriction must be renewed at least annually to retain validity. Any person authorized by the client/patient has unrestricted access to all information. Clients/Patients shall be informed in writing of agency policies and procedures for viewing or obtaining copies of personal records;
  • The right to be informed in advance of the reason(s) for discontinuance of service provision, means by which to resume services, and to be involved in planning for the consequences of that event;
  • The right to receive an explanation of the reason(s) for denial of service;
  • The right not to be discriminated against in the provision of services on the basis of religion, race, color, creed, sex, National origin, age, lifestyle, physical or mental handicap, HIV infection, AIDS-related complex, AIDS, developmental disability or inability to pay;
  • The right to know about the cost of services;
  • The right to be fully informed of all rights;
  • The right to exercise any and all rights without reprisal in any form including continued and uncompromised access to service;
  • The right to file a grievance, and to have oral and written instructions for filing a grievance.

YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY …..

  • To be honest about matters that relate to you as a client/patient;
  • To participate in the development of your service plan and treatment recommendations;
  • To attempt to follow the directions and advice offered by the staff;
  • To give 24-hour notice of any appointment cancellations;
  • To know names of the staff who are caring for you;
  • To report changes in your condition to those responsible for your care and welfare;
  • To be considerate and respectful to the rights of other clients/patients and staff;
  • To honor the confidentiality and privacy of other clients/patients;
  • To notify staff or the Client Rights Officer is you feel your rights are being violated;
  • To assure that the financial obligations of your healthcare are fulfilled as promptly as possible;
  • To follow Samaritan Behavioral Health rules and regulations affecting your care and conduct.

PROCEDURES

This pamphlet, which details SBHI Client Rights Policy and outlines the SBHI Grievance Procedure will be given to each service applicant at the time of intake or, in unusual circumstances, by the next subsequent appointment. Clients/Patients with limitations that may preclude full understanding will also have the policy explained to them. Distribution will occur as part of the financial counseling process except in a crisis/emergency situation where the applicant shall be verbally advised of the immediately pertinent rights, e.g., the right to consent or to refuse any service upon full explanation of the consequences of that agreement or refusal, etc. A copy of this pamphlet shall be provided at the next subsequent appointment, if scheduled.

Persons receiving “indirect” services (consultation, education, prevention, or training) may have a copy and explanation of the Client/Patient Rights and Responsibilities Pamphlet upon request.

A copy of this pamphlet is posted in a conspicuous location in each building operated by the center.
It is expected that every staff person will be familiar with all Client Rights and the grievance process and will explain any and all aspects of the rights and the grievance procedure upon request.

A Client Rights Officer (CRO) has been assigned to help assure clients/patients of their rights. He/she will accept and oversee the process of any grievance filed. The CRO or his alternate is readily accessible by telephone or in person.

The Client Rights Officer is:
Barbara Rickey, MS, PCC, Samaritan Behavioral Health, Inc.
Elizabeth Place, 601 Edwin C. Moses Blvd., 4th Floor, Dayton, Ohio 45417
Monday through Friday (8:30 am – 4:30 pm)
Day Phone: 937-734-9451 Fax: 937-734-8339 Email: brrickey@PremierHealth.com
In her absence, or in case of a grievance against Barbara Rickey, Caroline Wise will assume the responsibilities. She can be reached at 937-734-8333.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

The client/patient has the option of filing a grievance with an outside agency. Should a client/patient, or another party on behalf of a client/patient, have a grievance, that person may file the grievance at any time. Assistance will be given to help file the grievance. A client/patient grievance form will be used. Grievances must include information of the date, time, location, names of the person(s) involved and a description of the incident/situation. Grievances must be in writing, signed and dated by the client/patient.

All grievances are to be settled within the following steps:
1. The Client Rights Officer will review the grievance within 48 hours, interview the client/patient as necessary and appropriate, conduct any investigation deemed necessary, and render a judgment within 20 working days of receipt of the written grievance or 3 working days after receiving the grievance if the client/patient is receiving Substance Abuse services.

An extension, which shall be explained to the grievant, may be required when unusual circumstances prevent the CRO from completing a full investigation. If resolved, a written statement of the results will be given to the client/patient.
2. If not resolved, the matter will be referred to an impartial decision maker, the President and CEO of Samaritan Behavioral Health, Inc. The client/patient and the CRO will meet with the president to review the grievance. A written statement of the results will be given to the client/patient. The entire process will be completed within 20 days of the receipt of the grievance.
3. If not resolved, the client/patient will be advised and referred to outside agencies. The CRO may assist the client/patient in contacting any resource.
4. The administration of Samaritan Behavioral Health, Inc. will give whatever support is required for the CRO to fulfill her/his role in assuming that the agency is in compliance with the Grievance Procedure.
5. Upon their request, information about the grievance will be provided to any outside agency(ies) to which the client/patient has been advised and referred for resolution of the grievance. The agencies usually included are:

Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health
Services Board for Montgomery County
409 E. Monument Avenue, Suite 102
Dayton, Ohio 45402
937-443-0416
TTD/TTY Not available

Preble County Mental Health and
Recovery Board
121 N. Barron Street
Eaton, Ohio 45320
937-456-2596
TTD/TTY Not available

Ohio Department of Mental Health
and Addiction Services
30 E. Broad Street, 8th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3430
614-466-2596
TDD 614-752-9696

Ohio Legal Rights Service
50 W. Broad Street, Ste 1400
Columbus, Ohio 43215-5923
614-466-7264 or 1-800- 282-9181
TTY 614-728-2553