Your Patient Rights. The commitments we make to you.

As a patient at Newport Center for Special Surgery, you have specific rights under federal and California law and under AAAHC accreditation standards. This document describes those rights — and how to exercise them.

You have the right to expect that these rights will be honored throughout your care with us. If any of them are not, we want to know about it.

• Considerate and respectful care. You have the right to receive care that respects your personal dignity, cultural background, and individual values.
• Freedom from abuse and harassment. You have the right to be free from verbal, physical, mental, or sexual abuse or harassment during your care.
• Freedom from discrimination. You have the right to care that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability. See our Non-Discrimination Notice for full details.
• Communication in your language. You have the right to language assistance services at no charge if English is not your primary language, and to auxiliary aids for disabilities affecting communication.

• Right to information. You have the right to receive information about your medical condition, proposed treatment, alternative options, risks and benefits, expected outcomes, and estimated costs in terms you can understand.
• Right to ask questions. You have the right to ask questions and receive complete, understandable answers before consenting to any procedure or treatment.
• Right to refuse treatment. You have the right to refuse recommended treatment, to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of the medical consequences of that refusal.
• Right to a second opinion. You have the right to seek a second opinion at any point in your care. We support this and will provide records or referrals to facilitate it.
• Right to withdraw consent. You may withdraw consent for a procedure at any time before it is performed.

• Privacy during care. You have the right to personal privacy during examination, treatment, and recovery. Only those directly involved in your care will be present unless you consent otherwise.
• Confidentiality of records. You have the right to confidentiality of all information in your medical record. See our Notice of Privacy Practices for full HIPAA-required detail.
• Support person of your choice. You have the right to have a support person of your choice present during your care, subject to reasonable clinical constraints.

• Provider identity. You have the right to know the identity, professional status, and role of every person providing your care.
• Physician anesthesia. Anesthesia at NCSS is delivered by board-certified physician anesthesiologists on every case — not CRNAs. You have the right to meet your anesthesiologist before your procedure.
• Your surgeon of record. You have the right to know which surgeon will perform your procedure. NCSS surgeons operate personally; care is not delegated.
• Trainees and observers. You have the right to know if any trainees or observers will be present, and to request that they not be.

• Right to inspect and copy. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your medical record, subject to HIPAA and California law. Requests should be made in writing.
• Right to request amendment. You have the right to request amendments to your medical record if you believe it contains incorrect or incomplete information.
• Right to transfer records. You have the right to have your medical records transferred to another provider or facility upon your written request.
• Fees for copies. Reasonable fees for copying costs may apply, as permitted by California law.

• Right to have advance directives. You have the right to establish advance healthcare directives (such as a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment form, healthcare power of attorney, or living will) and to have those directives followed to the extent permitted by law.
• Provision of information. Upon request, we will provide information about advance directives and how to establish them.
• No requirement to establish directives. You are not required to have advance directives to receive care at NCSS.

• Direct communication. If you have a concern about any aspect of your care, we encourage you to first speak directly with your surgeon, nurse, or the staff member involved. Most concerns are resolved quickly through direct conversation.
• Grievance to our administrator. If direct communication does not resolve your concern, you may file a formal grievance with our administrator. Contact: NCSS Administrator, (949) 644-8182.
• Response commitment. We will acknowledge your grievance promptly, investigate the concerns raised, and provide a written response. You will not be retaliated against for raising a concern in good faith.
• External complaint options. You may also file a complaint with: The California Department of Public Health · The AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care) at aaahc.org · The Medical Board of California at mbc.ca.gov · The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at hhs.gov/ocr.

• Estimated cost in advance. You have the right to receive an estimate of the cost of your proposed procedure and related services in advance.
• Itemized billing. You have the right to receive an itemized bill and an explanation of charges after your care.
• Financial counseling. Our office can discuss payment options and, where applicable, insurance coverage before your procedure is scheduled.
• Good Faith Estimate. Under the federal No Surprises Act, if you are uninsured or self-pay, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of costs before your procedure.