Patient and Visitors

Non-Discrimination Policy

Affordable Care Act - Section 1557

Non-discrimination in Health Programs and Activities 

Scope: Emory Healthcare, Inc. (EHC) entities to include, but not limited to, Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, Emory Clinic, Inc., Emory Dialysis, Wesley Woods Center of Emory University, Inc., Emory Specialty Associates, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Emory Saint Joseph’s Joint Operating Company, Emory Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Emory Physical Therapy, Emory Rehabilitation Hospital in Partnership with Select Medical, Emory Rehabilitation Outpatient Center in Partnership with Select Physical Therapy, Emory Decatur Hospital, Emory Long Term Acute Care and Emory Hillandale Hospital (collectively Emory Healthcare).

Policy: EHC complies with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and does not exclude, deny access/benefits to health care, or otherwise discriminate against or treat differently any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation or stereotyping, gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions in admission to, participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its programs and activities, whether carried out by EHC directly or through a contractor or any other entity with which EHC arranges to carry out its programs and activities.

This statement is in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Affordable Act Section 1557, and Regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued pursuant to these statutes at Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 80, 84, and 91.

EHC provides to people with disabilities or those whose preferred language for communication is not English and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English auxiliary aids and services, such as qualified sign language interpreters, qualified spoken language interpreters, over-the- phone interpretation services, video remote interpreting, written information in other formats at no cost to people with disabilities, or are limited English proficient, in order to communicate effectively with us as we do with others.

Should you require any of these services, please let the person scheduling your appointment know about the assistance you need, and/or contact your physician’s office directly prior to your appointment or contact the below appropriate Patient Advocate Office for assistance.

Advocacy EHC
patient.relations@emoryhealthcare.org

The Emory Clinic and Emory Specialty Associates Patient Advocate
Tel: 404-778-3539
Fax: 404-778-7522

Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital Patient Advocate
Tel: 678-843-5121
Fax: 678-843-5003

Emory Johns Creek Patient Patient Advocate
Tel: 678-474-7028
Fax: 678-474-7660

Emory University Hospital Midtown Budd Terrace Patient Advocate
Tel: 404-686-1999
Fax: 404-686-5901

Emory Wesley Woods Budd Terrace Patient Advocate
Tel: 404-686-1999
Fax: 404-686-5901

Emory University Hospital /
Emory University Hospital at Wesley Woods /
Emory University Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital
Patient Advocate

Tel: 404-686-7593
Fax: 404-712-0272

Emory Rehabilitation Hospital Quality Director
Tel: 404-712-2590
Fax: 404-712-0463

Emory Decatur Hospital /
Emory Long Term Acute Care /
Emory Hillandale Hospital
Patient Advocate

Tel: 404-501-5810


If you believe that Emory Healthcare has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, gender identity or sex, you can file a grievance. Please contact the Patient Advocate office for the facility for which you have the grievance. See grievance procedure. The Patient Advocate can assist you if you need help filing a grievance.

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/smartscreen/main.jsf, or by mail or phone at

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington DC, 20201

1-800-868-1019
TDD 1-800-537-7697

Grievance Procedure

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

Emory Healthcare has adopted an internal grievance procedure for all facilities and clinics providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by the Affordable Care Act Section 1557. Any person who believes s/he has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age or disability may file a grievance. It is against the law for any Emory Healthcare facility, clinic or program to retaliate against anyone who files a grievance or cooperates in the investigation of a grievance.

Procedure:

Grievances must be submitted to the Patient Advocate for the facility where the issue occurred within 30 days of the date the person filing the grievance becomes aware of the alleged discriminatory action. The Patient Advocate shall contact the Director of 1557 Compliance. The Director may delegate investigation duties to assist with the investigation as needed to appropriate individuals within the facility, including the Patient Advocate.

A grievance must be in writing, containing the name and address of the person filing it. The grievance must state in as much detail as possible the problem or action alleged to be discriminatory and the remedy or relief sought.

Key Compliance and Patient Advocate Contacts

The Emory Clinic and Emory Specialty Associates Patient Advocate
Tel: 404-778-3539
Fax: 404-778-7522

Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital Patient Advocate
Tel: 678-843-5121
Fax: 678-843-5003

Emory Johns Creek Patient Patient Advocate
Tel: 678-474-7028
Fax: 678-474-7660

Emory University Hospital Midtown Budd Terrace Patient Advocate
Tel: 404-686-1999
Fax: 404-686-5901

Emory Wesley Woods Budd Terrace Patient Advocate
Tel: 404-686-1999
Fax: 404-686-5901

Emory University Hospital /
Emory University Hospital at Wesley Woods /
Emory University Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital
Patient Advocate

Tel: 404-686-7593
Fax: 404-712-0272

Emory Rehabilitation Hospital Quality Director
Tel: 404-712-2590
Fax: 404-712-0463

Emory Decatur Hospital /
Emory Long Term Acute Care /
Emory Hillandale Hospital
Patient Advocate

Tel: 404-501-5810

Advocacy Decatur
ehd.engagement.experieince@emoryhealthcare.org

Advocacy EHC
patient.relations@emoryhealthcare.org

The Director of Section 1557 Compliance, Patient Advocate or other appropriate person shall conduct an investigation of the complaint. This investigation may be informal, but it must be thorough, affording all interested persons an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint. Files and records related to such grievance will be maintained. A written decision on the grievance will be completed no later than 30 business days after its filing. The person filing the grievance may appeal the decision within 15 days of receiving the Director’s decision to the Chief Compliance Officer by writing to the Emory Healthcare Compliance Office, at

Emory Northlake
Office of Compliance Programs

ATTN: Director of Section 1557 Compliance
2201 Henderson Mill Road
1st Floor, Suite 150, Office # 1282
Atlanta, GA 30345

or email ehccompliance@emoryhealthcare.org

Appropriate arrangements will be made to ensure that disabled persons are provided other accommodations, if needed, to participate in this grievance process. Such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, providing interpreters for the deaf, providing appropriate material for the blind, or assuring a barrier-free location for the proceedings.

The availability of the Emory Healthcare Grievance procedure does not prevent a person from filing a complaint of discrimination on the basis of disability with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

 

A person can file a grievance of discrimination electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, which is available at: https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/smartscreen/main.jsf, or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, DC 20201

1-800-868-1019
TDD 1-800-537-7697

Complaint forms are available at: https://www.hhs.gov/. Such complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged discrimination.

July, 2018

 

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