HIV, drug and alcohol, and mental-related information must be removed from your medical records. You must sign a specific authorization to release that type of information. Under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, facilities that receive federal funds cannot discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin, sex, or religion. In January of 1998, the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services released guidelines that explain hospitals' obligations when treating patients with limited English proficiency. Patients who feel they have been discriminated against based on their English proficiency can take steps to protect themselves.
Consumers can file a grievance through the hospital's internal grievance process.
Using the federal guidelines , PHLP has created a 10-point plan for hospitals to adopt to achieve cultural competency. Frankford Hospital in Philadelphia is the first hospital to adopt the plan. The hospital will evaluate the language ability of every patient when they enter the hospital and will record the need for translation services in each patient's chart. The hospital will ensure that the patient has access and is provided these services whenever necessary. The hospital will keep an updated list of staff members available to serve as translators whenever a patient wants to share information with any hospital staff.