Patient Nondiscrimination

This policy applies to all healthcare workers of WhidbeyHealth, including employees, medical staff members, contracted service providers, volunteers, vendors, representatives, the public, and patients.

WhidbeyHealth informs the public at large, patients, and employees that WhidbeyHealth does not discriminate and/or treat less favorably on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (consistent with the scope of sex discrimination described at 45 CFR 92.101 (1)(2)), including sex characteristics, including intersex traits, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. In addition, WhidbeyHealth does not discriminate based on religion, culture, physical or mental disability, financial status or condition (including terminally ill or dying), limited English, visual, hearing or learning impaired.

As a recipient of Federal financial assistance, WhidbeyHealth does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any person on the grounds of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, culture, physical or mental disability, financial status or condition (including the terminally ill or dying), limited English, visual, learning or hearing impaired in admission to, participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits under any of its programs and activities, whether carried out by WhidbeyHealth directly or through a contractor or any other entity with which WhidbeyHealth arranges to carry out its programs and activities.

This statement is in accordance with the provisions of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued pursuant to these three statues at Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations Parts CFR 80, 84, 91, 92.101 (a)(2) and ACA Section 1557 Rule updated 5/6/2024.

If you need reasonable modifications, appropriate auxiliary aids and services, or language assistance services, contact Patient Access as WhidbeyHealth Medical Center and Clinics will provide our patients meaningful 24 hours / 7 days a week access to healthcare interpreter services at no cost to ensure appropriate communication for patients, patients’ legally authorized representative(s), and other individuals whom the patient authorizes, including Limited English Proficient (LEP), demonstrated Limited English Proficiency, Hearing Impaired or Deaf patients.

If you believe that WhidbeyHealth has failed to provide these services or discriminated in any way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with:

WhidbeyHealth Executive Director of Quality and Compliance
101 N. Main St, Coupeville, WA 98239
360.678.7656, ext. 6304

A member of the Quality Department will assist with filing a complaint and grievance regarding the services provided through WhidbeyHealth.

Our Patient Experience Coordinator:
WhidbeyHealth Medical Center
101 N Main St, Coupeville WA 98239
360-678-7656, ext. 6305

Filing a grievance or complaint with WhidbeyHealth does not prevent the patient from filing a complaint with the Department of Health or the Office of Civil Rights.

Washington State Department of Health
Health Systems Quality Assurance Complaint Intake
P.O. Box 47857, Olympia, WA 98504-7857
800.633.6828
Electronically- https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave., SW, Room 509F, HHH Building, Washington, D.C. 20201
800.368.1019
TDD 800.537.7697

Complaints can be made to DNV via the following means:

ATTN: Healthcare Complaints
DNV Healthcare USA Inc
1400 Ravello Dr, Katy, TX 77449

ONLINE COMPLAINT FORM: www.dnvhealthcare.com
(COMPLAINTS HYPERLINK):  https://www.dnvhealthcareportal.com/patient-complaint-report) COMPLAINTS E-MAIL: hospitalcomplaint@dnv.com
COMPLAINTS VOICEMAIL: 866-496-9647
COMPLAINTS FAX: 281-870-4818

WhidbeyHealth disseminates the nondiscrimination process in the following ways:

For the general public:

• The nondiscrimination process is printed in the Notice of Privacy Practices and Patient Rights and Responsibilities which are routinely distributed to patients, referral sources, and the community.
• The nondiscrimination policy is included on our WhidbeyHealth internet page.

For the patients:

• The nondiscrimination process is included in the patient admissions packet.
• The nondiscrimination process is discussed with patients upon their initial visit with the facility.
• A copy of the nondiscrimination process is available as a paper copy upon request.
• Process is described in more detail: Patient Rights and Responsibilities and Notice of Privacy Practices.

For the Healthcare Workers:

• The nondiscrimination process is included in healthcare workers advertisements.
• The nondiscrimination process is discussed and distributed during employee orientation.
• The nondiscrimination process is posted in the employee breakrooms.
• See policy: Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

WhidbeyHealth personnel are prohibited from retaliating against any person who opposes, complains about, or reports discrimination, files a complaint, or cooperates in an investigation of discrimination or other proceedings under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination law.

• WhidbeyHealth Medical Center Corporate Compliance Officer is responsible for coordinating compliance with this Policy, including giving notice to and training all WhidbeyHealth personnel on this Policy.
• WhidbeyHealth personnel will determine eligibility for and provide services, financial aid, and other benefits to all patients in a similar manner, without subjecting any individual to separate or different treatment on the basis of age, race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.
• WhidbeyHealth personnel will provide notices to patients regarding this Nondiscrimination Policy and WhidbeyHealth’s commitment to providing access to and the provision of services in a welcoming, nondiscriminatory manner.
• At the time patients are notified of their patient rights, WhidbeyHealth personnel will also inform each patient, or the patient’s support person, including the patient’s attorney in fact, when appropriate, of the patient’s visitation rights, including any clinical restriction on those rights, and the patient’s right, subject to the patient’s consent, to receive visitors whom the patient designates, free of discrimination based upon age, race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local Such visitors include a spouse, state registered domestic partner (including same-sex state registered domestic partner), another family member, friend, or a legal representative of the patient, such as an attorney-in-fact. WhidbeyHealth personnel will also notify patients of their right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time. WhidbeyHealth personnel will afford such visitors equal visitation privileges consistent with the patient’s preferences.
• Any WhidbeyHealth personnel receiving a patient or visitor discrimination complaint will advise the complaining individual that he or she may report the problem and file a complaint without fear of retaliation.

Compliance & Ethics Program

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Medical Interpreter Services

Notice of Privacy Practices

45 CFR 92.101(a)(2)

NIAHO – PR1.(SR1 – SR2)