Patient Rights Helpline and Advocacy
New York StateWide Senior Action provides education, information, and advocacy on patient rights, health care and the quality of life for older adults and their families in New York State. This program is State funded in the amount of $31,500 to operate a Patients’ Rights helpline.
StateWide’s Patients’ Rights helpline expects to assist 500 older adults and caregivers. This helpline is available to callers with specific patients’ rights questions and issues. Counselors will also respond to questions and issues raised by email. Patients, providers and/or caregivers calling the Patients’ Rights Helpline will receive information on their rights as a medical patient and how to assure individuals receive a safe and appropriate discharge. They will also be assisted with how to appeal discharge decisions, should the individual and/or family disagree or question the safety of the discharge.