Health Care
Consumer Information & License Verification Service
"Shop smart" when you are seeking professional services, know what services are offered, and confirm that a professional is licensed to practice in New York State. The New York State Education Department's Office of the Professions licenses and regulates the practice of 47 professions, including audiology, nursing, optometry, pharmacy and physical therapy. Consumer information on each of the professions and a license verification service is available on the Web at www.op.nysed.gov or by calling the Office of the Professions at 518-474-3817 (TDD/TTY: 518-473-1426).
Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Services
A variety of health services such as health screening, flu shots, medication management, nutrition counseling and physical fitness are offered through senior centers and congregate meal sites. For more information, including the location of senior centers and congregate meal sites, call your local office for the aging.
Health Care Proxy
The New York health care proxy law allows people of all ages to designate an agent to make health care decisions on their behalf if they can no longer do so. Forms are available at local offices for the aging or call the Senior Citizens' Help Line at 1-800-342-9871; or at the NYS Department of Health
at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/forms/
Hospital Patients' Rights
Upon admission to the hospital, a patient should receive a copy of the Hospital Patient's Bill of Rights. This booklet is designed to help you understand what rights you have during your hospitalization regarding treatment and care.
Complaints about New York State Hospitals and Diagnostic and Treatment Centers
The New York State Department of Health is responsible for checking acute and primary care facilities in New York State for compliance with Article 28 of the Public Health Law. A primary program for fulfilling this responsibility is the complaint review system. State Health Department regulations allow individuals to register complaints about the care and services provided by hospitals and diagnostic and treatment centers.
To initiate a complaint about a hospital or a diagnostic and treatment center, you may call the toll-free number at 1-800-804-5447, or you may file a complaint in writing and send it to: New York State Department of Health, Centralized Hospital Intake Program, 433 River Street, Suite 303, Troy, New York 12180-2299
Patients' Rights for Medicare & Medicaid Participants
Island Peer Review Organization (IPRO) is a New York-based not-forprofit organization that contracts with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve the quality of health care provided to New York State's Medicare beneficiaries. IPRO works to resolve beneficiary quality of care complaints and appeals to notices of non-coverage.
A quality of care complaint can be made about a number of issues, including receiving the wrong medication or treatment, sustaining a serious injury while in a nursing home or hospital, or developing bed sores from not being moved regularly.
If you live in New York and wish to file a quality of care complaint, please call 1-866-391-4682. For more information please visit the Your Health Your Voice website at: http://www.YourHealthYourVoice.org.
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP)
This program investigates and resolves complaints and concerns about skilled nursing facilities and long term care facilities such as adult homes. Volunteers are recruited and trained as certified ombudsmen who advocate for residents, assisting them, their families and the facilities in resolving problems. Technical assistance is provided by the New York State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program staff to 51 local programs with over 1,600 certified ombudsmen. These ombudsmen serve more than 180,000 long term care residents in the state. For more information, call the Senior Citizens' Help Line at 1-800-342-9871, or visit our ombudsman website at: http://www.ombudsman.state.ny.us