Non-Discrimination Policy and Procedure

PURPOSE: To ensure that all patients and visitors of Elite Physical Therapy are treated with equality, in a welcoming, nondiscriminatory manner, consistent with applicable state and federal law.

SCOPE: This policy applies to all members of the Elite Physical Therapy workforce, including employees, medical staff members, contracted service providers, and volunteers, and to all vendors, representatives, and any other individuals providing services to or on behalf of Elite Physical Therapy (“Facility Personnel”).

POLICY: Elite Physical Therapy is dedicated to providing services to patients and welcoming visitors in a manner that respects, protects, and promotes patient rights.

1. Facility Personnel will treat all patients and visitors receiving services from or participating in other programs of Elite Physical therapy and its affiliated clinics with equality in a welcoming manner that is free from discrimination based on 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.
2. Facility Personnel will inform patients of the availability of and make reasonable accommodations for patients consistent with federal and state requirements.
3. Facility Personnel will afford visitation rights to patients free from discrimination based on 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 and will ensure that visitors receive equal visitation privileges consistent with patient preferences.
4. Any person who believes that he, she, or another person has been subjected to discrimination which is not permitted by this Policy, may file a complaint with Julie Shoemake, CFO, Elite Physical Therapy.
5. Facility 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 proceeding under federal, state, or local anti- discrimination law.

PROCEDURE:

1. Elite Physical Therapy’s Corporate Compliance Officer/Patient Advocate or designee is responsible for coordinating compliance with this Policy, including giving notice to and training all Facility Personnel on this Policy.
2. Facility 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.
3. Facility Personnel will provide notices to patients regarding this Nondiscrimination Policy and Elite Physical Therapy’s commitment to providing access to and the provision of services in a welcoming, nondiscriminatory manner.
4. At the time patients are notified of their patient rights through the Patient Handbook, Facility 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 law. 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. Facility Personnel will also notify patients of their right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time. Facility Personnel will afford such visitors equal visitation privileges consistent with the patient’s preferences.
5. Any Facility Personnel receiving a patient or visitor discrimination complaint will advise the complaining individual that he or she may report the problem to the Facility Administration and file a complaint without fear of retaliation.