Privacy Policy
At Silverado, we are committed to maintaining your privacy and delivering a website that provides you with quality, timely information about our organization. Please read the Website Privacy Policy to find out how information submitted on our website is handled.
To find out how your protected health information may be used or disclosed, we invite you to read the Notice of Privacy Practices (NOPP). This document also describes your rights with regard to this information. If you have further questions about the NOPP, please contact our Privacy Official at (949) 240‐7200.
Our Code of Ethics
Employees
This Code of Ethics is based on our Core Values and will be reviewed at least every two years and revised as necessary in response to issues which arise in the health care industry, changes in accreditation, legal and/or regulatory requirements and recommendations which may arise from resolution of ethical issues.
Confidentiality
We are committed to ensuring confidentiality of records and related information for all patients, employees and hospital business. Any breach of confidentiality represents a failure to meet the professional and ethical standards expected, and constitutes a violation of this Ethics Policy. A full confidentiality and privacy statement is received and accepted by each employee as part of the employee handbook.
Quality of Care
We ensure that our employees provide appropriate, quality care by:
- Individualizing care for each patient/resident/client with care plans that document the reason(s) for the level of care, goals and objectives, interventions and participation by appropriate professionals, and which are reviewed and revised according to each patient/resident/client’s needs.
- Using adequate numbers of appropriately trained staff to implement each patient/resident/client’s care plan.
- Supporting our staff in monitoring quality, utilization of resources and the appropriateness of the care plans.
- Providing our employees with adequate resources to do their work.
- Evaluating technological advancements occurring in the marketplace and allocating resources for the purchase of appropriate equipment.
Patient Rights
We ensure appropriate care for all patients/residents/clients,regardless of race, gender, age, religion, national origin, disability,sexual preference, ability to pay or type of health plan coverage.
We develop and implement policies and procedures to protect patient/resident/client rights in the delivery of care. These policies and procedures are located in administrative, operations and/or patient/resident/client are manuals and include rights, informed consent, advance directives, and more.We support and facilitate patient/resident/client rights to access guardianship, advocacy, conservator ship by providing and receiving requested information.
If You Have a Concern
You have the right to file a complaint/grievance. If you want to file a complaint/grievance with Silverado, you may do so by writing or calling:
Silverado
Privacy & Ethics Officer
Risk Management Department
6400 Oak Canyon, Suite 200
Irvine, California 92618
(949) 240‐7200
You may file a complaint with the state Department of Health Services regardless of whether you use Silverado’s grievance process. The state Department of Health Service’s phone number and address is:
Department of Health Services
5555 Ferguson Drive, Room320
Commerce, California 90022
(800) 228‐1019
Billing
We communicate our billing policies to all our patients/residents/clients prior to, or, at the time of admission or service.We bill our patients/residents/clients for services rendered and provide itemized bills free of charge upon request.Our patient/resident/client business office responds to patient/resident/client questions in a timely and courteous manner.
We perform an internal audit annually to ensure the accuracy of our bills. Adjustments are made to correct any over or under billings.
Health Education
We are committed to providing patient/resident/client health education,to encouraging and empowering our community to adopt healthy lifestyles, and to helping individuals and families.
Marketing and Advertising
We adhere to principles of truth, accuracy, and fairness in all marketing and advertising. We will not distort the truth about services or products provided by Silverado, nor will we attack or disparage another provider, whether by name or implication, in any marketing or advertising efforts. We may feature our outstanding services or offer factual evidence of quality of care, but will not claim superiority where it cannot be substantiated.
Vendors
We treat our vendors fairly and maintain impartiality in our relationships. We do not allow our friendships with our vendors, or others with whom we may do business in the future,to affect our business decisions.
Charitable gifts or contributions from vendors are not required, and have no bearing upon their actual or potential business relationship with us.
Human Resources
We are committed to hiring competent individuals who support our Core Values. For our employees, we provide:
- Continuous educational opportunities,to ensure their competency and knowledge.
- A work environment in which ethical concerns may be raised and openly discussed without fear of retribution or retaliation.
Employees are expected to action an ethical manner at all times. They are expected to:
- Adhere to and uphold county,state and federal laws and regulations.
- Shun harassment, dishonesty or theft.
- Protect assets belonging to patients, employees and others(including themselves) against loss, theft and/or misuse.
- Report incidents which they believe may be unethical to their supervisor or to the Director of the Human Resources Department. Supervisors are responsible for notifying their Department Director. Directors are responsible for notifying their Vice President.
All employees are expected to adhere to our Core Values and Code of Ethics, regardless of position, personal preferences, inconveniences or business pressures. Violations of the Code of Ethics should be promptly reported, reviewed and investigated. Those who violate these codes or knowingly fail to report violations may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including
termination of employment.
Legal Responsibilities
Our employees are required to adhere to and uphold county,state and federal laws and regulations.
Conflict of Interest
We avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest to ensure objectivity and maintain individual and corporate integrity. Board members, administration, employees(and their immediate family members) shall not:
- Hold any material financial interests in companies or organizations that do business or are seeking to do business with Silverado, without full disclosure.
- Accept cash payments or personal gifts of more than nominal value from companies or organizations doing business with us.
- Be directly or indirectly responsible for hiring or supervising an immediate family member.
If a conflict of interest exists, employees must report it to the appropriate management. The Chief Administrative Officer and Risk Management shall be responsible for taking appropriate action to eliminate any conflict of interest.
The End of Life Option Act with Silverado Hospice
Silverado is supportive of helping patients explore their end-of-life choices. California’s End of Life Option Act, which took effect in 2016 and was updated in 2022, provides a choice for certain terminally ill patients who are making decisions at the end of their lives. It is the policy of Silverado Hospice to extend to its patients the autonomy to make the choices made available through California’s End of Life Option Act and to comply with its terms.
Should patients desire, Silverado Hospice may offer services in accordance with California’s End of Life Option Act. However, we will not require or encourage any patient, employee, contractor or physician to participate. Silverado respects the rights of its patients to use this option, as well as the rights of our physicians, consultants and employees to participate or not. Participation in any of the activities authorized under the Option Act is strictly voluntary.
Policy overview
Silverado Hospice will not prohibit any hospice physician or hospice employee from voluntarily participating in the activities described under the Option Act EXCEPT that (1) no hospice physician or hospice employee will sign as a witness the Request for an Aid-In-Dying Drug form and (2) no hospice employee that is not employed as a licensed nurse shall assist the patient in preparation of the aid-in-dying drug prior to self-administration. Any hospice physician or hospice employee that fails to comply with these prohibitions may face discipline including suspension, and up to termination of employment or contract termination.
A Silverado Hospice physician who chooses to participate in activities authorized under the Option Act must be compliant with this Policy and is responsible for ensuring that all activities (including any required documentation and reporting to the California Department of Public Health) are strictly performed in accordance with the Law.
Silverado Hospice physicians who choose not to participate under the Option Act must, upon patient inquiry, inform the patient that they do not participate under the Option Act, document the date of the patient’s request, transfer the patient’s medical records to another participating provider upon request, and not engage in false, misleading or deceptive practices related to willingness to qualify an individual or provide a prescription to a qualified individual under the Option Act.
Additional Disclaimers
Background Checks for Contractors
Background Checks for Physicians
Billing Coordination of Care with Other Providers
Non-Solicitation Compliance with Anti-Kickback Statute
Patient Financial Responsibility
Professional Management for Contracted Services
Multiple Location Administration
Responding to External Investigations
Records Retention – Non-Health Care