Patient Information

Confidentiality

The Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center (RSTHC) is dedicated to preserving our patients’ trust. RSTHC complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). RSTHC employees and contractors owe a duty to patients and stakeholders to act in a way that will merit the continued trust and confidence of the public. Our continued success is dependent upon your trust.

All patients must sign an Acknowledgement of Receipt of Notice of Privacy Practices (PDF), which is a summary of their privacy rights at an Indian Health Service facility along with HIPAA Privacy Rule information. The RSTHC Notice of Privacy Practices outlines how information about you may be disclosed. We encourage our patients to carefully read this important document.

Please note: If you decide you would like to share your protected health information with another individual or healthcare facility, you will need to sign the RSTHC Authorization to Use and/or Disclose Protected Health Information. This form becomes a part of your medical record. 
Please note: Other Authorizations for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information are not accepted.

Forms may be mailed or faxed to:

Attn: RSTHC Health Information Division
Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center
1715 Kuenzli Street
Reno, NV 89502
Fax: 775-334-4359

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center will make every attempt to involve patients in their own health care and treatment. Patients are given the opportunity to participate in decisions involving their treatment plans, except when such participation is contraindicated for patient safety reasons.

Our staff is available to answer any questions you might have.

Every reasonable attempt will be made to accommodate patients. We will attempt to honor requests for alternative therapies that may not achieve maximum results but can be compromised, as long as they are deemed responsible.

Learn more about the Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities (PDF).

Patient Rights

As a healthcare provider, the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center is committed to delivering quality medical care. The following “Statement of Rights” was developed by Reno Sparks Tribal Health Center and is endorsed by the Tribal Council, administration, health care professionals, and other staff of this facility.

Our goal is to provide healthcare services that are culturally competent, effective, and considerate of the patients we serve. We submit these to you as a statement of our policies:

  1. A patient has the right to respectful, considerate care given by competent and qualified personnel.
  2. A patient has the right, upon request, to be given the name of his/her healthcare professional as well as the names of all other professionals directly participating in his/her care.
  3. A patient has the right to every consideration of his/her privacy concerning his/her own health care program. Case discussions, consultations, examinations, and treatments are considered confidential.
  4. A patient has the right to have all records pertaining to his/her health care treated as confidential, and in accordance with HIPAA standards, except as otherwise provided by law, or third-party contractual and billing arrangements.
  5. A patient has the right to know what rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct as a patient.
  6. A patient has the right to expect emergency procedures to be implemented without unnecessary delay.
  7. A patient has the right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained according to National Quality Assurance standards.
  8. A patient has the right to full information in layman’s terms concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, including information about alternative treatments and possible complications. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information shall be given on his/her behalf to the patient’s next of kin or other appropriate person, or to a legally authorized individual in summary format.
  9. Except for emergencies, the health care provider must obtain the necessary informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment, or both.
  10. A patient has the right to be advised when they are part of a research or donor program, and the patient, or legally responsible party, must give informed consent prior to actual participation in such a program(s).
  11. A patient has the right to refuse any drugs, treatment, or procedure offered by the facility to the extent permitted by law, and the health care provider shall inform the patient of the consequences of the patient’s refusal of any drugs, treatments, or procedures.
  12. A patient has the right to assistance in obtaining consultation with another physician at the patient’s request and own expense.
  13. A patient has the right to health care services without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual preference, national origin, age, or disability.
  14. The patient has the right to be free from verbal, emotional, and physical abuse and/or inappropriate sexual behavior in a safe healthful, and comfortable environment.
  15. This facility shall provide the patient, upon request, access to health information contained in his/her records, unless this is specifically restricted by the attending healthcare provider, or is prohibited by law.
  16. A patient has the right to expect that the facility will provide a mechanism whereby he/she is informed prior to or upon discharge of his/her continuing health care requirements following discharge and the means for meeting them.
  17. A patient has the right to express grievances or suggestions to personnel verbally or in writing. Suggestion/ complaint forms are located in ALL patient waiting areas throughout the facility and will be directed to the attention of the Executive Director.

Patient Responsibilities

  1. You are expected to cooperate with all facility personnel, and you are expected to ask questions if directions and/or procedures are not clearly explained or understood.
  2. You are expected to be considerate of other patients and facility personnel and to maintain control of yourself, your family members, and your children. You are also expected to be respectful of the facility’s property and the property of other persons.
  3. In order to facilitate your care, you are expected to assist the healthcare providers in their efforts to care for you by following instructions.
  4. It is your responsibility to keep all appointments. If you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment, it is your responsibility to notify the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center at least 24 hours in advance.
  5. Be on time for your appointment. Patients are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment. When you arrive on time for your appointment, it helps the staff to ensure that all patients are seen on time. If you do arrive late, you may be rescheduled for another time or day.
  6. In the event that you should require hospitalization, the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center is not financially responsible or obligated to pay for expenses related to your hospitalization.
  7. It is expected that you will take any medications that have been prescribed to you and that you will not complicate or endanger the healing process by consuming alcoholic beverages or illicit drugs during or before your visit. In the event that you do take drugs not prescribed by your physician, please be honest, as it is extremely important to your health and safety.
  8. The Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center expects that you and your family will provide accurate information about your health history including illnesses, hospitalizations, and medications (prescribed or otherwise) in order to effectively determine a treatment plan that best suits your individual healthcare needs.

Support Services

Administration

The administration supports the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center infrastructure providing oversight, leadership, guidance, and support services to all divisions of the health center. This includes information technology and grant writing for contracts and grants that assist in sustaining all programs and activities.

In addition, Administration provides direct communication with the advisory and governing bodies of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony including the following:

Griselda Mayo, Administration Office Manager

Patient Benefits Coordinator

The Patient Benefits Coordination Department assists patients applying for alternate resources, such as Medicaid, Nevada Check Up, Medicare, disability, and other resource programs including the food stamp program and energy assistance.

Patient Benefits Coordinators are available to assist patients with alternate resource applications and submit applications to the appropriate agency on behalf of our patients. In addition, home visits can be made to accommodate homebound patients.

Referrals for food baskets and additional information about community resources for individuals who are homeless or in need of food and clothing are also available through the Patient Benefits Department.

Gabriela Arroyo-Medina, Patient Benefits Coordinator
Fax: 775-334-0402

Business Office

The business office maximizes revenue reimbursements from Nevada Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and other third-party resources. It is important to keep your insurance information updated with our Patient Registration Division. Third-party revenue is utilized to provide additional health care services of the RSTHC.

Kathleen Smokey, Business Office Manager

Patient Advocate

Responsible to listen to patient complaints, concerns, or questions.

Act as a liaison between patients and healthcare providers to clarify issues, explain medical information, referral process, advocate for patients needs or de-escalate behavior or conflict.

When necessary, work with appropriate staff to address concerns, attempt to resolve issues at the lowest administrative level, and provide timely feedback to the patient.

When necessary, assist patients with completing Complaint Forms, Medicaid enrollment forms, Patient Registration forms or other clinic forms that may be required or requested

Tamara Skeets, Patient Advocate


Health Information

Health information maintains medical records and related medical documentation of all RSTHC patients. Please visit our office for copies or releases of your medical information.

Lorri Chasing Crow, Health Information Manager