Always Your Choice

Welcome

Always Your Choice is a private medical office that strives to provide you with quality medical care in an atmosphere of warmth and compassion. Our approach is multi-disciplinary --this means we use physician assistants, nurse practitioners, therapists, dieticians, as well as physicians to provide health care. Our dedicated staff pledges to provide you with the utmost care and service that makes Always Your Choice a community devoted to patient needs. In your best interests, we aim to create a strong partnership with you to keep you in good health. We build a foundation for honest communication so that we can help you continue on with a healthy lifestyle while in our care. Our medical group is an advocate for preventative medicine, and will provide you with all the information required to cater to your medical needs. Located in the East Village in the heart of Manhattan, Always Your Choice has been a leading health care provider serving a wide variety of people from the tri-state area. For over fourteen years, our services have given us the reputation as being a positive, committed, and vital part of our patients’ lives. We want to offer the best professional, personal, and respectful support to give you the choices and benefits that you are entitled to.

Always Your Choice specializes in HIV counseling and testing, treatment of all STDs, vaccines and immunizations, gynecology, pap smears, birth control, medical travel needs, and general primary care. We take great pride in our care of not only the patient with general medical problems but also the patient with STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) where we offer diagnosis, treatment, and continued management in a sensitive environment.

Having had years of experience in the care of the HIV patient, we make sure we are up to date and knowledgeable about current treatments, effective management and prevention of complications of HIV. We do completely confidential testing for the detection for the presence of antibody to HIV, using the standardized and approved Elisa Assay Test and if needed a Western Blot.

At Always Your Choice Medical Office we also have a Hepatitis Prevention Program. The aim of this program is to screen, evaluate, and offer vaccinations for the prevention of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Our qualified staff does extensive teaching and public education both with our patients here in the office as well as speaking to different organizations about the various forms of Hepatitis disease processes, the complications, and treatment issues.

Our focus on patient care also makes it necessary for us to stress the responsibility our patients have in their own health care. It is fundamental that our patients realize their financial obligations in making a commitment to bettering their health. We encourage any patients that are in financial difficulty to be open and forward with these problems early on so that we can respond and resolve any issues that involve affording your health care. Also we stress your responsibility in understanding your insurance plan’s benefits and restrictions. Your policy is between you and your insurance carrier. If you have issues regarding your plan’s coverage, we are not the party held responsible for that. Understand that we are obliged to charge you for the entire bill if we are not paid in a timely fashion by your plan. Recognizing your insurance’s policies will help deter these situations. Please note that although we do accept a number of insurance plans, there are charges that are not always covered by it that you are held responsible for, such as co-pays, travel vaccines, medical equipment use, and certain services. Always Your Choice holds you accountable for all charges not paid by your insurance company with exceptions only due to contract or state law. Insurance cards must be presented at each time of visit. Depending on each individual insurance policy, you are also held liable to pay the co-payment as stated by your insurance company. If unable to do so, you may be asked to reschedule your appointment.

Our patients, whatever the nature of their medical problem, are made to feel comfortable and welcome at Always Your Choice. This is a place where we are committed to maintaining an atmosphere free of prejudice or judgment. We encourage you to report any conflict of interest that you encounter while in the care of Always Your Choice. We are dedicated to your service and strive to uphold the values we use to give you the best patient care that we can offer.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities

At Always Your Choice, your well being and health is our main concern. Associated with that is an open relationship between you and our health care providers in order to better serve you. To provide good communication, you need to be informed of all the rights you have as a patient under our medical care. We encourage you to review this document and be aware of your role in your care.

As a patient at Always Your Choice, you have the right:

To be treated with the utmost courtesy, compassion, and respect regardless of your sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, financial status, nation of origin, or disabilities.
To have an explanation of care regarding treatment, diagnosis, prognosis, and procedures that applies to your care.
To have your privacy protected at all times, in accordance with the HIPAA Privacy Act.
To have access to your medical records when requested, and to maintain confidentiality of them.
To have your medical questions answered quickly and to the best of our knowledge.
To be given care in a safe environment.
To have your health care professional, a family member, or representative that you specify to be notified of any immediate hospital visits.
To be involved in decisions to be made on your care including involvement in managing pain.
To refuse treatment at any time unless otherwise stated by the law.
To be free of restraints and/or seclusion unless deemed medically necessary.
To have access to information on and receive counseling if requested for financial resources that is related to managing your medical care.
To know the name, qualifications, and the role that your health care providers play in managing your health care.
To get immediate medical attention for any emergency condition that will worsen if not taken care of promptly.
To request a reasonable estimate of charges on your bill for services prior to the administration of the services.
To access to information on protective and advocacy services in the event of abuse or neglect.
To participate or to refuse participation in medical research studies where you can withdraw from the study at any time with no commitment to the researcher.
To know what the rules are at Always Your Choice related to your office visit.

As a patient at Always Your Choice, your responsibilities are:

To provide correct and complete information to the best of your ability about past medical history and any information that pertains to your personal health.
To notify us of any changes in your medical condition and report any concerns you have to your health.
To ask questions and let us know if you understand or do not understand the plan of action to be taken for your health so that we can make sure you fully comprehend your options.
To meet your financial obligations regarding your health care.
To keep your scheduled appointments and notify us at least 24 hours beforehand if you cannot make it unless it is a dire emergency.
To show us the same respect and courtesy that we offer to you in dealing with our health care providers and staff.
To follow the treatment plan that your health care provider recommends to you.
To accept responsibility for the consequences if you refuse treatment by our medical professionals or do not follow treatment plans provided by them.
To be mindful of those around you and be considerate of things such as your noise level to other patients that may be in your presence while waiting for your scheduled appointment.