To
download our Nondiscrimination Policy as a PDF, click
HERE.
St. Luke's Healthcare, Inc. and St. Luke's Hospital, Inc. (SLH)
does not discriminate in patient admissions, room assignment, patient
services, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin,
gender, religion, disability or age. If assistance or communication aids
for impaired hearing, vision, speech, or manual skills are needed, SLH
will make reasonable accommodations.
Purpose To define the organization's policy
regarding nondiscrimination.
Standard In furtherance of our nation?s commitment to end
discrimination, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Regulations of the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services issues pursuant to the Acts, Title 45 Code
of Federal Regulations Part 80, 84, and 91, and all other nondiscriminatory
acts protecting the rights of the disabled and other individuals or groups,
SLH has established the following policy.
Policy Statement As a recipient of federal financial assistance,
SLH does not exclude from participation, deny benefits to, or otherwise
discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, gender, age,
national origin, religion, or disability in admission to, participation
in, or receipt of services and benefits of any of its programs and activities
or in employment therein, whether carried out by SLH directly or through
a contractor or any other entity with whom SLH arranges to carry out its
programs and activities. SLH does not discriminate in patient admissions,
room assignments, patient services, or hiring on the basis of race, color,
gender, age, national origin, religion, or disability.
Communication of Policy SLH's notice of nondiscrimination
is communicated to all participants, beneficiaries, and other interested
persons via multiple methods, including but not limited to the following:
The notice is placed on the hospital's bulletin boards, is posted in public
registration areas, and is posted on the SLH's web page.
Communication with Sensory or Speech Impaired Individuals
SLH assures that all individuals are able to receive effective notices,
including nondiscrimination and notices concerning benefits or services
or information concerning waivers of rights or consent to treatment, regardless
of their disability. (See Interpreters & Communication Enhancements
policy # 00-0104)
Complaint Process SLH has adopted an internal grievance
procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints
alleging any action prohibited by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services regulations (45 C.F.R. Part 84), implementing Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended (29 U.S.C. 794). Section 504
states, in part, that "no otherwise qualified disabled individual...shall
solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from participation
in, be denied benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program
or activity receiving federal financial assistance...". The
President/CEO, 101 Hospital Drive, Columbus, NC 28722, Phone
(828) 894-3311, has been designated to coordinate the efforts of SLH to
comply with the regulations. The hospital Corporate Compliance Officer
serves as the Section 504 Coordinator.
1. A complaint should be in writing, contain the name and address of the
person filing it, and briefly describe the discriminatory act.
2. A complaint should be filed in the office of the Corporate Compliance
Officer within 30 days after the person filing the complaint becomes aware
of the alleged discriminatory act.
3. The President/CEO, or designee, will investigate the complaint. The
investigation will be informal but thorough, affording all interested
persons and their representatives an opportunity to submit evidence relevant
to the complaint.
4. The President/CEO shall issue a written decision determining the validity
of the complaint no later than 30 days after its filing.
5. The Corporate Compliance Officer shall maintain the files and records
relating to all complaints filed. The Corporate Compliance
Officer may assist persons with the preparations and filing of complaints,
and advise the Chief Executive Officer concerning
their resolution.
6. These rules shall be liberally construed to protect the substantial
rights of interested persons to meeting appropriate due process standards
and assure SLH?s compliance with Section 504 and the regulations.
In case of questions regarding this policy, or in the event of a desire
to file a complaint alleging violations of the above, contact:
St. Luke's Hospital
Cameron Highsmith, CEO
101 Hospital Drive
Columbus, NC 28722
Phone: (828) 894-3311
TDD: (828) 894-3311
An individual who files a complaint may pursue other remedies including
filing with:
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
601 East 12 Street ? Room 248
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
Phone: (816) 426-7278
Fax: (816) 426-3638
TDD:(816) 426-7065
