Nondiscrimination Policy

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Purpose

To ensure that all patients and visitors of Skagit Regional Health are treated with equality, in a welcoming, nondiscriminatory manner, consistent with Skagit Regional Health's Values and Service Standards.

Policy

Skagit Regional Health is dedicated to providing services to patients and welcoming visitors in a manner that respects, protects, and promotes patient rights.

1. Staff will treat all patients and visitors receiving services from or participating in other programs of Skagit Regional Health and its affiliated clinics with equality in a welcoming manner that is free from discrimination based on age, race, color, culture, 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. Staff will inform patients of the availability of and make reasonable accommodations for patients consistent with federal and state requirements. For example, language interpretation services will be made available for non-English speaking patients and sign language interpretation will be made available for hearing impaired patients.

3. Staff will afford visitation rights to patients free from discrimination based on age, race, color, culture, 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 using Skagit Regional Health's complaint and grievance procedure.

5. Staff 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.