| The
Snohomish County Grievance Committee exists to mediate disputes
or misunderstandings that arise between patients and physician members
of the Snohomish County Medical Society. The committee’s purpose
is to assist the patient and physician in areas of misunderstanding
and disagreement concerning fees for medical service, including
necessity or frequency of treatment and procedures. All complaints
must be received in writing and should be as detailed as possible.
Your complaint will need to include the patient’s name and
contact information, along with the name and contact information
of the physician, before the committee can proceed to contact the
physician about your concern. When submitting a grievance to the SCMS, a Release of Information Form will need to be completed. This form gives your consent to allow the committee to contact the physician regarding your complaint and review your records. By law, such records are privileged communication and cannot be released to a third party unless consented to by a patient. Before filing your grievance, if you have not already done so, we request that you make every effort to discuss this matter with the physician. We often find that the patient has not taken this initial opportunity, and that when a patient and physician sit down and talk over misunderstandings, the matter can be resolved to the satisfaction of both parties. Mail
your written grievance, along with the release of information
form, to the SCMS, PO Box 5183, Everett, WA 98206. |
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