Patient Rights

At Koa Mind, we believe every person deserves compassionate, respectful, and individualized mental health care. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and collaborative environment in which patients and families can actively participate in treatment decisions.

As a patient of Koa Mind, you have the right to:

1. Respectful and Dignified Care

You have the right to receive care in a respectful, compassionate, and professional manner, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

You have the right to be treated with dignity and without discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or abuse.

2. Participate in Your Care

You have the right to participate actively in decisions regarding your mental health treatment.

Your clinician will explain your diagnosis, treatment options, recommended medications, potential benefits and risks, and reasonable alternatives to the extent appropriate and clinically applicable.

You have the right to ask questions and request clarification about your treatment.

3. Informed Consent

You have the right to receive information necessary to make informed decisions about your care, consistent with applicable law.

Except when otherwise permitted or required by law, you have the right to consent to or decline recommended treatment.

You may ask about the potential benefits, risks, side effects, and alternatives associated with recommended medications or other interventions.

4. Refuse Treatment

You have the right to refuse a recommended treatment or medication to the extent permitted by law.

Your clinician may explain the potential consequences of refusing recommended treatment and may recommend alternative approaches when clinically appropriate.

Certain circumstances involving an immediate safety risk or applicable law may limit this right.

5. Privacy and Confidentiality

You have the right to privacy and confidentiality regarding your health information, subject to applicable federal and state laws and legally recognized exceptions.

Your protected health information will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws and Koa Mind's Notice of Privacy Practices.

You have the right to receive information regarding how your health information may be used and disclosed.

6. Access to Health Information

To the extent permitted by law, you have the right to access and obtain copies of your health information and request amendments to information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable law and Koa Mind's policies.

7. Choice and Collaboration

You have the right to participate in developing an individualized treatment plan with your clinician.

You may express preferences, concerns, goals, cultural considerations, and treatment priorities that you would like incorporated into your care.

8. Communication

You have the right to communicate with Koa Mind regarding your care and to receive information about how to contact the practice.

You will be informed of appropriate methods for communicating with your clinician and the practice.

Because electronic communication is not always monitored continuously, patients should not use email, text messaging, website forms, or routine communications for psychiatric emergencies.

9. Telehealth Information

If you receive services through telehealth, you have the right to receive information regarding the nature and limitations of telehealth and to ask questions about the technology being used.

You have the right to participate in telehealth appointments from a location where you can reasonably maintain privacy.

Telehealth services may be subject to geographic, licensing, technological, and legal requirements.

10. Medication Information

When medications are prescribed, you have the right to receive information about:

• The purpose of the medication;

• Expected benefits;

• Potential risks and side effects;

• Significant medication interactions;

• Reasonable alternatives when applicable; and

• Recommended monitoring.

You are encouraged to communicate concerns about side effects, effectiveness, adherence, or changes in your medical condition.

11. Voice Concerns or File a Complaint

You have the right to express concerns about your care without fear of retaliation or inappropriate treatment.

You may discuss concerns directly with your clinician or Koa Mind.

You may also have the right to file a complaint with an applicable state licensing board, regulatory agency, health plan, or other authorized organization.

12. Appropriate Clinical Care

You have the right to receive clinically appropriate care within the scope of services provided by Koa Mind and applicable laws and professional standards.

Koa Mind may determine that a patient's needs are better addressed through another level or type of care. When clinically appropriate, Koa Mind will discuss available recommendations or referrals.

13. Emergency and Crisis Care

You have the right to receive information about appropriate emergency and crisis resources.

Koa Mind is not an emergency or crisis service. If you are experiencing an immediate psychiatric or medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 in the United States.

14. Freedom From Retaliation

You have the right to raise questions, concerns, or complaints regarding your care without retaliation.

Patient Responsibilities

To support safe and effective treatment, patients are expected to:

1. Provide Accurate Information

Provide accurate and complete information about your medical and psychiatric history, medications, allergies, substance use, symptoms, and other information relevant to your care.

Inform your clinician of significant changes in your health, medications, or circumstances.

2. Participate in Treatment

Participate honestly and appropriately in your treatment plan and communicate concerns or changes in symptoms.

Ask questions whenever you do not understand your diagnosis, treatment recommendations, medications, or follow-up plan.

3. Take Medications as Prescribed

Take medications only as directed and communicate with your clinician before making significant changes to prescribed psychiatric medications, unless an urgent medical situation requires otherwise.

Do not share prescription medications with other individuals.

4. Attend Appointments

Make reasonable efforts to attend scheduled appointments and provide appropriate notice when you need to cancel or reschedule.

Repeated missed appointments, late cancellations, or inability to participate appropriately in care may affect continued treatment.

5. Maintain a Safe Environment

For telehealth appointments, participate from a location that is reasonably private, safe, and appropriate for treatment.

Patients should not participate in appointments while driving or operating a vehicle.

6. Communicate Urgent Concerns Appropriately

Do not rely on routine messages, email, website forms, or appointment requests for emergencies.

For an emergency, call 911 or seek emergency medical care.

For a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts, call or text 988.

7. Treat Staff and Clinicians Respectfully

Koa Mind is committed to respectful communication, and patients and families are expected to communicate respectfully with clinicians, staff, and other individuals involved in their care.

Threatening, abusive, discriminatory, or harassing behavior may result in appropriate action, including referral to another provider or termination of the clinical relationship when permitted by applicable law.

8. Maintain Current Contact Information

Keep Koa Mind informed of current contact information, emergency contact information, pharmacy information, and other information necessary to safely coordinate care.

9. Follow Financial and Administrative Policies

Patients are responsible for understanding and following applicable appointment, payment, insurance, cancellation, and other administrative policies.

Questions regarding fees or billing should be directed to Koa Mind as soon as possible.

Special Considerations for Minors and Caregivers

When treatment involves a child or adolescent, parents, legal guardians, and other legally authorized individuals may have specific rights and responsibilities regarding consent, participation, and access to health information.

These rights may vary depending on the patient's age, applicable federal and state law, the nature of the treatment, and the circumstances of the clinical relationship.

Koa Mind will follow applicable laws regarding consent, confidentiality, parental involvement, and access to health information.

Patient Concerns and Complaints

Koa Mind encourages patients and families to communicate concerns directly with the practice whenever possible so that concerns can be addressed appropriately.

If you have a concern regarding your care, you may contact Koa Mind at:

Koa Mind, PLLC
Email: info@koa-mind.com
Website: koa-mind.com

Nothing in this Patient Rights & Responsibilities document limits any rights you may have under applicable federal or state law.

Acknowledgment

Patients may be asked to acknowledge that they have received and reviewed Koa Mind's Patient Rights & Responsibilities as part of the intake or treatment process.

Acknowledgment does not mean that a patient waives any rights provided under applicable law.

Effective Date: October 2026