Patient Bill of Rights and Treatment Philosophy

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Our Treatment Philosophy

At Salma Health, we believe that effective care must treat the whole person—mind, body, and context. Our approach is rooted in a holistic, personalized, and evidence-based philosophy that recognizes each individual’s unique history, needs, and values. We center our care around our patients, ensuring that treatment decisions are made collaboratively, respectfully, and with full transparency.

Every member of our team is committed to delivering patient-centered care that supports dignity, autonomy, and long-term well-being. Our clinical practices are grounded in the latest science and enhanced by technology to deliver timely, meaningful, and compassionate care. At Salma, your voice, safety, and goals are integral to everything we do.

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Section: Bill of Rights

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Core Rights

Considerate and Respectful Care:

Patients have the right to be treated with dignity, respect, and privacy, regardless of their background or condition.

Informed Consent:

Patients must be fully informed about their health status, treatment options, and potential risks before making decisions about their care.

Access to Information:

Patients have the right to receive information about their health, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment plan, and potential outcomes in a way they can understand.

Right to Refuse Treatment:

Patients can refuse treatment, including experimental procedures, to the extent permitted by law.

Privacy:

Confidentiality of communications and records related to care is protected.

Access to Medical Records:

Patients have the right to access their medical records within a reasonable timeframe.

Filing Grievances:

Patients can file complaints or grievances with the applicable professional board if they feel their rights have been violated.

Continuity of Care:

Patients have the right to know about ongoing healthcare needs and options following discharge.

Humane Care:

Patients have the right to humane care, dignity, privacy, and treatment that promotes independence, provided in the least restrictive environment.

Freedom from Harm:

Patients have the right to be free from abuse, neglect, unnecessary restraint, isolation, or medication used as punishment.

Religious Freedom:

Patients have the right to religious freedom and practice.

Non-Discrimination:

Patients should be treated without discrimination based on factors like race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.

Choosing Providers:

Patients have the right to choose specialists or facilities they believe can provide the best care.

Disability Access:

Patients with disabilities have the right to accessible medical equipment and services.

Restrictions on Rights:

Some rights can be restricted in certain situations, such as when a patient's behavior poses a danger to themselves or others. The response steps to this situation are listed below under “Section: Emergency Response Transparency”.

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Section: Emergency Response Transparency

If, during a telehealth session, you express thoughts of suicide, self‑harm, or threats of serious harm to another person, your Salma Health clinician will immediately implement the following steps:

Real‑Time Safety Assessment:

The clinician will ask direct questions to clarify:
– Self‑harm: suicidal thoughts, plan, means, intent, protective factors.
– Harm to others: specific target(s), nature of threat, plan, means, intent, and history of violence.

If risk is judged low (thoughts without plan or intent), the visit continues with coping‑skills coaching and a follow‑up plan.

Verification of Your Location:

At the start of every telehealth visit, you agree to provide your current physical address and a call‑back number.

If you disclose suicidal or violent intent, the clinician will reconfirm that address so local help can be dispatched if necessary.

Emergency Contact Activation:

You authorize us to notify the emergency contact you provided at registration if we believe you are in imminent danger to yourself or others.

If the contact cannot be reached quickly, we may proceed to contact emergency services.

Tarasoff Duty‑to‑Protect Actions (Threats Toward Others):

When you make a serious threat of violence toward a reasonably identifiable person or group, California law (Tarasoff v. Regents, 1976) requires the clinician to take reasonable steps to protect the potential victim(s).  Those steps may include one or more of the following, even without your consent:

Attempt to obtain your cooperation in voluntarily seeking hospitalization or otherwise averting the threat.

Warning the potential victim(s) by the fastest available means (telephone, secure email, in‑person, or written notice).

Notifying appropriate law‑enforcement authorities in the jurisdiction where the potential victim resides or where the threat occurred, providing the minimum information necessary to secure their protection.

Initiating involuntary evaluation by contacting law enforcement or the county crisis team to place you on a California Welfare & Institutions Code § 5150 hold if you meet criteria for imminent danger to others.

Document in your medical record the nature of the threat, persons notified, actions taken, date, time, and rationale.

Engaging Emergency Services (Danger to Self or Others):

When risk is judged imminent (plan, intent, or inability to guarantee safety), the clinician will call 911 or the local emergency number for your location and request a welfare check or transport to the nearest emergency department.

The responding officer or designated clinician may initiate a § 5150 hold for further evaluation.

Disconnect or Loss of Audio/Video:

If the connection drops during this emergency assessment and we cannot reach you within 5 minutes, we will call you.

If still unreachable, we will call your emergency contact; failing that, we will call local emergency services for a welfare check.

Safety Planning & Resources:

Whenever new suicidal or violent thoughts are disclosed, even without imminent risk, your clinical providers may work with you to jointly complete or update a written Safety Plan that includes:

– coping strategies and warning signs list
– personal support contacts
– professional resources (e.g., 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, local crisis lines, domestic‑violence hotlines).

You may receive electronic copies of the plan and crisis numbers via the patient portal.

Post‑Crisis Follow‑Up:

We will schedule a follow-up appointment within 24–72 hours after any emergency intervention.

If you are hospitalized, we will coordinate with the inpatient team (with your consent where required) to support continuity of care.

Limits of Confidentiality:

You acknowledge that disclosures to emergency contacts, EMS, law enforcement, hospitals, or potential victims are permitted and, in some cases, required by California law, including under the Tarasoff duty‑to‑protect and W&I § 5150, and by federal law and regulation, including (45 C.F.R. § 164.512(j)).

Your Responsibility:

Keep your address, phone number, and emergency contact information up to date. If you change locations during a session, notify your clinician immediately.