Discrimination is Against the Law

Piedmont Healthcare complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Piedmont Healthcare does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Piedmont Healthcare

• Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: Qualified sign language interpreters
• Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)
• Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: Qualified interpreters
• Information written in other languages
   

If you need these services, contact that following facilities:

• Piedmont Athens Regional - Patient Experience: (706) 475-3397
• Piedmont Atlanta - Patient Relations: (404) 605-3692
• Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown Campus: (706) 571-1000
• Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside Campus: (706) 494-2100
• Piedmont Columbus Regional Medical Group: (706) 681-4981
• Piedmont Fayette - Nursing Administration: (770) 719-7101
• Piedmont Henry - PBX Department/Switchboard: (678) 604-6102
• Piedmont Mountainside: (470) 774-6502
• Piedmont Newnan - Main Hospital: (770) 400-1000
• Piedmont Newton - Nursing/House Supervisor: (678) 300-8094
• Piedmont Rockdale - Nursing/House Supervisor: (770) 918-3140
• Piedmont Walton - House Supervisor: (770) 267-1751

Sign Language Interpreting Specialists, Inc.: (770) 531-0700 for all entities except Piedmont Columbus Regional 

Piedmont Columbus Regional Sign Language Phone Line:  1-800-255-0135

If you believe that Piedmont Healthcare has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: Compliance Department, 1800 Howell Mill Rd., Ste. 350, Atlanta, GA 30318, Phone: 404-425-7350, Fax: 770-916-7647, compliance@piedmont.org. You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Compliance Department is available to help you.

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at the HHS Office for Civil Rights website, or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, D.C. 20201; 1-800-868-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD).

Complaint forms are available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
 

Download: Non-Discrimination Statement   Download: Limited English Proficiency Services   Download: Non-Discrimination Statement (Other Languages)

Grievance Procedure

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

Piedmont Healthcare complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity), age or disability.  Piedmont Healthcare has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18116) and its implementing regulations at 45 CFR part 92, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

Any person who believes s/he has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity), age or disability may file a grievance. 

Piedmont Healthcare will not retaliate against anyone who files a grievance or cooperates in the investigation of a grievance.
 

Procedure

• Grievances must be submitted to the Executive Director of Compliance and Privacy within sixty (60) days of the date the person filing the grievance becomes aware of the alleged discriminatory action. 
   
• A grievance must be in writing and contain the name and address of the person filing it.  The grievance must state in as much detail as possible the problem or action alleged to be discriminatory and the remedy or relief sought. 
   
• The Executive Director of Compliance and Privacy (or designee) shall conduct an investigation of the complaint.  This investigation may be informal, but it will be thorough, affording all interested persons an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint.
   
• Appropriate arrangements will be made to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided auxiliary aides and services, if needed to participate in this grievance process.  Such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, providing interpreters, providing appropriate written or oral material, or assuring a barrier-free location for the proceedings.
   
• Appropriate arrangements will be made to ensure that individuals with limited English proficiency are provided language assistance services if needed to participate in this grievance process.  Such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, providing qualified interpreters.
   
• The Executive Director of Compliance and Privacy (or designee) will maintain the files and records relating to grievances filed under this procedure.  To the extent possible, and in accordance with applicable law, the Executive Director of Compliance and Privacy (or designee) will take appropriate steps to preserve the confidentiality of files and records relating to grievances and will share them only with those who have a need to know.
   
• The Executive Director of Compliance and Privacy will issue a written decision on the grievance, based on a preponderance of the evidence, no later than thirty (30) days after its filing, including a notice to the complainant of their right to pursue further administrative or legal remedies.  The investigation and resolution of the grievance may require additional time and the Executive Director of Compliance and Privacy may reasonably extend such period.
   
• The person filing the grievance may appeal the decision of the Executive Director of Compliance and Privacy by writing to the Chief Compliance Officer within fifteen (15) business days of receiving the written decision.  Such appeal may be sent to:  1800 Howell Mill Road, Suite 350, Atlanta, Georgia, 30318.  The Chief Compliance Officer shall issue a written decision in response to the appeal no later than thirty (30) days after its filing.

The availability and use of this grievance procedure does not prevent a person from filing a complaint of discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in a court of law or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. 

A person can file a complaint of discrimination electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, D.C. 20201; 1-800-868-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD).  Complaint forms are available on the HHS Office for Civil Rights website.  Such complaints must be filed within 180 days of the date of the alleged discrimination.