Discrimination is Against the Law

Piedmont Healthcare complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate or exclude on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics), age, or disability.

Piedmont Healthcare

Free of charge, Piedmont provides reasonable accommodations, aids and services to people with disabilities so they can communicate with us effectively. These accommodations, aids and services include, but are not limited to:

• Language translation services for people whose primary language is not English.
• Qualified sign language interpretation services.
• Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, etc.)
• Written information in languages other than English.
   

If you need these services, contact the following facilities:

• Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital: 706-475-2696
• Piedmont Atlanta Hospital: 404-605-3692
• Piedmont Augusta Hospital: 706-774-5811
• Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center: 470-490-1937
• Piedmont Columbus Regional – Midtown: 706-571-1000
• Piedmont Columbus Regional – Northside: 706-494-2100
• Piedmont Eastside Medical Center: 770-736-2388
• Piedmont Fayette Hospital: 770-719-7037
• Piedmont Henry Hospital: 678-604-1054
• Piedmont Macon Medical: 478-765-4104
• Piedmont Macon North: 478-757-6294
• Piedmont McDuffie: 706-597-5420
• Piedmont Mountainside Hospital: 706-301-5522
• Piedmont Newnan Hospital: 770-400-2280
• Piedmont Newton Hospital: 678-212-7430
• Piedmont Rockdale Hospital: 770-918-3444
• Piedmont Walton Hospital: 770-267-1711

You may also file a complaint or grievance with Piedmont Healthcare’s Compliance Department by mail using 2727 Paces Ferry Rd. SE, Building 2, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA 30339, through the confidential hotline using 1800-466-0462, by phone at 470-271-3440, fax 770-916-7647, via email at compliance@piedmont.org or by submitting an online webform.

You may also contact the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Office of Regulatory Services, Hospital Complaints, even if you have not made a complaint to the hospital first. Call 404-667-5700 or write to Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division, 2 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 31-447, Atlanta, GA 30303.

Or, you may contact DNV Healthcare by calling 866-496-9647 or emailing hospitalcomplaint@dnv.com.
 

Grievance Procedure

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

Piedmont Healthcare complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate or exclude on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics), 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 discrimination occurred on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics), 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 Corporate Compliance (or designee) 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 Corporate Compliance (or designee) shall investigate 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 reasonable auxiliary aides and services, if needed to participate in this grievance process. Such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, providing appropriate qualified 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 appropriate qualified interpreters.
   
• The Executive Director of Corporate Compliance (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 Corporate Compliance (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 Corporate Compliance (or designee) 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 Corporate Compliance (or designee) may reasonably extend such period.
   
• The person filing the grievance may appeal the decision of the Executive Director of Corporate Compliance by writing to the Chief Compliance Officer within fifteen (15) business days of receiving the written decision. Such appeal may be sent by mail to: 2727 Paces Ferry Rd. SE, Building 2, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA 30339, or by email to Compliance@Piedmont.org. 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 (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristic), 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.