Patient Relations

Good communication is a vital part of patient care. If you have limited English proficiency or are hearing impaired, we provide interpretation services at no cost to you.

Your health care team will work with you to get the right resources in place. We offer translation services to patients in more than 150 languages. These services are available around the clock—over video, with the use of an iPad, and two-way telephone. Upon request, in-person translation is also available and includes various spoken languages, American sign language, and tactile sign language.

For more information, call 518-262-3499.

This hotline is for reporting issues that you believe may represent acts of non-compliance, such as fraudulent or abusive billing practices, or possible violations of federal or state laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Albany Med Health System Corporate Compliance Hotline
518-264-8477

A confidential and anonymous form can also be used to report potential instances of noncompliance.

If you feel you need further assistance in resolving your concerns after working with Patient Relations and the hospital’s management team, you can contact The Joint Commission, a national organization that accredits hospitals based on their compliance with nationally established standards, or the New York State Department of Health.

Joint Commission
Division of Accreditation Operations
Office of Quality Monitoring
The Joint Commission
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
800-994-6610

New York State Department of Health
Centralized Hospital Intake Program
433 River Street, 6th Floor
Troy, NY 12180
800-804-5447

Available at Albany Medical Center, specially trained medical ethics consultants help identify and address the diverse issues that can develop in modern medicine.

Their role is to assist and support, not make decisions for patients, caregivers, and families. They advocate for the best interests of the patient and often help families clarify what those interests are. The options presented by the Ethics Consultation Service are of an advisory nature only and are not binding. All services are confidential.

To request an ethics consultation, talk to your physician or nurse or call 518-262-3111 and ask for the on-call ethics consultant.