This Notice of Privacy Practices described how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry out Treatment. Payment or health Care Operations and for other purposes that are permitted by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your PHI. PHI is information about you, including demographic information that may identify you and that relates to your past, present and future physical or mental health or condition related to health care services.
Uses and Disclosures of PHI: Your PHI may be used and disclosed by your physician, our office staff and others outside of our office that are involved in your care and treatment for the purpose of providing health care services to you, to pay your healthcare bills, to support the operation of the physician’s practice, and any other use required by law. At no time will any information of any kind relating to any of our patients be discussed outside of this office unless permitted or required by law.
Treatment: We will use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party. For example, we would disclose your PHI, as necessary, to a home health agency that provides care to you or to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose and treat you.
Payment: Your PHI will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your health care services. For example, approval for a hospital stay may require that your relevant PHI be disclosed to the health plan to obtain approval for hospital admission.
Healthcare Operations: We may use or disclose, as needed, your PHI in order to support business activities of your physicians practice. These activities include, but are not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, training of medical students, licensing, and conducting or arranging for other business activities. For example, we may disclose your PHI to medical school students that see patients in our office.
In addition, we may use a sign-in sheet at the registration desk when you will be asked to sign your name and indicate your physician. We may also call you by name in the waiting room when your physician is ready to see you. We may also disclose your PHI as necessary to contact you and remind you of your appointment. We are also permitted to use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization for certain purposes: AS Required By Law, Public Health Activities (e.g. preventing the spread of disease).
Health Oversight Activities Abuse or Neglect, Food and Drug Administration Requirements, Legal Proceedings, Law Enforcement Purposes, Coroners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation, Criminal Activity, Military Activity and National Security, Worker’s Compensation, Inmates. Other permitted and required uses and disclosures will be made with your authorization.