USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION
We use and disclose health information about you for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, for example:
Treatment: We may use or disclose your health information to a physician or other healthcare provider providing treatment to you, or to family and friends you approve.
Payment: We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services we provide to you.
Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your health information in connections with our healthcare operations. Healthcare operations include quality assessment and improvement activities, reviewing the competence or qualifications of healthcare professionals, evaluating practitioner and provider performance, conducting training programs, accreditation, certification, licensing or credentialing activities.
Your Authorization: In addition to our use of your health information for treatment, payment or healthcare operations, you may give us written authorization to use your health information or to disclose it to anyone for any purpose. You also have the right to request restriction on disclosure of PHI (Personal Health Information), or alternative means of communication to ensure privacy.
Marketing Health-Related Services: We will not use your health information for marketing communications without your written consent.
Required by Law: We may use or disclose your health information when we are required to do so by law or national security activities.
Abuse or Neglect: We may disclose your health information to appropriate authorities when we suspect abuse or neglect.
Appointment Reminders: We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with appointment reminders (such as voicemail messages, postcards, or letters).
PATIENT RIGHTS
Access: You have the right to look at or get copies of your health information with limited exceptions. Requests of a patient’s records must be made in writing and can take up to ten business days to process. If you request copies, we will charge you a reasonable fee to locate and copy your information, and postage if you want the copies mailed to you.
Amendment: You have the right to request that we amend your health information.
QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS
If you want more information about our privacy practices or have questions or concerns, please contact us. If you are concerned that we may have violated your privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision we made about access to your health information or in response to a request you made to amend or restrict the use or disclosure of your health information or to have us communicate with you by alternative means or at alternative locations, you are encouraged to make any complaints to us directly. You also may submit a written complaint to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. We support your right to the privacy of your health information.
PATIENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF REVIEWING AND UNDERSTANDING OF NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES AND CONSENT FOR NECESSARY USE OF PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION