I understand that as an employee of Lehigh Valley Health Network, or an affiliate, related entity, or subsidiary thereof (Lehigh Valley Health Network, along with its affiliates, related entities, and subsidiaries are hereinafter referred to as “LVHN”), or as member of the LVHN medical staff, Allied Health Professional, or as a non-employed patient care provider or support personnel (volunteer, intern, student, contractor, vendor, etc.), the performance of my job may require me to access or become aware of Confidential Information and/or trade secrets of LVHN. I agree that for purposes of this Acknowledgement and Agreement (hereinafter the “Acknowledgment”), the term “Confidential Information” shall include, but shall not be limited to the following: patient information; information regarding advertising; methods; know-how; techniques; referring entity information; business information; provider performance information; systems; processes; software programs; technical information; works of authorship; financial information; business plans; projects; plans; proposals; rate schedules; rate quotations; the identity of suppliers; correlated data related pertaining to the care or treatment of patients or provider performance; or any other Confidential Information or trade secrets of LVHN which would otherwise come into my knowledge during the term of my employment with LVHN.
I understand that access to and use of this information in verbal, written, or electronic form is a privilege. I also understand that access to information is granted to me based on business or clinical “need to know” standards and the responsibilities of my job as an employee or nonemployed patient care provider or support personnel.
I understand that I may not seek Confidential Information that is not required to do my job. I also understand that I may share Confidential Information only when necessary to do my job. I agree to store and dispose of Confidential Information which I use in a way that ensures continued security and confidentiality. I agree that I will not make unauthorized copies, screenshots, or otherwise duplicate any Confidential Information. In this regard, I agree that I will not at any time, whether during or after the termination of my employment (or the termination of my non-employed status as a patient care provider or support personnel), for any reason, reveal to any person or entity any of the trade secrets or Confidential Information of LVHN or of any third party which LVHN is under an obligation to keep confidential except as may be required in the ordinary course of performing my duties for LVHN. In addition, I am permitted to access my own non-sensitive health information or information pertaining to an immediate family member provided I follow the procedures set forth under the Administrative Policies entitled “HIPAA – Release of Protected Health Information” and “HIPAA – Confidentiality”.
I agree that upon either termination of my employment or engagement with LVHN for any reason, or at such time as LVHN may so request from time to time, I shall immediately return and redeliver to LVHN all property of LVHN including, but not limited to, the following: (i) any and all written information, material or equipment that constitutes, contains or relates in any way to LHVN’s Confidential Information and any other documents (whether in hard copy, electronically stored or in any other medium or form, now or hereafter in existence); and (ii) all tangible material embodying any element of such Confidential Information, constitutes, contains or relates in any way to LVHN’s Confidential Information and all notes, summaries, memoranda, drawings, manuals, records, excerpts or derivative information deriving from above (i) and/or (ii), and all other documents or materials (“Notes”) (and all copies of any of the foregoing, including “copies” that have been converted to computerized media in the form of image, data or word processing files either manually or by image capture) based on or including any Confidential Information, in whatever form of storage or retrieval. I shall not knowingly maintain Confidential Information or copies or Notes thereof after termination of this Agreement or that is unrelated to the performance of my duties.
I understand that the methods I use to get Confidential Information may only be used in the performance of my job. If I require special authorization to access computer-based information, I understand that my computer or system sign-on information may only be used by me. I also understand that I may not give my computer or system sign-on information to anyone, and that this sign-on information is the same as my written signature. I accept full responsibility for any use of my computer or system sign-on information.
I understand that Lehigh Valley Health Network has a Corporate Compliance Program and I acknowledge that I have been provided education regarding the program. I also understand that I have a role in preserving Lehigh Valley Health Network’s integrity and thus have an obligation to report potential compliance issues. I am aware that the Compliance Hotline number, 1-877- 895-2905 and that I can report compliance issues by filling out a form on the internet at www.LVHN.ethicspoint.com.
I declare that I have read and understand this Acknowledgement and am legally bound by the requirements set forth herein. I have had an opportunity to ask questions and have them answered. I recognize that disclosing Confidential Information at any time during or after my employment or engagement with Lehigh Valley Health Network may cause irreparable damage to Lehigh Valley Health Network, its patients or health care providers. I agree that if I violate any term of this Acknowledgement, I may be subjected to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of my employment. Additionally, LVHN or the owner of such information may seek any and legal remedies against me, including seeking injunctive relief, in addition to any other existing rights provided in this Acknowledgement or by operation of law, without the requirement of posting bond. Additionally, in the event that I breach any of the provisions of this Acknowledgement, LVHN shall be entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by it as a result of my breach. The remedies provided in this Acknowledgement shall be in addition to any legal or equitable remedies existing at law and shall not be construed as a limitation upon, or an alternative for, or in lieu of, any such remedies. If any provision of this Acknowledgment or application thereof to anyone or under any circumstances is adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions or applications of this Acknowledgement that can be given effect without the invalid or unenforceable provisions or applications and shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction or under any other circumstance.
This Acknowledgment shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The parties recognize and accept that the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania shall have exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any disputes under this Acknowledgment. I understand that nothing in this Acknowledgement changes the at-will status of my employment with LVHN (if an LVHN employee) or gives, or shall be deemed to give, me any right to continued employment for any length of time.