Privacy Policy
Thank you for choosing our practice. We value your privacy and are committed to protecting the confidentiality of your medical information. This Privacy Policy explains how we use, disclose, and safeguard your personal health information. Please read this policy carefully.
1. Privacy practices:
We prioritize patient privacy and comply with federal legislation concerning the use and disclosure of medical information. Our legal obligation is to maintain your protected health information confidentiality.
2. Who Will Follow This Policy:
All authorized healthcare professionals, employees, staff, and personnel at our practice, including subsidiaries, business associates, and associated locations, must comply with this Privacy Policy. They may share medical information for treatment, payment purposes, or healthcare operations, sharing only the minimum necessary information required for the task at hand.
3. Use and Disclosure of Medical Information:
We may use and disclose your medical information without your specific consent or authorization for the following purposes:
A. Treatment:
We may use your medical information to provide medical treatment or services. This includes considering any allergies that could affect your prescribed medications.
B. Payment:
We may use and disclose your medical information to bill and collect payment from your insurance company or a third party for the treatment and services you receive from us. This may include sharing protected health information such as your name, address, office visit date, diagnosis codes, and treatment codes with your insurance company.
C. Health Care Operations:
We may use and disclose your medical information for health care operations to ensure quality care. This includes reviewing your medical information to assess the effectiveness of treatments and services and evaluate our staff’s performance.
4. Other Uses or Disclosures Without Consent or Authorization:
In addition to the above purposes, we may use or disclose your medical information without your consent or authorization in certain situations, including:
- As required during an investigation by law enforcement agencies.
- To prevent a serious threat to public health or safety.
- As required by military command authorities for their medical records.
- For workers’ compensation or similar claims processing.
- In response to a legal proceeding.
- To a coroner or medical examiner for body identification purposes.
- If you are an inmate in correctional institutions or law enforcement officials.
- As required by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- For other healthcare providers’ treatment activities.
- For other covered entities’ and providers’ payment activities.
- For other covered entities’ healthcare operations’ activities (as permitted by HIPAA).
- In situations of domestic violence or neglect.
- Health oversight activities and other public health activities.
We may also contact you to provide appointment reminders or share information about treatment alternatives, as well as other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
5. Photography Consent:
We may obtain photographs of you, your insurance cards, and other necessary documents as part of your confidential medical record. These photographs will not be used or released to any other party without your written authorization. You can revoke this permission at any time by submitting a written request to our office.
6. Consent to Assessment and Rights and Responsibilities:
By receiving the medical assessment, treatment, and diagnostic procedures from our practice, you voluntarily consent to these services provided by our healthcare providers, clinicians, and personnel based on their professional judgment. We cannot guarantee specific treatment outcomes due to inherent variability in medicine.
7. Release of medical records:
We will maintain a confidential medical record containing your information and may share copies of your records with other healthcare providers, facilities, and regulatory or accrediting bodies for treatment coordination, quality assurance, surveys, and accreditation purposes. We will release your hospital and provider records to our practice only after your authorization.
8. Notice of privacy:
By acknowledging this Notice of Privacy Practices, you understand and accept how your confidential health information may be used and disclosed. You consent to our practices using and disclosing your health information as described in the Notice, including substance abuse, psychiatric care, or HIV-related information if applicable. We may release your health information to insurers, third-party payers, and authorized agents or consultants for payment or treatment purposes. You can revoke this consent in writing, except in situations where our practice relies on it.
9. Patient Consent to Information Release:
As part of the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, we respect the privacy of your personal medical records and take reasonable precautions to protect your privacy. We will release information only to individuals listed by you, who may inquire about your appointments or have access to your medical information. If you wish to allow messages other than just return our calls or appointment reminders on your answering machine, please indicate your preference. We will not release information to spouses or children unless they are listed here. Any additional requests for access to your records will require signed releases from you.
