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Valley Women's Clinic
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
This notice describes how medical
information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get
access to this information. Please review it carefully.
Valley Women's Clinic respects your
privacy. We understand that your
personal health information is very sensitive. We will not disclose your
information to others unless you tell us to do so, or unless the law
authorizes or requires us to do so.
The law protects the privacy of the
health information we create and obtain in providing our care and
services to you. For example, your protected health information includes
your symptoms, test results, diagnoses, treatment, health information
from other providers, and billing and payment information relating to
these services. Federal and state law allows us to use and disclose your
protected health information for purposes of treatment and health care
operations. State law requires us to get your authorization to disclose
this information for payment purposes.
Examples of Use and Disclosures of Protected Health Information for
Treatment, Payment, and Health Operations
For treatment:
· Information obtained by a nurse, physician, or other member of our
health care team will be recorded in your medical record and used to
help decide what care may be right for you.
· We may also provide information to others providing you care. This
will help them stay informed about your care.
For payment:
· We request payment from your health insurance plan. Health plans
need information from us about your medical care. Information provided
to health plans may include your diagnoses, procedures performed, or
recommended care.
For health care operations:
· We use your medical records to assess quality and improve
services.
· We may use and disclose medical records to review the qualifications
and performance of our health care providers and to train our staff.
· We may contact you to remind you about appointments and give you
information about treatment alternatives or other health-related
benefits and services.
· We may contact you to raise funds.
· We may use and disclose your information to conduct or arrange for
services, including:
· medical quality review by your health plan;
· accounting, legal, risk management, and insurance services;
· audit functions, including fraud and abuse detection and compliance
programs.
Your Health Information Rights
The health and billing records we
create and store are the property of the practice/health care facility.
The protected health information in it, however, generally belongs to
you. You have a right to:
· Receive, read, and ask questions about
this Notice;
· Ask us to restrict certain uses and disclosures. You must deliver this
request in writing to us. We are not required to grant the request. But
we will comply with any request granted;
· Request and receive from us a paper copy of the most current Notice of
Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information ("Notice");
· Request that you be allowed to see and get a copy of your protected
health information. You may make this request in writing. We have a form
available for this type of request.
· Have us review a denial of access to your health information-except in
certain circumstances;
· Ask us to change your health information. You may give us this request
in writing. You may write a statement of disagreement if your request is
denied. It will be stored in your medical record, and included with any
release of your records.
· When you request, we will give you a list of disclosures of your
health information. The list will not include disclosures to third-party
payers. You may receive this information without charge once every 12
months. We will notify you of the cost involved if you request this
information more than once in 12 months.
· Ask that your health information be given to you by another means or
at another location. Please sign, date, and give us your request in
writing.
· Cancel prior authorizations to use or disclose health information by
giving us a written revocation. Your revocation does not affect
information that has already been released. It also does not affect any
action taken before we have it. Sometimes, you cannot cancel an
authorization if its purpose was to obtain insurance.
For help with these rights during
normal business hours, please contact:
Wendy Curtis, Clinic Administrator
(or)
Sondra Prevost, Medical Records Coordinator
17722 Talbot Road South
Renton, WA 98055
425.228.0722
Our Responsibilities
We are required to:
· Keep your protected health information private;
· Give you this Notice;
· Follow the terms of this Notice.
We have the right to change our practices regarding the protected health
information we maintain. If we make changes, we will update this Notice.
You may receive the most recent copy of this Notice by calling and
asking for it or by visiting our [office/medical records department] to
pick one up.
To Ask for Help or Complain
If you have questions, want more
information, or want to report a problem about the handling of your
protected health information, you may contact:
Wendy Curtis, Clinic Administrator
(or)
Sondra Prevost, Medical Records Coordinator
17722 Talbot Road South
Renton, WA 98055
425.228.0722
If you believe your privacy rights have
been violated, you may discuss your concerns with any staff member. You
may also deliver a written complaint to [name or title of person] at our
practice/health care facility. You may also file a complaint with the
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
We respect your right to file a complaint
with us or with the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. If you
complain, we will not retaliate against you.
Other Disclosures and Uses of
Protected Health Information
Notification of Family and Others
· Unless you object, we may release health information about you to a
friend or family member who is involved in your medical care. We may
also give information to someone who helps pay for your care. We may
tell your family or friends your condition and that you are in a
hospital. In addition, we may disclose health information about you to
assist in disaster relief efforts.
· [Hospitals] Information may be provided to people who ask for you by
name. We may use and disclose the following information in a hospital
directory:
· your name,
· location,
· general condition, and
· religion (only to clergy).
You have the right to object to this use or disclosure of your
information. If you object, we will not use or disclose it.
We may use and disclose your protected
health information without your authorization as follows:
· With Medical Researchers-if the
research has been approved and has policies to protect the privacy of
your health information. We may also share information with medical
researchers preparing to conduct a research project.
· To Funeral Directors/Coroners consistent with applicable law to allow
them to carry out their duties.
· To Organ Procurement Organizations (tissue donation and transplant) or
persons who obtain, store, or transplant organs.
· To the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relating to problems with
food, supplements, and products.
· To Comply With Workers' Compensation Laws-if you make a workers'
compensation claim.
· For Public Health and Safety Purposes as Allowed or Required by Law:
· to prevent or reduce a serious, immediate threat to the health or
safety of a person
· or the public.
· to public health or legal authorities
· to protect public health and safety
· to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability
· to report vital statistics such as births or deaths.
· To Report Suspected Abuse or Neglect to public authorities.
· To Correctional Institutions if you are in jail or prison, as
necessary for your health and the health and safety of others.
· For Law Enforcement Purposes such as when we receive a subpoena, court
order, or other legal process, or you are the victim of a crime.
· For Health and Safety Oversight Activities. For example, we may share
health information with the Department of Health.
· For Disaster Relief Purposes. For example, we may share health
information with disaster relief agencies to assist in notification of
your condition to family or others.
· For Work-Related Conditions That Could Affect Employee Health. For
example, an employer may ask us to assess health risks on a job site.
· To the Military Authorities of U.S. and Foreign Military Personnel.
For example, the law may require us to provide information necessary to
a military mission.
· In the Course of Judicial/Administrative Proceedings at your request,
or as directed by a subpoena or court order.
· For Specialized Government Functions. For example, we may share
information for national security purposes.
Other Uses and Disclosures of
Protected Health Information
· Uses and disclosures not in this Notice
will be made only as allowed or required by law or with your written
authorization.
Effective Date:
April 1, 2003
Updated:
10/29/2008
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