7/1/07 NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

This practice is required by law to protect the privacy of our clients.

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.

We will not release your health information for any other purpose than that which is identified in this notice. If you have questions about this notice, please contact our privacy officer Carol Robertson.

Uses and Disclosures of "Protected Health Information" (PHI)

We will:

          Use your "PHI" (Protected Health Information) to treat you.

Disclose your "PHI" to others involved in treating you, such as, hospitals, laboratories, home care agencies, pharmacies, durable medical equipment companies and physicians.

Disclose to members of your family, a close friend or any other person you identify, your PHI that directly relates to that person’s involvement in your healthcare.

Supply your insurance company with PHI as needed to receive payment for services rendered to you.

Use your PHI for office operations, such as, training students, evaluating the quality of our care and marketing our services to you. We may use sign-in sheets at our front desk. We may call your name in the waiting area. We may contact you by telephone to remind you of an appointment or to report test results. We may send postcards as appointment reminders. We may have a transcription service type your record.

Release your PHI to public officials, law enforcement, federal agencies, and/or health agencies as required by law.

NOTE: You must authorize other disclosures of your PHI in writing and you may revoke the authorization at any time.

Your Rights Related To Your Protected Health Information

            You may:

· Request in writing that this practice refrain from using or disclosing your PHI at any time. However, we may choose to refuse your restrictions if they prevent our providing quality healthcare.

· Inspect and receive a copy of your "PHI" with a few restrictions. Please contact our privacy officer for more details.

· Make a written request that we amend your "PHI". We may deny your request if we explain the denial.

· Request information regarding who has received your "PHI" and why. For details, see our privacy officer.

Complaints

You have a right to complain to the Secretary of Health and Human Services or to our privacy officer if you believe we have violated your privacy rights. The name of our privacy officer is Lori Brown.

Your complaint must be in writing.

All complaints will be investigated.

Under no circumstances will you be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Miscellaneous

This "Notice" is in effect April 15, 2003.

This practice reserves the right to change this notice and apply the changes to existing PHI. Copies of the latest revision are always available in our office. You may request a copy of the latest revision at any time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

s/carfo7/privacypractices