Privacy

Notice of Privacy Practices

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, (HIPAA), established a Privacy Rule to help insurance that personal health information is protected to insure an individual’s privacy. The Rule was created in order to provide a standard for health care providers to use when obtaining a patient’s consent for use and disclosure of health information in order to carry out treatment, payment and health care operations.

We want you to know that we have extensive measures in place to ensure that the privacy of our patients is fully secure and protected. Our employees are well versed in the Privacy Rule and your information is only shared with your written permission or as required by law or with individuals or entities (such as laboratories) which require certain information in order to participate in your health care.

We fully support your access to your personal medical records, and you may request copies for yourself or for someone you designate at any time. You also may request restrictions on the information that we may share.

You may always refuse, in writing, to consent to the use or disclosure of your personal health information. Under HIPAA, we also have the right to refuse to treat you should you choose to refuse to share your personal health information with us. Once your consent is given, you may in the future refuse to consent to disclose all or part of your personal health information. However, you may not revoke actions that have already been taken which relied on a previously signed consent form.

If you have any questions or concerns about any of the above, please contact us for answers before you sign the consent to disclose your information.