Effective September 23, 2013
Notice of Privacy Practices
In the process of providing medical care, The Doctors Clinic collects and retains personal information concerning our patients. The Doctors Clinic respects the privacy of your personal information and appreciates the importance of protecting this information by keeping it confidential and stored in a secure manner. The Doctors Clinic employees are committed to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of your protected health information, and wish to provide you with notice of our policies and procedures about privacy and confidentiality. This notice describes how The Doctors Clinic has taken steps in accordance with federal and state laws to protect the confidentiality of the protected health information to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations, and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. We are required to follow the terms of this notice.
Protected Health Information
“Protected Health Information”(PHI) is information that identifies you and relates to your identify and your past, present or future medical history. It includes your medical records and personal information such as your name, social security number, address, and phone number.
How we may Use and Disclose Your Protected Health Information For Treatment:
- Information obtained by our nurses, physicians, or other members of your 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 share this information to facilitate referrals or transmit critical information to other treating physicians or specialists, nursing facilities, laboratories, radiology, or related facilities that provide care or perform diagnostic tests ordered by your physician. We may also share this information with agencies that provide services to you, such as pharmacies or apothecary shops.
- For Payment: We may disclose information to health plans to confirm health care coverage or to receive payment for services provided by your physician. This information might be shared with hospitals, insurance carriers or Medicare to determine eligibility for insurance coverage. Information provided to health plans may include your diagnosis, procedures performed, or recommended care.
- For Health Care Operations: This information may be used in connection with training of our health care providers and staff. We may use your medical records to assess quality and improve services. We may contact you to remind you about appointments, obtain payment, provide test results, or give you information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services. We may use and disclose information to conduct or arrange for services, including: 1) Medical quality review by your health plan; 2) Accounting, legal, risk management, and insurance services; 3) Audit functions, including fraud and abuse detection and compliance programs.
- 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 information about you to assist in disaster relief efforts. You have the right to object to this use or disclosure of your information. If you object, we will not use or disclose it.
- Fundraising: We have the right to release demographic information about you for the purpose of fundraising. You have the right to opt out of receiving such communications. To opt out, you are required to notify The Doctors Clinic in writing.
Uses and Disclosures of Personal Information That DO NOT Require Patient Consent
- State and federal laws allow The Doctors Clinic to disclose your protected health information without your consent in the following circumstances:
- Medical Research: If the research has been approved and has policies to protect the privacy of your health information.
- Funeral Directors/Coroners: Consistent with applicable laws to allow them to carry out their duties.
- Food and Drug Administration: Relating to problems with food, supplements, and products.
- Workers’ Compensation :To comply with laws if you make a Workers’ Compensation claim.
- Public Health and Safety: 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 prevent or control disease, injury or disability. To report vital statistics such as births or deaths.
- Correctional Institutions: If you are in jail or prison, your personal information will be disclosed, 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.
- Public Authorities: Child abuse, domestic violence, or neglect, may require that public health entities by notified.
- Work-Related Conditions: Any condition that could affect employee health may be disclosed. For example, an employer may ask us to assess health risks on a job site.
- Military Authorities: The law may require us to provide information necessary to military mission. Specialized Government Functions: For example, we may share information for national security purposes.
Uses and Disclosures of Personal Information That DO Require Patient Consent
The release of Personal Health Information related to psychotherapy treatment, marketing purposes, or sale of your protected information requires your authorization. All other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice of Privacy Practices will be made only with the authorization from the patient.
Your Individual Rights
Access to Personal Information
The health information and billing records we create and store are the property of The Doctors Clinic. The protected health information in it, however, generally belongs to you. You have a right to review and/or receive a copy of your protected health information either electronically or on paper. If you wish to do so view your records, you must notify The Doctors Clinic in writing. A mutually convenient time and place will be established, so that you may inspect your protected health information. To obtain a copy of your medical records, you must notify The Doctors Clinic in writing. You must also specify the format in which you would like to receive these records. In some circumstances, access or reproduction may be denied if it is in violation of public law. You will be informed if an administrative fee is charged for copying or providing electronic copies of this information.
Right to Amend Protected Health Information
State and federal law allows you the right to request an amendment be made to your protected health information. In some cases your request may be denied. If so, we will advise you of any denial and the reasons for such a denial. In some cases you may have the right to ask for a review of our denial.
Right to Receive an Accounting of Disclosures
You also have the right to request an accounting of all disclosures of your personal information made by The Doctors Clinic that are not directly related to your treatment, payment for your treatment, or our health care operations as outlined above. You may request an accounting in writing. The Doctors Clinic will provide this information within a reasonable period of time.
Right to Receive This Notice
You have a right to request and receive a copy of this notice in written or electronic form. You may contact The Doctors Clinic for a copy, and one will be provided to you at no charge. You may also view this notice on our website at this address: www.thedoctorsclinic.com.
Right to Request Restriction on Disclosure of Personal Information
You may request restrictions on the use of your protected health information. All requests must be in writing. Upon receipt, The Doctors Clinic will review the request and notify you of its decision to either accept or reject the request. Please note that we are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree, we will honor your restrictions unless it is an emergency situation. All requests to restrict the use of protected health information must comply with state and federal law in order to be approved. All requests for restrictions which are agreed to will be made a permanent part of your medical record. If we choose to honor your request, we reserve the right to reverse our decision at a later date, after providing notice to you that we intend to do so. You may exercise your right to not have your Health Plan billed for services rendered and choose to pay for services personally. You then have the right to restrict information released to your health plan for the purposes of payment or audits. Note: We may release this information only if required by Federal or State Law. Additionally, if you have a restriction in place and subsequently choose to have additional follow-up treatment billed to your Health Plan, and the provider needs to include information that was previously restricted, we are then permitted to release this information without your authorization.
Right to Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that your protected health information be provided to you in a confidential manner. We ask that this request be in writing. You may request that your protected health information be sent in writing, by telephone, by electronic communication, or by fax, either to your home address or to a different address.
Breach of Unsecured Protected Health Information
You have a right to receive notifications of any breaches of your personal Protected Health Information. In the event of a breach, The Doctors Clinic will notify you.
To Ask for Help or If You Have a Complaint
If you have a question about your rights, want more information, or want to report a problem about the handling of our protected health information, you may contact any clinic manager by calling (360) 782-3610 or deliver a written communication to the Privacy Officer at: The Doctors Clinic Attn: Privacy Office 2512 Wheaton Way Bremerton, WA 98310 You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. If you file a complaint, we will not retaliate against you.
Our Right to Change This Notice
The Doctors Clinic reserves the right to amend or make changes to the terms of this notice and to make the revised or changed notice effective for medical information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post the current notice in the office with its effective date. You are entitled to a copy of the notice currently in effect. You may go to any facility owned by The Doctors Clinic to receive your current copy of your Notice of Privacy Practices or you may view a copy of the notice on our website at www.thedoctorsclinic.com. Copies of the Privacy Policy are available at the Reception Desk of any of our clinics.