DOYLESTOWN THYROID & ENDOCRINE ASSOCIATES

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.

    YOUR RIGHTS

    When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.


    Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record
    -You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical records and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this.
    -We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable cost-based fee.

    Ask us to correct your medical record
    -You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this.
    -We may say no to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.

    Request confidential communications
    -You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home, office or cell phone) or to send mail to a different address.
    -We will say yes to all reasonable requests.

    Ask us to limit what we use or share
    -You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment or our operations. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say no if it would affect your care.
    -If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer. We will say yes unless a law requires us to share that information.

    Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information
    -You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.
    -We will include all the disclosures for those about treatment, payment and healthcare operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make). We’ll provide one accounting per year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.

    Get a copy of this privacy notice
    -You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.

    Choose someone to act for you
    -If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
    -We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.

    File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated
    -You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting our Privacy Officer at 103 Progress Drive, Suite 300, Doylestown, PA 18901 or 215-447-3630
    -You can file a complaint with the DHHS Office of Civil Rights. Visit www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints
    -We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
    YOUR CHOICES

    For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.


    In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:
    -Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care.
    -Share information in a disaster relief situation.
    -Include your information in a hospital directory.

    If you are not able to tell us your preference (for example, if you are unconscious) we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

    In these cases, we never share your information unless you give us written permission
    -Marketing purposes
    Sale of your information
    -Most sharing of psychotherapy notes

    OUR USES & DISCLOSURES

    How do we typically use or share your health information? We typically use or share your health information in the following ways.


    Treat you
    -We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you
    Example: A doctor treating you for an injury asks another doctor about your overall health

    Bill for your services
    -We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities
    Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.

    Run our organization
    -We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary
    Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.
    OTHER USES & DISCLOSURES

    How else can we use or share your health information? We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information, see www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html


    Help with public health and safety issues
    -We can share health information for certain situations, such as:
    -Preventing disease
    -Helping with product recalls
    -Reporting adverse reactions to medications
    -Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
    -Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety

    Do research
    -We can use or share your information for health research.

    Comply with the law
    -We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.

    Respond to organ and tissue donation requests
    -We can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations.

    Work with a medical examiner or funeral director
    -We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies

    Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement and other government requests
    -We can use or share health information about you:
    -For workers’ compensation claims
    -For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official
    -With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law
    -For special government functions, such as military, national security and presidential protective services

    Respond to lawsuits and legal actions
    -We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.
    OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
    • We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
    • We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
    • We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
    • We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

    For more information, see: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html

    Changes to the Terms of this Notice:

    We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon require in our office and on our website.

    Effective January 16, 2017

    By signing this form, I am acknowledging that Doylestown Thyroid & Endocrine Associates provided me information about its Notice of Privacy Practices. This notice provides information about how we may use and disclose your protected health information. I have received and reviewed this practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices.

    Name of Patient or Responsible Party*:
    Signature of Patient or Responsible Party*: