STARKVILLE PREGNANCY CARE CENTER

Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective Date:  April 11, 2016

 

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please read it carefully.

OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

We are committed to protecting your health information.  Health information is information that identifies a patient, or where there is a reasonable basis to believe the information can be used to identify a patient.  This information is called Protected Health Information (PHI).  This Notice describes your rights as our patient and our obligations regarding the use and disclosure of PHI.  We will:

  • Maintain the privacy of PHI about you.
  • Give you this Notice of our privacy practices with respect to PHI.
  • Comply with the terms of this Notice that is currently in use as of the Effective Date.

We reserve the right to make changes to this Notice and to make such changes effective for all PHI we may already have about you.  If and when this Notice is changed, we will post a copy in our office in a prominent location.  We will also provide you with a copy of the revised Notice upon your request made to our Privacy Officer.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

You have the right to:

  • To receive a paper copy of this notice even if you have received it electronically.
  • Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures. This must be done in writing. WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO AGREE WITH YOUR REQUEST.  If we agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to help provide you with emergency treatment.
  • Receive confidential communications of PHI by alternative means or at alternative locations. This must be done in writing.
  • Inspect and receive a copy of your PHI held at Starkville Pregnancy Care Center as well as receive an accounting of certain disclosures. This must be done in writing.
  • Request that we amend PHI about you as long as such information is kept by or for our office. This must be done in writing.  You must also give us a reason for your request.  We may deny your request in certain cases, including if it is not in writing or if you do not give us a reason for the request.

HOW WE USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

We only use or disclose your PHI as outlined in this Notice.  In some cases you must authorize the disclosure.  In other cases, we can disclose your health information without your consent or authorization.

USE AND DISCLOSURES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION

TREATMENT:  We may use your PHI for our treatment activities, such as disclosing it to other healthcare providers as helpful to treat you.

HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS:  We may use and disclose your PHI to manage our program operations, such as reviewing the quality of services you receive or to promote internal training and certification of our personnel

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES:  We may disclose your PHI to organizations that help us with our work.  We have a written agreement that requires these organizations to use your PHI for only the reasons necessary to do the work, and protect it from other uses or disclosures, just like we do.

TO CONTACT YOU: We may use the information in your health records to contact you concerning appointments or if we have information about treatment or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

OTHER PERMITTED USES AND DISCLOSURES

We are allowed to use or disclose your health information for other purposes without your consent or authorization.  In our experience such disclosures are rare, and the limited information we maintain is generally not applicable.  However, when authorized by law, and to the extent we may have the information, we may disclose it to:

  • Comply with the requirements of federal, state, and local laws, court orders or other lawful process and for administrative or court proceedings
  • Report to a public health authority for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability
  • Notify a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease or may otherwise be at risk of contracting or spreading a disease or condition
  • Report abuse, neglect or domestic violence to a government authority
  • Provide necessary information to a health oversight agency for activities such as audits, investigations, inspections, licensure of the healthcare system, government benefit programs and regulated entities
  • A law enforcement official for specified law enforcement purposes
  • Coroners or medical examiners for identification or determining cause of death
  • Funeral directors to carry out their duties with respect to the decedent
  • Organ procurement organizations for facilitating donation and transplantation
  • Researchers conducting studies approved by an Institutional Review Board
  • Prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public
  • Authorized federal officials for specialized government functions such as military and veterans activities; national security and intelligence activities; protective services for the president; medical suitability determinations; correctional institutions; government entities providing public benefits
  • Comply with Workers’ Compensation laws

USE AND DISCLOSURES WITH YOUR AUTHORIZATION

Other uses and disclosures of your personal information require your written authorization.  You may revoke your authorization at any time by doing so in writing.  All written requests can be submitted or sent to our Privacy Officer at the address listed below.

HOW YOU CAN REACH US

If you would like additional information about our privacy practices, or if you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint by contacting the Starkville Pregnancy Care Center Privacy Officer at 662-324-7011.  A written notice or request can be sent to P.O.Box 487, Starkville MS, 39760.

Starkville Pregnancy Care Center does not retaliate against people who file a complaint.