Protecting privacy is very important to us. We have policies and procedures in place as required by law for safeguarding your medical information, while at the same allowing it to be used in ways that will aid in your treatment.
At the time of registration, you will get given our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices (NOPP) and will be asked to state and consent to our privacy practices. The NOPP discloses how we use your medical information and the rights you have regarding your medical information. You will also be given the opportunity at each visit to review your privacy preferences according to Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines.
What is in my medical record?
Your medical record is health information that we collect and maintain about you. Your medical record contains your health history, current symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, prescription drugs you take, providers you have seen at our center, billing reports, and a plan for your future care or treatment.
Why is it important that you keep medical information about me?
Your medical record provides valuable information about you and serves as:
To whom do you disclose my health information?
Medical Providers to Aid in Your Treatment. If you give us consent, we will use your health information to help guide your treatment. We will also provide your physician, other health care professionals, or a subsequent health care provider with copies of your records to assist them in treating you if we are no longer treating you.
Example: A physician, nurse, or another member of your healthcare team will record information in your record to diagnose your condition and determine the best course of treatment for you. The primary care physician will give treatment orders and document what he/she expects other members of your health care team to do to treat you. Those other members will then document the actions they took and their observations. In that way, the primary care physician will know how you are responding to treatment.
Members of our Health Care Operations Team. We may provide your health information to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the health care and services we provide and to assess the care and outcomes of our patients and the competency of our caregivers. Members of our healthcare operation team might include medical staff, the risk or quality improvement manager, or members of the quality assurance team.
Outside Health Care Service Providers. We provide some health care services, such as certain diagnostic tests, through outside service providers. When we use these services, we may need to disclose your health information to the business so that they can perform the function(s) we have contracted to do and bill you or your third-party payer for rendered services. To protect your health information, however, we require the business associate to safeguard your information appropriately.
Notifications. If you give us your consent, we may use or disclose your medical information to notify or assist a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for your care, location, and general condition.
Communication with Family. Unless you request otherwise, health professionals, using their best judgment, may disclose to a family member, another relative, close personal friend, or any other person you identify, health information relevant to that person’s involvement in your care or payment related to your care.
Medical Researchers. We may disclose information to medical researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established to ensure the privacy of your health information.
Marketing Continuity of Care. We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may interest you.
Food and Drug Administration. We may disclose to the FDA any health information relative to adverse effects/events concerning food, drugs, supplement, product or product defects, or post-marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs, or replacement.
Workers Compensation. We may disclose health information to the extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to compensation orders or other similar programs established by law.
Public Health Authorities. As required by law, we may disclose your health information to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.
Correctional Institutions. Should you be an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or their designated agents medical health information that may be necessary for your health or the health or safety of other individuals.
Law Enforcement. We may disclose health information for purposes as required by law or in response to a valid subpoena.
Health Oversight Agencies and Public Health Authorities. If a member of our workforce or a business associate believes in good faith that we have engaged in unlawful conduct or otherwise violated professional or clinical standards and are potentially endangering one or more patients, workers, or the public, they may disclose your health information to a Health Oversight Agencies and/or Public Health Authorities, such as the Department of Health.
You have the rights concerning your medical records
As our patient, you have the right to:
Do you have questions about how we are protecting your privacy and our privacy procedures?
Please contact our Director of Medical Records, Christa Joseph, at (914) 699-7200, ext. 1115.