This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you may obtain access to this information. Please review it carefully. If you have any questions about this notice please contact Katherine J Atkinson MD
"Protected Health Information" is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and to related health care services. We are required to abide by the terms of this notice. We may change the terms at any time; we will provide you with any revised notices upon your request. The new notice will be effective for all protected health information that we maintain at that time.
Your protected health information may be used and disclosed by your physician, our office staff and others outside of our office that are involved in your care and treatment for the purpose of providing health services to you. Your protected health information may also be used and disclosed to obtain payment for your healthcare services and to support the operation of the physicians' practice. We will use and disclose your protected health information to provide, coordinate or manage your health care and any related service including the coordination or management of your health care with a third party that has already obtained your permissions to have access to your protected health information. For example we would disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to a home health agency, specialist or laboratory who are participating in your health care. Your protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your health care services. This may include any number of activities required by your health insurance plan including, but not limited to, determination of eligibility or coverage for insurance benefits, reviewing services provided to you for medical necessity, and undertaking utilization review activities. We may use or disclose, as necessary, your protected health information in order to support the business and quality of your physicians' practices including, but not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, continuing education activities and the training of students. For example we may contact you to remind you of your appointment or call your name in the waiting room or share information with medical students training under us in the office. If you have specific concerns about any of these possibilities please bring them to the attention of any of our staff members or your physician. We will share, as necessary, your protected health information with third party business associates such as billing agencies. Whenever an arrangement has been made between our office and a business associate we will have a written contract with that entity to ensure the privacy of your protected health information.
With your specific consent, we will complete medical paperwork for schools, camps, employers, WIC and housing authorities with your protected health information. Other uses and disclosures of your protected health information will be made only with your written authorization unless otherwise permitted or required by law as described below.
Unless you object, we may disclose to a member of your family, a relative, a close friend or any person whom you identify, your protected health information that directly relates to that person's involvement in your health care. If you are unable to agree to or object to such a disclosure, we may disclose such information, as necessary, if we determine that it is in your best interest, based on our professional judgment. We may use or disclose your protected health information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative or any other person that is responsible for your care, general condition or death. We may use or disclose your protected health information to an authorized public or private entity to assist in disaster relief efforts and to coordinate uses and disclosures to family or other individuals involved in your health care.
We may use or disclose your protected health information in an emergency treatment situation. If this happens, your physician shall try to obtain your consent as soon as reasonably practicable after the delivery of treatment. If one of our physicians is required by law to treat you and the physician has attempted to obtain your consent but is unable to obtain your consent, the physician may still use or disclose your protected health information to treat you. Or if the physician is unable to obtain your consent due to substantial communication barriers and the physician believes that you intend to consent we may use or disclose your protected health information using the physician's best professional judgment.
The following activities may require the physician to use or disclose your protected health information without your consent. Every effort will be made to notify you and to disclose the minimal amount of information necessary for the specific situation: legal documents, public health record for the reporting and treatment of disease, injury or disability, health oversight agencies, instances of abuse or neglect, food and drug administration, legal proceedings, lawful enforcement, coroners, funeral directors and organ donation, criminal activity, military activity and national security as well as worker's compensation. We may use or disclose your protected health information if you are an inmate of a correctional facility. Under the law we must make disclosures to you and when required by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of Section 164.500 et. Seq.
Other uses and disclosures of your protected health information will be made only with your written authorization unless otherwise permitted or required by law as outlined above. You may revoke this authorization at any time in writing except to the extent that your physician or the practice has taken an action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in the authorization.