Shawnee Family Health Center 
Notice of Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL AND HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.  PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
 
If you have any questions about this notice, please contact our Client Rights Officer or the Privacy Officer at the telephone numbers and addresses listed on the last page of the notice.
 
This notice describes how we, Shawnee Family Health Center use or disclose your Protected Health Information (“PHI”).  PHI is information that identifies you and relates to health care services, the payment of health care services or your physical or mental health condition, in the past, present or future.  This notice also describes your rights to access and control your PHI.

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OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
 
Federal law requires that we maintain the privacy of your PHI and provide to you this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.  We are required to notify affected individuals following a breach of unsecured PHI.  We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice, which may be amended from time to time.  We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and to make the new Notice provisions effective for all PHI that we maintain.  We will promptly revise and distribute this Notice whenever there is a material change to the uses or disclosures, your rights, our duties, or other practices stated in this Notice.  Except when required by law, a material change to this notice will not be implemented before the effective date of the new notice in which the material change is reflected.

How We May Use or Disclose PHI for Appointment Reminders, And Treatment Alternatives

We may use and disclose your PHI to contact you as a reminder that you have an appointment for a home or office visit.  We may use and disclose your PHI to advise you or recommend possible service options or alternatives that may be of interest to you.

 
Disclosures You May Authorize Us to Make

We will not use or disclose your PHI without authorization, except as described in this Notice.  Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, as applicable, require your authorization.  Subject to certain limited exceptions, we may not use or disclose PHI for marketing without your authorization.  We may not sell PHI without your authorization.  You may give us written authorization to use and / or disclose health information to anyone for any purpose.  If you authorize us to use or disclose such information, you may revoke that authorization in writing at any time.

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Other Specific Uses or Disclosures

 

· When legally required.  We will disclose your PHI when required by any Federal, State or local law.

 

· In the Event of a Serious Threat to Life, Health or Safety.  We may, consistent with applicable law and ethical standards of conduct, disclose your PHI if we, in good faith, believe that such disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to your life, health, or safety, or to the health and safety of the public.

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· When There Are Risks to Public Health.  Shawnee may disclose your PHI for public activities and purposes allowed by law in order to prevent or control disease, injury or disability; report disease, injury, and vital events such as birth or death; conduct public health surveillance, investigations, and interventions; or Notify a person who has been exposed to a communicable disease or who may be at risk of contracting or spreading the disease.

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· To Report Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence.  We may notify government authorities if we believe a consumer is the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.  We will make this disclosure only when required or authorized by law, or when the consumer agrees to the disclosure. 

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· To Conduct Health Oversight Activities.  We may disclose your PHI to a health oversight agency for activities including audits, civil administrative or criminal investigations, inspections, licensure or disciplinary action.  However, we may not disclose your PHI if you are the subject of an investigation and your PHI is not directly related to your receipt of health care or public benefits. 

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· In Connection With Judicial and Administrative Proceedings.  We may disclose your PHI in the course of any judicial or administrative proceeding in response to an order of a court or administrative tribunal as expressly authorized by such order, or, in response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process, if we determine that reasonable efforts have been made by the party seeking the information to either notify you about the request or to secure a qualified protective order regarding your health information.  Under Ohio law, some requests may require a court order for the release of any confidential medical information.

 

 

HOW WE MAY USE OR DISCLOSE PHI FOR TREATMENT, PAYMENT, AND HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS 

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For Treatment

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We may use and disclose your PHI to coordinate or manage your care within Shawnee and with individuals or organizations outside of Shawnee that are involved in your care, such as your attending physician, other health care professionals, contracted service providers or related organizations.  For example, certain service providers involved in your care may need information about your medical condition in order for us to deliver services properly and appropriately.  We can share information with other medical and mental health providers without your written authorization when the purpose is for continuity of care.

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 To Obtain or Provide Payment

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We may include your PHI in invoices to collect or provide payment to or from third parties for the care you receive through Shawnee.  For example, some PHI is transmitted to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services when billing transactions are conducted.

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 To Conduct Health Care Operations

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We may use and disclose PHI for our own operations and as necessary to provide quality care to all of our services recipients.  Health care operations include but is not limited to the following activities:  quality assessment and improvement activities; activities designed to improve health or reduce health care costs; protocol development, case management and care coordination; professional review and performance evaluation; review and auditing, including compliance reviews, medical reviews, legal services and compliance programs; and business management and general administrative activities of Shawnee.  For example, we may use PHI to evaluate our staff performance or combine health information with other consumer PHI to evaluate how to serve all of our consumers.  Another example may be the disclosure of your PHI to staff or contracted personnel for certain limited training purposes.

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 · For Law Enforcement Purposes.  As permitted or required by law, we may disclose specific and limited PHI about you for certain law enforcement purposes.

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· For Research Purposes.  We may, under very select circumstances, use your PHI for research.  Before we disclose any of your PHI for such research purposes in a way that you could be identified, we will obtain your written permission. 

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· For Specified Government Functions.  Federal regulations may require or authorize us to use or disclose your PHI to facilitate specified government functions relating to military and veterans; national security and intelligence activities; protective services for the President and others; medical suitability determinations; and inmates and law enforcement custody. 

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· For Workers’ Compensation.  We may use or disclose your PHI for workers’ compensation or similar programs. 

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· Transfer of Information at Death.  In certain circumstances, we may disclose your PHI to funeral directors, medical examiners, and coroners to carry out their duties consistent with applicable law. 

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· Organ Procurement Organizations.  Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose your PHI to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.

 

 

Your Rights with Respect to PHI

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You have the following rights regarding PHI that we maintain  

 

· Right to a Personal Representative.  You may identify persons to us who may serve as your authorized personal representative, such as a court-appointed guardian, a properly executed and specific power-of-attorney granting such authority, a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care if it allows such person to act when you are able to communicate on your own, or other method recognized by applicable law.  We may, however, reject a representative if, in our professional judgment, we determine that it is not in your best interest or does not meet legal requirements.

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· Right to Request Restrictions.  You may request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information.  You have the right to request a limit on our disclosure of your PHI to someone who is involved in your care  or the payment of your care.  Although we will consider your request, please be aware that we are under no obligation to accept it or to abide by it unless the request concerns a disclosure of PHI to a health plan for purposes of carrying out payment or health care operations, and the PHI pertains solely to health care service for which the provider has been paid out of pock-et in full.  To request such restrictions, please contact the Privacy Officer, Gina Martin at 740-354-7702.

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· Right to Receive Confidential Communications.  You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a confidential manner.  For example, you may ask us to conduct communications pertaining to your health information only with you privately, with no other family members present.  If you wish to receive confidential communications, please contact the Privacy Officer, Gina Martin, at 740-354-7702.  We may require that you provide an explanation for your request and will attempt to honor any reasonable requests.

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· Right to Inspect and Copy Your PHI.  Unless your access to your records is restricted for clear and documented treatment reasons, you have a right to see your PHI upon request.  You have the right to inspect and copy such health information, including billing records, at a reasonable time and place.  A request to inspect and copy records containing your PHI may be made to the Office Manager, or the Privacy Officer at 740-354-7702.  If you request a copy of such health information, we may charge reasonable copying, processing, and personnel fees.

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· Right to Amend your PHI.  You have the right to request that we amend your records, if you believe that your PHI is incorrect or incomplete.  That request may be made as long as we maintain the information.  A request for amendment of records must be made in writing to the Privacy Officer at 901 Washington St, Portsmouth, OH  45662.  We have developed a convenient form for your use to request an amendment.  You can obtain this from office staff at the clinic.  We may deny the request if it is not in writing, or does not include a reason for the amendment.  The request also may be denied if your health information records were not created by us, if the records you are requesting are not part of our records, if the health information you wish to amend is not part of the health information you are permitted to inspect and copy, or if, in our opinion, the records containing your health information are accurate and complete.  We take the position that amendments may take the form of including a written statement from you and may not include changing, defacing or destroying any necessary information related to your health care.

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· Right to Know What Disclosures Have Been Made.  You have the right to request an accounting of disclosures of your PHI made by us for certain reasons, including reasons related to public purposes authorized by law, and certain research. The request for an accounting must be made in writing to the Privacy Officer at 901 Washington St, Portsmouth, OH  45662, 740-354-7702.  Accounting requests may not be made for periods of time in excess of six (6) years prior to the date on which the accounting is requested.  We will provide the first accounting you request during any 12-month period without charge.  Subsequent accounting requests may be subject to a reasonable, cost-based fee. 

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· Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice.  You have the right to receive paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have received this Notice previously.  To obtain a paper copy, ask front desk staff or the Privacy Officer.

 

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WHERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT

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You have the right to complain to us if you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, including the denial of any rights set forth in this Notice.  Any complaints to us shall be made in writing to the Privacy Officer at 901 Washington St, Portsmouth, OH  45662.  We encourage you to express any concerns you may have regarding the privacy of your information.  You will not be retaliated against in any way for filing a complaint.

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You may also file a written complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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200 Independence Avenue SW,

Washington, D.C., 20201

or call toll free (877) 696-6775

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Or by e-mail to OCR Complaint @ hhs.gov, or to Region V, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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233 N Michigan Ave.

Suite 240, Chicago, ILL, 60601

Phone (312) 886-2359

FAX (312) 886-1807

TDD (312) 353-5693

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CONTACT PERSONS

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We have designated the Privacy Officer as our contact point for all issues regarding consumer privacy and your rights under this Notice.  If you have any questions regarding this Notice, please contact Shawnee Family Health Center, Inc. through the Privacy Officer at 901 Washington St, Portsmouth, OH  45662, 740-354-7702.

 

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What can I do if I have questions or want to complain about the use and disclosure of my Protected Health Information?

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All questions or complaints concerning our privacy policies may be sent to:

Katy Lewis, Client Rights Officer

901 Washington Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662

(740) 355-8620

or

Gina Martin Privacy Officer

901 Washington Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662

(740) 355-8640

or

Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201

(877) 696-6775

 

We will not penalize or retaliate against you for complaining about the use or disclosure of your Protected Health Information

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 Shawnee Family Health Center (SFHC) is a private, not-for-profit corporation. SFHC offers a sliding fee scale discount (based on federal poverty guidelines) for eligible patients.  The inability to pay is not reason for service denial.  SFHC will provide free language interpreter services for patients who are deaf/hard of hearing and free translation services. 

After Hours or Weekend Call:  Answering service staff will manage the call and will reach out to a provider if needed. If there is an emergency and our offices are closed, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.  

Shawnee Family Health Center brindará servicios gratuitos de traducción de idiomas para los pacientes cuando sea necesario

 

Shawnee Family Health Center’s not

responsible for the misuse or re-release of your Protected Health Information

by another individual, agency or entity.