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Right to Notice As a patient, you have the right to adequate notice of the uses
and disclosures of your protected health information. Under the Health Insurance
Portability and Accessibility Act (HIPAA), we can
use your protected health information for treatment, payment and healthcare
operations. a) Treatment - We may use or disclose your health information to a
physician or other healthcare provider providing treatment to you. b) Payment -
We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services
we provide you. c) healthcare operations - We may use and disclose your health
information in connection with our healthcare operations. Healthcare operations
include quality assessment and improvement activities, reviewing the competency
or qualifications of healthcare professionals, evaluating provider performance,
conducting training programs, accreditation, certification, licensing or
credentialing activities.
Your Authorization Most uses and disclosures that do not fall under treatment,
payment, healthcare operations will require your written authorization. Upon
signing, you may revoke your authorization (in writing) through our practice at
any time.
Emergency Situations In the event of your incapacity or an emergency situation,
we will disclose health information to a family member, or another person
responsible for your care, using our professional judgment. We will only
disclose health information that is directly relevant to the person's
involvement in your healthcare.
Marketing We will not use your health information for marketing communications
without your written authorization.
Required by Law We may also use or disclose your health information when we are
required to do so by law.
Abuse or Neglect We may disclose your health information to appropriate
authorities if we reasonably believe that you are a possible victim of abuse,
neglect, or domestic violence or the victim of other crimes. We may disclose
your health information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to
you or other people's health or safety.
National Security We may disclose the health information of Armed Forces
personnel to military authorities under certain circumstances. We may disclose
health information to authorized federal officials required for lawful
intelligence, counterintelligence and other national security activities. We may
disclose health information of inmates or patients to the appropriate
authorities under certain circumstances.
Appointment Reminders We may use or disclose your health information to provide
you with appointment reminders via phone, email or letter.
Your Rights as a Patient You have the right to restrict the disclosure of your
protected health information (in writing). The request for restriction may be
denied if the information is required for treatment, payment or healthcare
operations. -You have the right to receive confidential communications regarding
your protected health information. -You have the right to inspect and copy your
protected health information. -You have the right to amend your protected health
information. -You have the right to receive an account of disclosures of your
protected health information. You have the right to a paper copy of this notice
of privacy practices.
Legal Requirements We are required by law to
maintain the privacy of your protected health information. We are required to
abide by the terms of this notice as it is currently stated, and reserve the
right to change this notice. The policies in any new notice will not be in
effect until they are posted to this site, or are available within our office.
Concerns If you have concerns regarding the way your protected health
information was handled, you may submit your concern in writing to our office.
You will not be retaliated against in any manner for a concern.
For further information about our privacy policies, please contact
us at:
David L. Friedman, O.D., P.C.
The Gateway Building, Ground Floor Unit 2
288 Littleton Road Westford, MA 01886 Gateway Vision Eyecare Center
Phone: (978) 692-2521 Fax: (978) 692-5188
Email: office@gatewayvision.com |
