NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
Understanding Your Health Record/Information
Each time you visit a hospital, physician, or other healthcare provider, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment. This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, serves as a:
• Basis for planning your care and treatment
• Means of communication among the many health professionals who contribute to your care
• Legal document describing the care provided to you
• Means by which you or a third party payer can verify that services billed were actually provided
• A tool in educating health professionals
• A source of data for medical research
• A source of information for public health officials charged with improving the health of the nation
• A source of data for facility planning and marketing
• A tool with which we can assess and continually work to improve the care we render and the outcomes we achieve
Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to:
• Ensure its accuracy
• Better understand who, what, when, where, and why others may access your information
• Make more informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others
Your Health Information Rights
Although your health record is the physical property of South Central Regional Medical Center or its properties, the information belongs to you. You have the right to:
• Request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. You may request a restriction to a health plan if the purpose of the disclosure is not related to treatment and the service or item was paid out-of-pocket in full
• Obtain a paper copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices on request or an electronic copy at our website, scrmc.com
• Inspect and request a copy of your medical records. If your health information is maintained in an electronic format, you may request an electronic copy of your record. (We may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request)
• Request an amendment of your health record if you feel that the medical information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete
• Obtain an accounting of disclosures of your health information
• Request communications of your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations
• Revoke your authorization to use or disclose health information except to the extent that action has already been taken
• Receive notice if a breach occurs. You have the right to be notified upon a breach of your health information
Our Responsibilities
SCRMC is dedicated to protecting your medical information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices with respect to protected health information. SCRMC is required by law to abide by the terms of this Notice, making any revision applicable to all the protected information we maintain. If we revise the terms of this Notice, we will post a revised notice at SCRMC and all properties. We will make paper copies of this Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information available upon request. We will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this Notice. Once given, you may revoke your authorization in writing at any time.
How Your Health Information Will be Used and Disclosed
In accordance with federal and state laws, SCRMC will use or disclose your health information for several purposes without your authorization, including but not limited to:
Treatment: We will use and disclose your health information for treatment. We may disclose health information to doctors, nurses, technicians, or other personnel, including people outside our office, who are involved in your medical care and need the information to provide you with medical care.
Payment: We will use and disclose your health information to bill and collect payment from you or a third party for the treatment and service you received. We may also disclose your health information to your health plan so that they will pay for your treatment.
Health Care Operations: We will use and disclose your health information for regular health care operations.
Data Breach Notification: We may use or disclose your health information to provide legally required notices of unauthorized access to your health information.
Research: Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose Health Information for research. The research project will go through a special approval process before any health information is used or disclosed.
Business Associates: There are some services provided in our organization through contacts with business associates. Examples include physician services in the emergency room, reference laboratories, and radiology services. When these services are contracted, we may disclose your health information to our business associate so that they can perform the job we’ve asked them to do and bill you or your third-party payer for services rendered. For your protection, we require our business associates to appropriately safeguard your information.
Directory: Unless you notify us that you object, we will use your name, location in the facility, religious affiliation, and general condition for directory purposes. This information may be provided to members of the clergy and, except for religious affiliation, to other people who ask for you by name.
Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care: We may release medical information about you to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care or who helps pay for your care. We may also tell your family or friends your condition and that you are in the hospital. In addition, we may disclose information about you to assist in disaster relief efforts.
Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors: We will release medical information to a coroner or medical examiner consistent with applicable state law to carry out their duties. We may also release medical information about patients of the hospital to funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.
Organ Procurement Organizations: Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose health information to organ procurement organizations.
Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit or dispute, we may disclose information about you in response to an administrative order, court order, or valid subpoena.
Marketing: We may contact to you to provide appointment reminders or information about services that may be of benefit and/or interest to you.
Workers’ Compensation: We may disclose health information to the extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to workers’ compensation or other similar programs established by law.
Public Health: As required by law, we may disclose your health information for public health activities, including the reporting of disease, injury, vital events and the conduct of public health surveillance, investigation and/or intervention. We may disclose your medical information concerning abuse, neglect or violence in accordance with federal and state law.
Follow-up Activities: We may contact you to obtain follow-up for certain conditions diagnosed and/or treated at SCRMC.
Correctional Institution: Should you be an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or agents thereof health information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals.
Law Enforcement: We may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes as required by law or in response to a valid subpoena.
Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose medical information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include audits, investigations, inspections and licensure.
Health Information Exchange: Many facilities participate in health information exchanges in order to share information among healthcare organizations such as hospitals, clinics, health plans, and state or federal-mandated reporting organizations. This facility may also participate in a health information exchange that allows for the sharing of information between hospitals, doctors, and health plans.
Military and Veterans: If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release medical information about you as required by military command authorities.
National Security and Intelligence Activities: We may release medical information about you to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities authorized by law.
For More Information or to Report a Problem
If you have questions and would like additional information, you may contact our Privacy Officer at (601) 426-4076. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the Privacy Officer at SCRMC or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.
Effective Date: June 1, 2002
Version Number: 0005
Revised: July 26, 2019
Reviewed: July 11, 2022