Privacy Notice
PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGERY GROUP, P.C. PRIVACY NOTICE
Effective Date: January 1, 2003
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.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOTICE PLEASE CONTACT THE PRIVACY OR SECURITY OFFICER.
Your Medical information is personal. We are required by law to maintain that privacy and to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices. Pediatric Neurosurgery Group, P.C. is committed to protecting your medical information. We create a record of the care and services you receive at this office. We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This Notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by this office whether made by the physicians or one of the office’s employees. This Notice will tell you about the ways in which we may use and disclose your medical information. This Notice will also describe your rights and certain obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of your medical information. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice that is currently in effect.This office is required by law to: make sure that medical information that identifies you is kept private; give you this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to medical information about you; and follow the terms of the Notice that is currently in effect.
How this Office May Use and Disclose Your Medical Information
The following describes the different ways that your medical information may be used or disclosed by this office. For clarification we have included some examples. Not every possible use or disclosure is specifically mentioned. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose your medical information will fit within one of these general categories:
For Treatment
We will use medical information about you to provide you with medical treatment and services. We may disclose medical information about you to doctors, nurses, technicians and other office or hospital personnel who are involved in providing you medical treatment.
For Payment
We may use and disclose medical information about you so that the treatment and services you receive at this office may be billed to and payment may be collected from you, an insurance company or a third party. For example, we may need to give your health plan information about treatment you received here so your health plan will pay us or reimburse you for the treatment. We may also tell your health plan about a treatment you are going to receive to obtain prior approval or to determine whether your plan will cover the treatment.
For Health Care Operations
We may use and disclose medical information about you for office or hospital operations. These uses and disclosures are necessary to run our office and make sure that all of our patients receive quality care. For example, we may use medical information to review our treatment and services and to evaluate the performance of our staff in caring for you. We may also combine medical information about many of our patients to decide what additional services the office should offer, what services are not needed, and whether certain new treatments are effective. We may also disclose information to doctors, nurses, technicians, and other office personnel for review and learning purposes. We may remove information that identifies you from this set of medical information so others may use it to study health care and health care delivery without learning the identity of the specific patients.
Appointment Reminders
We may use and disclose medical information to contact you as a reminder that you have an appointment for treatment or medical care at this office.
Treatment Alternatives
We may use and disclose medical information to tell you about or recommend possible treatment options or alternatives that may be of interest to you.
Health-Related Benefits and Services
We may use and disclose medical information to tell you about health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.
Research
Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose medical information about you for research purposes. For example, a research project may involve comparing the health and recovery of all patients who received one medication or procedure to those who received another for the same condition.
As Required By Law
We will disclose medical information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law. For example, disclosure may be required by Workers’ Compensation statutes and various public health statutes in connection with required reporting of certain diseases, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, adverse drug reactions, etc.
To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety
We may use and disclose medical information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Any disclosures, however, would only be to someone able to help prevent the threat.
Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose medical information to a governmental or other oversight agency for activities authorized by law. For example, disclosures of your medical information may be made in connection with audits, investigation, inspections, and licensure renewals, etc.
Lawsuits and Disputes
If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may use your medical information to defend the office or to respond to a court order.
Law Enforcement
We may release medical information about you if required by law when asked to do so by law enforcement official.
Coroners and Medical Examiner.
We may release medical information to a coroner or medical examiner to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death.
Your Rights Regarding Your Medical Information:
You have the following rights regarding the medical information this office maintains about you:
Right to Inspect and Copy
You have the right to inspect and copy your medical information with the exception of any psychotherapy notes. To inspect and copy your medical information, you must submit your request in writing to Pediatric Neurosurgery Group, P.C. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request. We may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain very limited circumstances. If you are denied access to your medical information, you may request that the denial be reviewed. For information regarding such a review contact our practice Privacy Official.
Right to Amend
If you feel that medical information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as this office keeps the information. To request an amendment, your request must be in writing and submitted to Pediatric Neurosurgery Group, P.C. In addition, you must provide a reason that supports your request. We may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does not include a reason to support the request. In addition, we may deny your request if your ask us to amend information that: Was not created by use; Is not part of the medical information kept by this office; Is not part of the information which you would be permitted to inspect and copy; or is accurate and complete.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to request an “accounting of disclosures.” This is a list of the disclosures this office had made of your medical information. To request this accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to Pediatric Neurosurgery Group, P.C. Your request must state a time period, which may not be longer than six years and may not include dates before February 26, 2003.
Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the use or disclosure we make of your medical information. We are not required to agree to your request for a restriction. If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you emergency treatment. To request restrictions, you must make your request in writing to Pediatric Neurosurgery Group, P.C.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you only in a certain manner. For example, you can ask that we only contact you at work or by mail. To request confidential communications, you must make your request in writing to Pediatric Neurosurgery Group, P.C. We will accommodate all reasonable requests.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice. Even if you have agreed to receive this Notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this Notice. You may obtain a copy of this Notice at our website, http://www.pediatricneurosurgerygroup.net To obtain a paper copy of this Notice, contact Pediatric Neurosurgery Group, P.C.
Revisions to This Notice
We reserve the right to revise this Notice. Any revised Notice will be effective for medical information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of any revised Notice in this office. Any revised Notice will contain on the first page, in the top right-hand corner, the effective date. In addition, each time you visit the office we will offer you a copy of the current Notice in effect.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with this office or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with this office, contact our Office Manager at 313-833-4490. All complaints must be submitted in writing. THIS OFFICE WILL NOT PENALIZE YOU IN ANY WAY FOR FILING A COMPLAINT.
Other Uses of Medical Information
Other uses and disclosures of your medical information not covered by this Notice of Privacy Practices will be made only with your written authorization. If you provide us such an authorization in writing to use or disclose medical information about you, you may revoke that authorization, in writing, at any time. If you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose medical information about you for the reasons covered by your written authorization.
