This notice covers how medical information about you may be used or shared and how you can access this information. Please read everything carefully!
The Public Notice
The Denton Vascular Lab takes your privacy seriously. We know that your personal health information is highly private. If the law permits or compels us to do so, we will not share your personal information with anyone else.
Our Legal Obligation
It also explains our privacy practices, legal obligations, and your rights. We are obligated to ensure the confidentiality of your protected health information under applicable federal and state legislation. We also must abide by the terms of this notice.
Our privacy policies are subject to change at any moment, as long as they are permitted by applicable law. All medical information created or received before the modifications may be subject to the new privacy policies and notice conditions. You must understand your rights and our legal responsibilities to protect your Protected Health Information.
Protected Health Information Uses and Disclosures
Using and disclosing your protected health information will be done for treatment, payment, and health care management purposes. Here are some instances of how your secure health information may be used and shared. Our office uses and discloses information in various ways, and these examples are not meant to be comprehensive.
Treatment
We will use and disclose your information to manage your health care services, including third-party coordination or management. We may also share protected health information with other doctors treating you. For example, a physician may be given your protected health information to help diagnose or treat you.
Payment
Your information will be used, if necessary, to secure payment for your medical services. Health insurance plans may do this before approving or paying for the health care we recommend. For example, they might make sure that you’re eligible for insurance benefits, look at the health care you get to make sure it’s safe, and do things like check how much money they spend.
Healthcare Management
Please note that your protected health information may be used or disclosed for specific business and operational purposes as necessary. These tasks include, but are not limited to, quality assessment, staff reviews, student training, licensing, and other business activities. We use it to call you by your name in the waiting area when your doctor is ready to see you. Additional uses of protected health information include contacting you through telephone and mail for us to remind you of your appointment.
Uses and Disclosures with Your Written Consent:
Your protected health information will only be used and disclosed with your consent unless otherwise permitted or required by law. You may authorize us to use or disclose your secure health information for any reason. You may also revoke your authorization in writing at any time. Your refusal will not affect any use or disclosures allowed by your permission while it was in place. As specified in this notice, we will not release your health information without your express consent.
People Involved in Your Health Care
Suppose you cannot consent or object in any manner. We may share your information with a family member, relative, close friend, or another person you select. In that case, we may release information if we determine that it is in your best interest. We may use or disclose protected health information to alert a family member, personal representative, or any other person responsible for your care.
Marketing
We can use or disclose your information to update you about treatment options that may interest you. Aside from general newsletters and information presented in person, you may opt out of getting further such information by contacting us using the information listed after this notice.
Public Health & Safety
We may reveal your protected health information to address severe and impending harm to your health or safety. Protected health information may be given to a government agency in charge of the health care system or government programs or its contractors. We also may give it to public health authorities for public health reasons.
Abuse/Neglect
A public health body with legal jurisdiction to receive child abuse or neglect reports may obtain your protected health information. Additional disclosures of protected health information may occur if we believe you have been a victim of domestic violence, abuse, neglect, or abandonment. In this scenario, the disclosure will be made by applicable federal and state regulations.
Criminal Activity
We may release your protected health information by applicable state laws if the disclosure is required to avoid a severe threat to a person’s well-being. We may also provide secure health information to help law enforcement identify or apprehend a suspect.
Mandatory by Law
Your information may be used and disclosed where required by law. For example, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services may request access to your secure health information to assess our adherence to federal privacy regulations. Workers’ compensation or similar laws may also allow us to reveal your protected health information.
Patient Rights
Requests for Restriction
You reserve the right to request additional restrictions on our use and disclosure of your PHI. Although these other restrictions are not a requirement, we shall adhere to our agreement if they are agreed upon by us (except in an emergency). Extra-restrictive requests must be agreed to in writing and signed by a representative of ours. We are not bound by any restrictions unless we have agreed in writing.
Confidentiality
Your protected health information can be communicated to you more privately or at a different place upon your request for confidential communication. It is required that you submit a formal written request. Your request must be reasonable, specify an alternate method or place, and allow us to charge and collect payment from you.
Modifications
You may contact us to amend your PHI at any time. This request must be written and include a justification for the change. We might refuse your request if we did not produce the information you seek to change. An explanation will be provided in writing if your request is rejected. Suppose we accept your request to edit data. In that case, we will notify others, including people or entities you designate, of the change and incorporate it in future disclosures.
Inquiries & Complaints
If you have any questions or concerns regarding our privacy practices, please contact us using the information provided. If you think we have infringed on your privacy, you may contact us immediately.
