Confidentiality
Confidentiality
All your medical records are considered confidential information. We will release the records or any part of them only if you give us written authorization. No matter what the circumstances, we will not release these records unless we have written notification that you wish us to do so. Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. follows all Federal and State guidelines for the transfer of patient information to ensure your privacy.
DOURRON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES, P.C. NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATIONL. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
DOURRON OB/GYN ASSOCIATES, PC is required, by law, to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of your protected health information and to provide our patients with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your protected health information.
Disclosure of Your Health Care Information
Treatment
We may disclose your health care information to other healthcare professionals within our practice for the purposed of treatment, payment or healthcare operations.
"On occasion, it may be necessary to seek consultation regarding your condition from other health care providers associated with Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C."
"It is our policy to provide a substitute health care provider, authorized by Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. to provide assessment and/or treatment to our patients, without advanced notice, in the event of your primary health care provider's absence due to vacation, sickness, or other emergency situation."
Payment
We may disclose your health information to your insurance provider for the purpose of payment or health care operations.
"As a courtesy to our patients, we will submit an itemized billing statement to your insurance carrier for the purpose of payment to Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. for health care services rendered. If you pay for you health care services personally, we will, as a courtesy, provide an itemized billing to your insurance carrier for the purpose of reimbursement to you. The billing statement contains medical information, including diagnosis, date of injury or condition, and codes which describe the health care services received."
Workers' compensation
We may disclose your health information as necessary to comply with State Workers' Compensation Laws.
Emergencies
We may disclose your health information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, or another person responsible for your care about your medical condition or in the event of an emergency or of your death.
Public Health
As required by law, we may disclose your health information to public health authorities for purposes related to: preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability, reporting child abuse or neglect, reporting domestic violence, reporting to the Food and Drug Administration problems with products and reactions to medications, and reporting disease or infection exposure.
Judicial and Administrative Proceedings
We may disclose your health information in the course of any administrative orjudicial proceeding.
Law Enforcement
We may disclose your health information to a law enforcement official for purposes such as identifying or locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person, complying with a court order or subpoena, and other law enforcement purposes.
Deceased Persons
We may disclose your health information to coroners or medical examiners.
Organ donation
We may disclose your health information to organizations involved in procuring, banking, or transplanting organs and tissues.
Research
We may disclose your health information to researchers conducting research that has been approved by an institutional Review Board.
Public Safety
It may be necessary to disclose your health information to appropriate persons in order to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a particular person or to the general public.
Specialized Government Agencies
We may disclose your health information for military, national security, prisoner and government benefits purposes.
Marketing
We may contact you for marketing purposes, as described below:
"As a courtesy to our patients, it is our policy to call your home on the business day prior to your scheduled appointment to remind you of your appointment time. If you are not at home, we leave a reminder message on your answering machine or with the person answering the phone. No personal health information will be disclosed during this recording or message other than the date and time of your scheduled appointment along with a request to call our office if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment."
"It is our practice to participate in charitable events to raise awareness, food donations, gifts, money, etc. During these times, we may send you a letter, post card, invitation or call your home to invite you to participate in the charitable activity. We will provide you with information about the type of activity, the dates and times, and request your participation in such an event. It is not our policy to disclose any personal health information about your condition for the purpose of Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. sponsored fund-raising events."
Change of Ownership
In the event that Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. is sold or merged with another organization, your health information/record will become the property of the new owner.
Your Health Information Rights
- You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. Please be advised, however, that Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. is not required to agree to the restriction that you requested.
- You have the right to have your health information received or communicated through an alternative method or sent to an alternative location other than the usual method of communication or delivery, upon your request.
- You have the right to inspect and copy your health information.
- You have the right to request that Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. amend your protected health information. Please be advised, however, that Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. is not required to agree to amend your protected health information. If your request to amend your health information has been denied, you will be provided with an explanation of our denial reasons(s) and information about how you can disagree with the denial.
- You have a right to receive an accounting of disclosures of your protected health information made by Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C.
- You have a right to a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time upon request.
Changes to this Notice of Privacy Practices
Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. reserves the right to amend this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time in the future, and will make the new provision effective for all information that it maintains. Until such amendment is made, Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. is required by law to comply with this Notice.
Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and to provide you with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information. If you have questions about any part of this notice or if you want more information about your privacy rights, please contact the Practice Manager at 404-294-0472. If the Practice Manager is not available, you may make an appointment for a personal conference in person or by telephone within 2 working days.
Complaints
Complaints about your Privacy rights, or how Dourron OB/Gyn Associates, P.C. has handled your health information should be directed to the Practice Manager by calling 404-294-0472. If the Practice Manager is not available, you may make an appointment for a personal conference in person or by telephone within 2 working days.
If you are not satisfied with the manner in which this office handles your complaint, you may submit a formal complaint to:
DHHS, Office for Civil Rights
550 5th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100
or
Office for Civil Rights
Atlanta Federal Center
Suite 19T70
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303-8909
This notice is effective as of 1/1/2002.