Notice of privacy practices

Your rights

When it comes to your health information, you have the right to:

• Get a copy of your medical record, paper or electronic. We will usually provide it within 30 days and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
• Ask us to correct your record if you think it is incorrect or incomplete. We may say no, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days.
• Request confidential communications, such as calls to a different number or mail to a different address. We will say yes to all reasonable requests.
• Ask us to limit what we use or share. If you pay for a service in full out of pocket, you can ask us not to share it with your health insurer, and we will say yes unless a law requires us to share it.
• Get a list of those we have shared your information with for six years before your request, with certain exceptions.
• Get a copy of this notice at any time, on paper.
• Choose someone to act for you, such as a medical power of attorney or legal guardian.
• File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Your choices

You can tell us your choices about whether we share information with family, close friends or others involved in your care, and in a disaster relief situation. If you cannot tell us, for example if you are unconscious, we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest. We never share your information for marketing or sell it unless you give us written permission.

How we use and share your information

• Treatment. We use your information and share it with other professionals treating you, such as a physical therapist or another doctor.
• Running our practice. We use your information to run the practice, improve care and contact you when needed.
• Billing. We use and share information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.

Other ways we may share information

We are allowed or required to share information in other ways, usually to contribute to the public good, such as public health and research, when we meet conditions in the law. These include: helping with public health and safety issues such as preventing disease or reporting suspected abuse; research; complying with the law; responding to organ and tissue donation requests; working with a medical examiner or funeral director; workers' compensation, law enforcement and other government requests; and responding to lawsuits and legal actions.

Our responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
• We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. You may change your mind at any time in writing.

Changes to this notice

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available on request, in our office and on this website.

Questions and complaints

Contact our Privacy Officer with questions or to exercise any of these rights.

You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights through the HHS HIPAA complaint page, by calling 1-877-696-6775, or by writing to 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201.