Right to Notice
All patients of the Center for Podiatric Medicine have a right to receive a notice of the Center for Podiatric Medicine's privacy policies and procedures. The Center for Podiatric Medicine will prepare and post a notice of privacy practices. This notice will be provided to all patients on their first visit to the Center for Podiatric Medicine after April 14, 2003. The notice will be posted in the Practice's lobby or reception area in a location accessible to all patients.
1. Right to Request Restrictions
General Statement. Patients have a right to request that the Center for Podiatric Medicine restrict the uses or disclosures of patient health information to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations, and have a right to request that the Practice restrict disclosures made to family, relatives and close personal friends.
Written Request. Patients who request restrictions on the use or disclosure of their health information will be asked to fill out the Restriction Request Form.
Procedure. If the Center for Podiatric Medicine receives a written request to restrict the uses and disclosures of patient health information, the request will be referred to the privacy officer for handling. The privacy officer will notify the patient in writing within a reasonable time as to whether the Practice will agree to the restriction. If the privacy officer advises the patient that it will not agree to the restriction, no further action is necessary. If the Practice advises the patient that it will abide by the restriction, a notation will be made prominently in the patient's chart, and the Practice will abide by that restriction from that date forward.
Disclosures Required by Law. The Center for Podiatric Medicine will not agree to restrict disclosures of health information that are required by law.
Termination of Restrictions. If the Center for Podiatric Medicine has agreed to a restriction on uses or disclosures of health information, it may terminate that agreement by advising the patient in writing that the termination will only be effective with respect to health information created or received after written notification to the patient. As to health information created or received prior to that date, the restriction must be followed.
Documentation. All patient requests for restrictions, along with the Practice's response thereto, shall be kept for a minimum of six (6) years from the date of the document(s).
2. Right to Confidential Communications
General Statement. Patients have a right to request reasonable accommodations in receiving communications of their health information by alternative means or at alternative locations.
Written Request. Patients who request confidential communications will be asked to fill out the Request for Confidential Communications form.
Procedure. Upon receipt of a request for confidential communications, the privacy officer will evaluate the request. If the request is reasonable, the privacy officer will note the request prominently in the patient's chart and adhere to the request. For example, if the patient requests that all communications be sent to an address different than the patient's home address, the Practice will adhere to that request and note it in the patient's chart. If the request is not reasonable, the privacy officer will notify the patient that the request has been rejected.
Conditions to Providing Confidential Communications. As a condition to providing confidential communications at the patient's request, the Center for Podiatric Medicine may require that the patient provide assurances as to how payment for services will be provided.
No Demand for Explanations. The Center for Podiatric Medicine may not require an explanation from patients as to the reason for requesting confidential communications.
Documentation. All patient requests for confidential communications, along with the Center for Podiatric Medicine's response thereto, shall be kept for a minimum of six (6) years from the date of the document(s).
3. Right to Access
General Statement. Patients have a right to inspect and obtain a copy of their health information except as noted herein.Procedure. The Center for Podiatric Medicine may require that the patient request in writing to have access to his/her health information. Upon receipt of such a request, the Practice will provide the patient with an opportunity to inspect his or her health information within the following time frames:
- For records that are maintained on site, the Center for Podiatric Medicine will provide access within 30 days from the receipt of the request from the patient;
- For records not maintained on site, the Center for Podiatric Medicine will provide access within 60 days of the date of receipt of the request from the patient.
The Center for Podiatric Medicine will provide the patient with the health information in readable hard copy form. The Practice may provide the patient with a summary of the health information in lieu of providing access to the records themselves if and only if the patient agrees to receiving a summary and the patient agrees in advance to paying the fees imposed, if any, for the Practice providing the summary.