Privacy Practices
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Effective Date: 2/17/2010
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.
Cancer Care Northwest is required by law to provide you with this Notice of our Privacy Practices. Cancer Care Northwest will request that you sign a form to acknowledge you have received a copy of this notice. The acknowledgment form will become a permanent part of your medical record.
Cancer Care Northwest respects your privacy and we understand that your personal health information is very sensitive. Cancer Care Northwest is required to keep your protected health information private. We will not disclose your information to others unless you tell (authorize) us to do so, or unless the law authorizes or requires us to do so.
USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
The law protects the privacy of the health information we create and obtain in providing our care and services to you. For example, your protected health information includes your symptoms, test results, diagnosis, treatment, health information from other providers, demographic information, billing and payment information relating to these services. Federal and state law allows us to use and disclose your protected health information without your authorization for the following purposes:
- Treatment
- Payment
- Health Care Operations
- Appointment reminders
- As required by law
- To avert a serious threat to health and safety
- As required by the Military or Veterans and Worker’s Compensation
- Public Health risks
- Health oversight activities
- Coroners, health examiners and funeral directors
- Organ and tissue donation
- National Security and Intelligence activities
- Lawsuits and disputes - with subpoena, warrant, court order or similar process
- Law enforcement – reporting of crimes, injuries as required by law i.e. gunshot wounds, in response to court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process
- Correctional institutions – if you are an inmate of a correctional institution or in the custody of law enforcement
- Food and Drug Administration – reporting of adverse events, product defects or recalls
- To report suspected abuse or neglect
- For disaster relief purposes
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES (cont’d)
Cancer Care Northwest may release health information about you to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care. We may also provide information to someone who helps pay for your care. You have the right to object to this use or disclosure of your information. Requests to restrict disclosure or use of your information must be made in writing (see below).
YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION RIGHTS
- Right to inspect and copy information
- Right to receive an electronic copy of your health record
- Right to amend or correct your information
- Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
- Right to request restriction on release of information
- Right to request restriction on release of information for any services you have personally paid for in-full
- Right to request confidential communications
- Right to ask Cancer Care Northwest to review a denial of access to your health information
- Right to file a complaint with Cancer Care Northwest or the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
- Right to a paper copy of this Notice
The following requests to Cancer Care Northwest must be made in writing (forms available at our reception and nursing desks):
- Request to inspect or view your protected health information
- Request for copies of protected health information that were generated or created by another health care provider or institution
- Request for paper or electronic copies of your entire medical record
- Requests and authorizations to share your information with anyone not directly involved with your care i.e. attorney, accountant, fundraising and/or marketing activities etc
- Request to restrict the release of your protected health information to anyone Request for Cancer Care Northwest to review a denial of access to your health information
- To revoke any previous authorization or request
- Request to restrict the use of your Social Security Number
If you have questions about Cancer Care Northwest’s Privacy Notice, or if you believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact the Privacy Officer at 509-228-1000. You will not be retaliated against or penalized for filing a complaint.