Effective Date:
CLICK HERE FOR SPANISH VERSION.
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.
This Notice is provided on behalf of the
PURPOSE:
This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your
Protected Health Information to carry out treatment, payment or healthcare
operations and for other purposes permitted or required by law. “Protected
Health Information” is information that may identify the patient and that
relates to the patient’s past, present or future physical or mental health, and
may include name, address, phone numbers and other identifying information.
We are required to give you this Notice and to maintain the privacy of your
Protected Health Information. We must abide by this Notice, but we reserve the
right to change the privacy practices described in it. A current version of this
Notice, with required revisions, if any, may be obtained from the UAMS web site,
www.uams.edu and will be posted in prominent
areas of our facilities. You may also receive a current copy by sending a
written request to the UAMS HIPAA Office, 4301
We understand that medical information about you and your health is personal and
confidential, and we are committed to protecting the confidentiality of your
medical information. We create a record of the care and services you receive at
If you believe your Privacy Rights have been violated, you may complain to us or
to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with
us, you may send a letter describing the violation to the UAMS HIPAA Officer,
4301
If you
have questions or need more information, contact the UAMS HIPAA Officer at
501-614-2187.
WHO WILL FOLLOW THIS NOTICE:
This Notice describes the practices of UAMS healthcare professionals, employees,
volunteers and others who work or provide healthcare services at any UAMS
facility, including students-in-training.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
You will be asked to sign an Acknowledgment of receipt of this Notice. The
delivery of your healthcare services will in no way be conditioned upon the
signing of this Acknowledgment.
Your Privacy Rights.
You have the following rights relating to your Protected Health Information and
may:
§
Obtain a current paper copy of this
Notice.
§
Inspect or obtain a copy of your
records. Your request to obtain a copy of your medical records must be in
writing. You may be charged a fee for the cost of copying, mailing or other
supplies. We are allowed to deny this request under certain circumstances. In
some situations, you have the right to have the denial of your request reviewed
by a licensed healthcare professional identified by UAMS who was not involved in
the original denial decision. We will comply with the outcome of this review.
§
Request that we amend your record,
if you feel the information is incomplete or incorrect. We are allowed to deny
this request in certain circumstances and may ask you to put these requests in
writing and provide a reason that supports your request.
§
Request in writing a restriction on
certain uses and disclosures of your information. We are not required to agree
to the requested restrictions in all circumstances.
§
Obtain a record of certain
disclosures of your Protected Health Information.
§
Make a reasonable request to have confidential
communications of your Protected Health Information sent to you by alternative
means or at alternative locations.
§
We will obtain your written permission for uses and
disclosures of your Protected Health Information that are not covered by the
Notice or permitted by law. Except to the extent that the use or disclosure has
already occurred, you may cancel this permission. This request to cancel must
be put in writing.
§
Submit any written requests to
inspect, copy or amend your records to the Medical Records Department.
Our Responsibilities.
We are required to protect the privacy of your Protected Health Information,
abide by the terms of the Notice,
make
the Notice available to you and to notify you if we are unable to agree to a
requested restriction or an alternative means of communicating
Examples of Uses & Disclosures
We will use your Protected Health Information for treatment.
Certain information obtained by a nurse, doctor, or other healthcare worker will
be put into your record and used to plan and manage your treatment. We may
provide reports or other information to your doctor or other authorized persons
who are involved in your care.
We will use your Protected Health Information for payment.
A bill will be sent to you and/or your insurance company with information about
your diagnosis, procedures and supplies used.
We will use your Protected Health Information for regular
healthcare operations.
The Medical Staff and other healthcare workers may use your Protected Health
Information to check on the care you received, how you responded to it, and for
other business purposes related to operating the hospital or clinics.
Business Associates:
We may share some of your Protected Health Information with outside people or
companies who provide services for us, such as typing physician reports.
Patient Directory:
Unless you tell us not to, we may use and disclose your name, location in the
facility, and general condition to people who ask for you by name. If provided
by you, your religious affiliation will only be given to members of the clergy.
Notification:
We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to notify a family
member or other person involved in your care, your location and general
condition unless you tell us not to do so.
Communication with family:
We may share your Protected Health Information with a family member, a close
personal friend, or a person that you identify, if we determine they are
involved in your care or in payment for your care, unless you tell us not to do
so.
Research:
Your Protected Health Information may be used for research purposes in certain
circumstances with your permission, or after we receive approval from a special
review board whose members review and approve the research project.
Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Directors:
We may disclose your Protected Health Information to these people, to the extent
allowed by law, so that they may carry out their duties.
Organ Donor Organizations:
We may share your Protected Health Information with the organ donation agency
for the purpose of tissue or organ donation in certain circumstances and as
required by law.
Contacts:
We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or to tell you about new
treatments or services.
Fundraising and Marketing:
We may contact you as part of any fundraising or marketing efforts.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
We may share your Protected Health Information with certain government agencies
like the FDA so they can recall drugs or equipment.
Workers Compensation:
We may disclose your Protected Health Information for workers' compensation
claims.
Public Health:
We may give your Protected Health Information to public health agencies who are
charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability and as
required by law.
Communicable Disease:
We may disclose your Protected Health Information to a person who may have been
exposed to a communicable disease or may otherwise be at risk of contracting or
spreading the disease or condition, if authorized by law to do so, such as a
disease requiring isolation.
Correctional Institution:
If you are an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose your
Protected Health Information needed for your health or the health and safety of
others.
Law Enforcement:
We must disclose your Protected Health Information for law enforcement purposes
as required by law.
As Required by Law:
We must disclose your Protected Health Information when required by federal,
state or local law.
Health Oversight:
We must disclose your Protected Health Information to a health oversight agency
for activities authorized by law, such as investigations and inspections.
Oversight agencies are those that oversee the healthcare system, government
benefit programs, such as Medicaid, and other government regulatory programs.
Abuse or Neglect:
We must disclose your Protected Health Information to government authorities
that are authorized by law to receive reports of suspected abuse or neglect.
Legal Proceedings:
We may disclose your Protected Health Information in the course of any judicial
or administrative proceeding or in response to a court order, subpoena,
discovery request or other lawful process.
Required Uses and Disclosures:
We must make disclosures when required by the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the
HIPAA Privacy Regulations.
To Avoid Harm:
We may use and disclose information about you when necessary to prevent a
serious threat to your health or safety of the health or safety of the public or
another person.
For Specific Government Functions: In certain situations, we may disclose Protected Health Information of military personnel and veterans. We may disclose your Protected Health Information for national security activities required by law.