Notice of Privacy Practices

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This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can have access to this information.
 
INTRODUCTION
Your medical information is important and confidential. Our policies help ensure that your information is held in strict confidence. We maintain protocols to ensure security. This notice of privacy practices describes the personal information we collect and how and when we use or disclose that information. It applies to all protected health information as defined by federal regulations.
 
YOUR HEALTH RECORD
Each time you visit OC Eye Center, a record of your visit is made. Your medical chart records your symptoms, examination, any applicable test results, diagnoses and treatment plan. The chart functions as a basis for your medical care, means of communication among relevant health professionals involved in your care, verification of services provided and potential source for public health officials. Although your medical record is the physical property of OC Eye Center, the information belongs to you.
 

YOUR RIGHTS
.   Obtain a copy of this notice upon request
.   Obtain and inspect a copy of your medical record as provided by 45 CFR 164.524 with reasonable        copy fees.
.   Amend your record as per 45 CFR 164.526
.   Obtain an accounting of disclosures as per 45 CFR 164.528
.   Request confidential communications of your health information as per CFR 164.522(b)
.   Request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your information as per 45 CFR 164.522(a)
 
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
.   Maintain the privacy of your medical record
.   Provide you with this notice regarding our legal duties and privacy practices
.   Abide by the terms of this notice
.   Notify you if we are unable to comply to a requested restriction
.   Accommodate reasonable requests you may have concerning your medical record
 
We will not use or disclose your health information in a manner other than described in the section "Examples of Disclosures for Treatment, Payment and Health Operations" without your written authorization, which may be revoked per 45 CFR 164.508(b)(5) except to the extent that action has already been taken.
 

Examples of Disclosures for Treatment, Payment and Health Operations
1) Treatment
We may provide medical information about you to health care providers, our practice personnel or third parties involved in the provision, management or coordination of your care.
 

2) Payment
We may disclose information to your health insurance plan so that we can collect or make payment for the health care services you receive.
 
3) Health Operations
We may disclose your health information for our routine operations. They are necessary for certain administrative, financial, legal and quality improvement activities that are involved in running our practice. For example, we may need to provide information regarding appointment reminders, decedents, workers' compensation, public health, as required by law for subpoena/ warrant, business associates (billing/ transcription services), FDA notification, specialized government functions, legal guardianship, and serious threats to the health/ safety of yourself and others.
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you have questions, you may contact our practice's Privacy Officer, Barbara Shang, M.D. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact Barbara Shang, M.D. or the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
 
Please note that for all non-routine operations, we will obtain your written authorization before disclosing personal information. Your information is important and confidential. Our ethics and policies dictate that we take great care in safeguarding the privacy of your records.