Patient Privacy

Delaware Physician- Patient Policy

NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICIES AND PRACTICES
FOR
NANTICOKE GASTROENTEROLOGISTS, P.A.
 DEAR PATIENT:
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DESCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.
PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
INTRODUCTION
At Nanticoke Gastroenterology, P.A. we are committed to treating and using protected health information about your responsibility. This notice describes the personal information we collect and how and when we use or disclose that information. It also describes your rights as they relate to your protected health information. This Notice is effective April 14th, 2003 and applies to all protected health information as defined by federal regulations.
 
UNDERSTANDING YOUR MEDICAL RECORD/HEALTH INFORMATION
Each time you visit Nanticoke Gastroenterology, P.A. a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains information about your visit, including your examination, diagnosis, test results, and treatment, as well as other pertinent healthcare data. This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, serves as a:
  • Basis for planning your care of treatment;
  • Means of communications with other health professionals involved in your care;
  • Legal document outlining and describing the care you received;
  • A tool that you, or another payer (your insurance company) will use to verify that serves billed were actually provided;
  • An educational tool for medical health providers;
  • A source for medical research;
  • Basis for public health officials who might use this information to assess and/or improve state, as well as national, healthcare standards;
  • A tool that we can reference to ensure the highest quality of care and patient satisfaction. Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to ensure its accuracy, determine what entities have access to your health information, and make an informed decision when authorizing the disclosure of this information to other individuals.
YOUR RIGHTS
You have certain rights under the federal privacy standards. These include:
  • The right to request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your protected health information;
  • The right to receive confidential communications concerning your medical condition and treatment;
  • The right to inspect and copy your protected health information;
  • The right to amend or submit corrections to your health information;
  • The right to receive and accounting of how and to whom your protected health information has been disclosed;
  • The right to receive a printed copy of this Notice.
OUR REPSONSILBILTIES
NANTICOKE GASTROENTEROLOGY, P.A. is required to:
  • Maintain the privacy of your health information;
  • Provide you with this Notice as to our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to information we collect and maintain about you;
  • Abide by the terms of this Notice;
  • Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restrictions;
  • Accommodate reasonable requests you may have regarding communication of health information via alternative means and/or locations.
As permitted by law, we reserve the right to amend or modify our privacy policies and practices. These changes in our policies and practices may be required by changes in federal and state laws and regulations. Whatever the reason for these revisions, we will provide you with a revised Notice in your next office visit. The revised policies and practices will be applied to all protected health information that we maintain. We will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this Notice. We will also discontinue to use or disclose your health information after we have received a written revocation of the authorization according to procedures included in the authorization.
 
HOW WE MAY USE AND/OR DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
We will use your health information for treatment. Your health information may be used by staff members or disclosed to other health care professionals for the purpose of evaluating your health, diagnosing medical conditions, and providing treatment. For example: results of laboratory tests and procedures will be available in your medical record to all health professionals who may provide treatment or who may be consulted by staff members.
We will use your information for payment. Your health plan may request and receive information on dates of service, the services provided, and the medical condition being treated in order to pay for service(s) rendered to you.
We will use your information for regular health operations. Your health information may be used, as necessary, to support the day-to-day activities and management of Nanticoke Gastroenterology, P.A. For example: information on the services you received may be used for budgeting and financial reporting and activities to evaluate and promote quality.
Business Associates. In some instances, we have contacted separate entities to provide services for us. These “associates” required your health information in order to accomplish the tasks that we ask them to provide. Some examples of the “business associates” might be a billing service, collection agency, answering service, and computer software/hardware provider.
Communication with Family. Due to nature of our field, we will use our best judgment when disclosing health information to a family member, other relatives, or any other person that is involved in you care or that you have authorized to received this information. Please inform the practices when you do not wish a family member of other individual to have authorization to receive you information.
Research/Teaching/Training. We may use your information for the purpose of research, teaching and training.
Healthcare Oversight. Federal law requires us to release your information to appropriate health oversight agency, public health authority or attorney, or other federal/state appointee if there are circumstances that require us to do so.
Public Health Reporting. Your health information may be disclosed to public health agencies as required by law.
Law Enforcement. Your health information may be disclosed to public health agencies, without your permission, to support government audits and inspections, to facilitate law enforcement investigations, and to comply with government-mandated reporting.
Appointment Reminders. The practice may use your information to remind you about upcoming appointments. Typically, appointment reminders are sent by mail in a closed envelope, or a brief non-specific message may be left on your answering machine. If you do not approve of these methods or would prefer and alternative method, please inform the practice.
Other Uses and Disclosures. Disclosure of your health information or its use of and purpose other than those listed above requires your specific written authorization. If you change your mind after authorizing a use or disclosure of our information, you may submit a written revocation of the authorization. However, your decision to revoke the authorization will not affect or undo and use or disclosure of information that occurred before you notified us of your decision.
 
For More Information Or To Report A Problem
If you have complaints, questions or would like additional information regarding this Notice or the privacy practices of Nanticoke Gastroenterology, P.A. please contact:
Lin McFarland, Practice Manager/Privacy Office
924 Middleford Rd.
Seaford, DE 19973
(302) 629-2229
If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, please contact the aforementioned practice Privacy Official or you may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint with the practice’s Privacy Official or with the Office of Civil Rights. The address for the Office for Civil Rights is listed below:
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Room 509f, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201

Serving: Delaware- Cambridge MD, Denton MD, Dover DE, Easton MD, Federalsburg MD, Georgetown DE, Harrington DE, Laurel DE, Milford DE, Milllsboro DE, Rehoboth DE, Salisbury MD, Seaford DE, Southern Delaware, Sussex County
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