Notice of Privacy Policies:

DESCRIBES HOW INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Introduction

The physicians and staff of Cascade Heart are committed to the responsible management of your protected health information.  This Notice of Health Information Practices 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. (PHI)  This Notice is effective April 14, 2003, and applies to all protected health information as defined by the Federal and State Regulations.

Understanding Your Health Record / Information

Each time you visit our office, a record of your visit is made.  Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment.  This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, serves as a:

• Basis for planning your care and treatment
• Means of communication among the many health professionals who contribute to your care
• Legal document describing care provided to you
• Means by which you or a third-party payer can certify that services billed were provided
• Tool in educating health professionals
• Source of data for medical research
• Source of information for public health officials charged with improving the health of this state and the nation
• Source of data for our future planning
• Tool with which we can assess and continually work to improve the care we render and the outcomes we achieve.

Understanding what is in your record and how your health  information is used helps you to ensure its accuracy, better understand who, what, when, where, and why others may access your health information, and make more informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others.

Your Health Information Rights

Although your health record is the physical property of Cascade Heart, the information it contains belongs to you.  You have the right to:  *

• Obtain a paper copy of this notice of information practices upon request
• Inspect and copy your health record as provided for in 45 CFR 164.524  (state law permits a charge for this service and  allows 21 days to comply)
• Amend your health record as provided in 45 CFR 164.528
• Obtain an accounting of disclosures of your health information as provided in 45 CFR 164.528
• Request communications of your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations
• Request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your information as provided by 45 CFR 164.522
• Revoke your authorization to use or disclose health information except to the extent that action has already been taken.

*We will comply with your requests as defined by Federal and state regulations

Our Responsibilities

Cascade Heart is required to:

• Maintain the privacy of your health information
• Provide you with this notice
• Abide by the terms of this notice
• Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction
• Accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations.

Cascade Heart will attempt to honor, in good faith, the patients’ right to limit who receives their PHI, but we may not be able to meet all requests.

We reserve the right to change our practices regarding the  protected health information we maintain.  If we make changes, we will update this Notice.  You may receive the most recent copy of this Notice by calling and asking for it or by visiting our office to pick one up.

For More Information or to Report a Concern

If you have questions and would like additional information, you may contact the practice’s Privacy Officer for Cascade Heart at  (360) 256-2640.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the practice’s Privacy Officer, or with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint with either the Privacy Officer or the Office for Civil Rights.  The address for the OCR is listed below:

Office for Civil Rights

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Room 509F, HHH Building

Washington, D.C. 20201

We may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) without your authorization as follows:                                                                                                                  

With Medical Researchers – if the research has been approved and has policies to protect the privacy of your health information.  We may also share information with medical researchers preparing to conduct a research project.

• To Funeral Directors / Coroners consistent with applicable law to allow them to carry out their duties.
• To Organ Procurement Organizations (tissue donation and transplant) or persons who obtain, store, or transplant organs.
• To the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) relating to problems with food, supplements and products.
• To Comply With Workers’ Compensation Laws – if you make a workers’ compensation claim.
• For Public Health and Safety Purposes as Allowed or Required by Law:
  to prevent or reduce a serious, immediate threat to the health or safety of a person of the public.
  • to public health or legal authorities
  • to protect public health and safety
  • to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability
  • to report vital statistics such as births and deaths.
    
     
• To report Suspected Abuse or Neglect to public authorities.
• To Correctional Institutions if you are in jail or prison, as necessary for your health and the health and safety of others.
• For Health and Safety Oversight Activities.  For example, we may share health information with the Department of Health.
• For Disaster Relief Purposes.  For example, we may share health information with disaster relief agencies to assist in notification of your condition to family or others.
• For Work-Related Conditions That Could Affect Employee Health.  For example, an employer may ask us to assess health risks on a job site.
• To the Military Authorities of U.S. and Foreign Military Personnel.  For example, the law may require us to provide information necessary to a military mission.
• In the Course of Judicial / Administrative Proceedings at your request, or as directed by a subpoena or court order.
• For Specialized Government Functions.  For example, we may share information for national security purposes.

If you have questions about this federally mandated policy, please ask to see our Privacy Officer.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICIES 

Effective April 14, 2003

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