Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective 04/01/2003
The Health Insurance Portability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) protects the confidentiality of medical records and other personal health information. The rule limits the use and release of individually identifiable health information; gives patients the right to access their medical records; restricts most disclosure of health information to the minimum needed for the intended purpose; and establishes safeguards and restrictions regarding the disclosure of records for certain public responsibilities, such as public health, research and law enforcement. Improper uses or disclosures under the rule are subject to criminal and civil sanctions prescribed in HIPAA.
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
The Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C. collects health information from you, and stores it in a chart and computer. This is a medical record. The medical record is the property of The Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C. but the information in the medical record belongs to you. The Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C. protects the privacy of your health information. The law permits the Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C. to use or disclose your health information for the following purposes:
We may use or disclose your health care information without authorization for the purpose of coordinating a treatment plan (e.g. to have prescriptions filled,) payment for services (e.g. to bill your health plan,) and to evaluate the quality of care you receive (e.g. to evaluate staff performance) including conducting training programs in which students, trainees or practitioners in areas of health care, learn under supervision to practice or improve their skills. This also includes students evaluating health care career options.
We may also disclose your health information for the purpose of:
- Research - e.g. effects of medication on the healing process
- Public Health - e.g. to prevent or control disease, injury or disability
- Auditing - e.g. information to allow the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws
- Law Enforcement - e.g. to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person
- Emergencies - e.g. to avert a serious threat to the health and safety of you, another person or the public
- Workers Compensation - e.g. information about work related injuries
- Inmates - e.g. for the correctional institution to protect your health and safety
We are required by law to provide medical information that is court ordered and or requested by law enforcement officials.
No other use or disclosure above will be made without your written authorization before disclosing protected health care information. You have the right to revoke such an authorization in writing and we will honor your request, except under uncontrollable circumstances in which we acted upon your initial authorization.
We reserve the right to change our policies at any time. If a significant change is made to our policy it will be posted immediately in a conspicuous place in the Clinic. If you have questions regarding our practices, please contact our privacy officer listed below.
Individual Rights
You have the right to:
- Request to inspect and/or copy your health records.
- Request an accounting of disclosure of health records.
- Request to amend your health records.
- Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures or the manner or method of protected health care information. The Clinic is not required to honor a requested restriction.
- Receive confidential communications of protected health care information under certain circumstances.
- File complaints regarding privacy and/or unauthorized disclosure of protected health care information.
- Request a written copy of the health care organization's privacy practices.
Complaints
If you are concerned that we have violated your privacy rights, and or would like to express a concern regarding our privacy practices, you may report your complaint in writing to our privacy officer at the address listed below. Please ask for the privacy officer listed below for assistance in filing a complaint. You may also send a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the following address.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil
Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free 1-877-696-6775
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Our Legal Duty
We are required by law to protect the privacy of your information, provide this notice about our practices and to follow the guidelines described in this notice.
Comments to:
Privacy Officer
Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C.
1104 West 8th Street
Yankton, SD 57078
(605)665-7841
