This notice describes how your health information may be used and disclosed, and how you can access it. Please review it carefully.
WestWind Wellness Clinic understands that health information about you and your health care is personal. That information is often called "protected health information" or "PHI." We are committed to protecting it.
WestWind Wellness Clinic will create records of the care and services you receive from us. We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all records of your care generated by this practice.
WestWind Wellness Clinic is required by law to:
WestWind Wellness Clinic can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request in our office.
The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose health information. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.
Federal privacy rules (HIPAA regulations) allow health care providers who have a direct treatment relationship with the patient to use or disclose personal health information without written authorization to carry out treatment, payment, or health care operations. For example, if a clinician consults with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information to assist in diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition.
Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard because therapists and other health care providers need access to full and complete information in order to provide quality care. "Treatment" includes coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between providers, and referrals from one provider to another.
If you are involved in a lawsuit, we may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. We may also disclose health information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process, but only if efforts have been made to notify you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.
We keep "psychotherapy notes" as defined in 45 CFR § 164.501. Any use or disclosure of such notes requires your specific authorization unless the use or disclosure is: for our use in treating you; for training or supervising mental health practitioners; for defending ourselves in legal proceedings you institute; for use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; required by law; required for certain health oversight activities; or required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.
As a mental health clinic, we will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes without express written consent.
As a mental health clinic, we will not sell your PHI in the regular course of our business.
Subject to certain limitations in the law, we can use and disclose your PHI without your authorization for the following reasons:
When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.
For public health activities, for reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or to prevent or reduce a serious threat to anyone's health or safety.
For health oversight activities including audits and investigations. For judicial and administrative proceedings including responding to a court or administrative order, although our preference is to obtain an authorization from you before doing so.
For law enforcement purposes including reporting crimes on our premises. For coroners or medical examiners performing duties authorized by law. For specialized government functions including military missions, protecting the President, and intelligence operations.
For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.
For workers' compensation purposes, although our preference is to obtain an authorization from you. We may also use your PHI to contact you about appointments, treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits that we offer.
We may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.
You have the following rights regarding the health information we keep about you.
You have the right to ask us not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say "no" if we believe it would affect your health care.
You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.
You have the right to ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address. We will agree to all reasonable requests.
Other than "psychotherapy notes," you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that we have about you. We will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and we may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for doing so.
You have the right to request a list of instances in which WestWind Wellness Clinic has disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations. We will respond within 60 days. The list will cover disclosures made in the last six years. We will provide the list at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, we will charge a reasonable cost-based fee for each additional request.
If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing, you have the right to request that WestWind Wellness Clinic correct the existing information or add the missing information. We may say "no" to your request, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.
You have the right to get a paper or electronic copy of this Privacy Notice at any time. Please ask any member of our administrative team.
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information. By receiving services at WestWind Wellness Clinic, you acknowledge receipt of this Privacy Notice.
If you have any questions about this notice or your rights, please contact our administrative team. We are happy to assist you.
A member of our team will follow up with you shortly.