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Privacy NoticeThis notice describes how medical information about patients seen in the Campus Health Service may be used and disclosed, and how this information can be accessed... This information should be read carefully. If there are any questions about this Notice, they should be directed toward the Campus Health Service Director, Lynne Price, RN, MSN at 217-206-6676, or price.lynne@uis.edu. This notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose protected health information to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes patient rights to access and control their protected health information. “Protected health information” is information about and individual seen in the Campus Health Service, including demographic information that may identify them and that relates to their past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services. We may change the terms of our notice at any time. The new notice will be effective for all protected health information that we maintain at the time. Individuals may request any revised Notice of Privacy Practices by accessing our website at http://www.uis.edu/healthservices, calling the Campus Health Service and requesting that a revised copy be sent to them by mail or asking for one at the CHS reception desk. Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information: Protected health information may be used and disclosed by the Campus Health Service for treatment, payment or operations purposes. Following are examples of types of uses and disclosures of protected health care information that the Campus Health Service is permitted to make. These examples are not meant to be exhaustive but to describe the types of uses and disclosures that may be made by the Campus Health Service. Treatment: We will use and disclose protected health information to provide, coordinate, or manage an individual’s health care and any related services. For example, protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom an individual has been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to diagnose or treat that person. We may disclose protected health information to another physician or health care provider (e.g., a specialist or laboratory) who, at the request of the individual’s health care provider becomes involved in the individual’s care by providing assistance to that person’s physician with their health care diagnosis or treatment. Payment: The Campus Health Service does not bill third parties for services rendered. However, should circumstance require billing, an individual’s protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for their health care services. This may include certain activities that an individual’s insurance play may undertake before it approves or pays for the health care services we recommend for that person. For example, obtaining approval for a hospital stay or for a referral to a specialist may require that relevant protected health information be disclosed to the health plan. Healthcare Operations: We may use or disclose, as needed, an individual’s protected health information in order to support the business activities of the Campus Health Service practice. These activities include, but are not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, licensing and accreditation activities, marketing and conducting or arranging other business activities. For example, we may use or disclose protected health information as necessary, to e-mail a reminder to an individual of their scheduled appointment. We may also call individuals by name in the waiting room when their health care provider is ready to see them. We may leave a voice mail message on an individual’s phone asking them to contact the Campus Health Service in order to ensure adequate follow-up care. We may provide certain services through contracts with others. When services are contracted, health information may be disclosed in order to carry out specific operational functions. Whenever an arrangement for services involves the use or disclosure of an individual’s protected health information, we will have a written contract that contains terms that will protect the privacy of that person’s protected health information. For example, the Campus Health Service may have a contract with another facility to provide health care during hours when the Campus Health Service is not in operation. An individual’s protected health information may be shared with that facility. The Campus Health Service will have a written contract with the outside facility that will protect the privacy of the individual’s protected health information. We may use or disclose protected health information as necessary, to provide patients with information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to the patient. For example, protected health information may be used for mailing purposes to notify individuals when flu vaccine is available. Protected health information may be used for mailing purposes to notify individuals of any encumbrance they may have related to a deficiency in their immunizations. We may use protected health information to solicit patient feedback on services or programs they have utilized at the Campus Health Service, or that the Health Service may be considering implementing. Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information Based Upon an Individual’s Written Authorization: Other uses and disclosure of protected health information will be made only with an individual’s written authorization, unless otherwise permitted or required by law as described below. Individuals may revoke this authorization at any time, in writing, except to the extent that the Campus Health Service has taken an action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in that authorization. Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures That May Be Made With an Individual’s Consent, Authorization or Opportunity to Object:  We may use and disclose an individual’s protected health information in the following instances. An Individual has the opportunity to agree or object to the use or disclosure of all or part of their protected health information. If they are not present or able to agree or object to the use or disclosure of the protected health information, then the Campus Health Service may, using professional judgment determine whether the disclosure is in an individual’s best interest. In this case, only the protected information that is relevant to an individual’s health care will be disclosed. Others Involved in and individual’s Healthcare:  We will disclose to a member of an individual’s family, a relative, a close friend or any other person that the individual identifies, that person’s protected health information that that directly relates to that person’s involvement in their health care, only with their authorization. We may use or disclose an individual’s protected health information to an authorized public or private entity to assist in disaster relief efforts. Emergencies: We may use or disclose an individual’s protected health information in an emergency treatment situation. Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures That May Be Made Without an Individual’s Consent, Authorization or Opportunity to Object: We may use or disclose an individual’s protected health information in the following situations without their consent or authorization. These situations include: Required By Law: We may use or disclose an individual’s protected health information to the extent that the use or disclosure is required by law. The use or disclosure will be limited to the relevant requirements of the law. Public Health: We may disclose an individual’s protected health information for public health activities and purposes to a public health authority that is permitted by law to collect or receive the information. The disclosure will be made for the purposes of controlling disease, injury or disability. Communicable Disease: We may disclose an individual’s protected health information, if authorized by law, to a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease or may otherwise be at risk of contracting or spreading the disease or condition. Health Oversight: We may disclose protected health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, and inspections. Abuse or Neglect: We may disclose an individual’s protected health information to a public health authority that is authorized by law to receive reports of child abuse or neglect. In addition, we may disclose an individual’s protected health information if we believe that they have been a victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence to the governmental entity or agency authorized to receive such information. In this case, the disclosure will be made consistent with the requirements of applicable federal and state laws. Food and Drug Administration: We may disclose to the FDA health information relative to adverse events with respect to food, supplements, produce and product defects, or post marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs or replacements. Legal Proceedings: We may disclose protected health information as required by law or in response to a court order or in response to a valid subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process. Law Enforcement and criminal Activity: We may disclose protected health information, so long as applicable legal requirements are met, for law enforcement purposes. Consistent with applicable federal and state laws, we may disclose an individual’s protected health information if we believe that the use or disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public. Coroners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation: We may disclose protected health information to a coroner or medical examiner consistent with applicable law to enable them to carry out their duties. Protected health information may be used and disclosed for cadaveric organ, eye or tissue donation and transplant. Research: We may disclose an individual’s protected health information to researchers when their research has been approved by the University’s Institutional Review Board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of an individual’s protected health information.> Military Activity and National Security: When the appropriate conditions apply, we may use or disclose protected health information of individuals who are Armed Forces personnel. We may disclose protected health information to authorized federal officials for conducting national security and intelligence activities including the provision of protective services to the President or others legally authorized. Worker’s Compensation: We may disclose an individual’s protected health information as authorized to comply with worker’s compensation laws and other similar legally established programs. Individual’s Rights: Following is a statement of an individual’s rights with respect to their protected health information and a brief description of how they may exercise these rights. An individual may obtain forms for submitting a request in writing for any of the following processes from the Campus Health Service. Individuals have the right to inspect and copy their protected health information. This means they may inspect and obtain a copy of protected health information about themselves as long as we maintain the information. Certain information may not be inspected or copied, including the following: information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding; protected health information that is subject to law that prohibits access to protected health information; a psychotherapist’s personal notes. Individuals should contact the Campus Health Service Director if they have questions about access to their medical record. Individuals have the right to request restrictions of their protected health information. This means they may inspect and obtain a copy of their protected health information for the purposes of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. Individuals may also request that any part of their protected health information not be disclosed for notification purposes as described in this Notice of Privacy. The Campus Health Service is not required to agree to restrictions that individuals may request. Individuals may request a restriction by submitting their request to the Director of the Campus Health Service. Individuals have the right to request to receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location. We will accommodate reasonable requests. We will ask individuals for specification of an alternative address or other method of contact. We will not request an explanation from individuals as to the basis for this request. This request should be made in writing to the Director of the Campus Health Service. Individuals may have the right to have the Campus Health Service amend their protected health information. This means they may request and amendment of protected health information about themselves for as long as we maintain this information. Amendments to records will be made only in the instance where it is determined the information was created by the Campus Health Service and is not accurate or complete. If we deny an individual’s request for amendment, the individual has the right to file a statement of disagreement with us. Requests for amendment of protected health information must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Campus Health Service. Individuals have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any, of their protected health information. This right applies to disclosures for purposes other than treatment, payment of healthcare operations as described in this Notice of Privacy Practices. It excludes disclosures we have made to the individual or for notification purposes. Individuals have the right to receive specific information regarding these disclosures that occurred after April 14, 2003. They may request a shorter time frame. The right to receive this information is subject to certain exceptions, restrictions and limitations. Individuals have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from us. Complaints: Should an individual have questions, or if they believe their privacy rights have been violated, they can file a complaint by contacting the Campus Health Service Director at (217) 206-6676 or price.lynne@uis.edu. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint. |
