Click here for an easy to print
PDF version of this document.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY

POLICIES FOR

 

 

 

Providing quality healthcare services

at the following Naples locations:

 

400 8th St. North

 

1044 Goodlette Rd. North

 

4035 Santa Barbara Blvd.

 

11181 Health Park Blvd.

 

 

AS REQUIRED BY HIPAA (HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT), THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

At Naples Medical Center we are committed to treating and using protected health information about you responsibly. This notice of Health Information Practices describes the personal information we collect, and how or 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 14, 2003 and applies to all protected health information as defined by federal regulations.

 

UNDERSTANDING YOUR HEALTH RECORD/INFORMATION

 

Each time you visit Naples Medical Center, 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 the care you received

·          Means by which you or a third-party payer can verify that the services billed were actually provided

·          A tool in educating health professionals

·          A source of data for medical research

·          A source of information for  public health officials charged with improving the health of this state and the nation

·          A source of data for our planning and marketing

·          A 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.

 

Although your health record is the physical property of Naples Medical Center, the information 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

·          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 communication 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.

 

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Naples Medical Center 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 restriction

·          Accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations

 

Naples Medical Center reserves the right to change our practices and to make the new provisions effective for all protected health information we maintain. We will provide you the most recently revised notice on any office visit. The revised policies and practices will be applied to all Protected Health Information we maintain.

 

Naples Medical Center will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this notice. We will also discontinue using or disclosing your health information after we have received a written revocation of the authorization according to the procedures included in the authorization

 

REPORT A PROBLEM

 

If you have questions and would like additional information, you may contact the Naples Medical Center Privacy Officer, at (239)649-3348.

 

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the Naples Medical Center’s Privacy Officer or with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

EXAMPLES OF DISCLOSURES FOR TREATMENT,

PAYMENT AND HEALTH OPERATIONS

 

Naples Medical Center will use your health information for treatment.

 

For example: Information obtained by a nurse, physician, or other member of your health care team will be recorded in your record and used to determine the course of treatment that should work best for you.

 

Naples Medical Center will also provide physician or health care providers we refer you to with copies of various reports that should assist him or her in treating you.

 

Naples Medical Center will use your health information for payment.

 

For example: A bill may be sent to you or a third-party payer.

The information on or accompanying the bill may include information that identifies you, as well as your diagnoses, procedures, and supplies used.

 

Naples Medical Center will use your health information for regular health operations.

 

For example: Members of the Naples Medical Center medical staff, the risk or quality improvement manager, or members of the quality improvement team may use information in your health record to assess the care and outcomes in your case and others like it. The information will then be used in an effort to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the healthcare and service Naples Medical Center provides.

 

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES

 

There are some services provided in our organization through contacts with business associates. Examples include radiology services, certain laboratory tests, medical transcribers and a copy service we use when we copy your health record. We may disclose your health information to our business associates so that they can perform the job that we’ve asked them to do and bill you or your third-party payer for services rendered. To protect your health information, however, we require the business associate to appropriately safeguard your information.

 

NOTIFICATION

 

Naples Medical Center may use or disclose information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for your care, your location, and general condition.

 

COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILY

 

Health professionals, using their best judgment, may disclose to a family member, other relative, close personal friend, or any other person you identify, health information relevant to that person’s involvement in your care or payment related to your care.

 

RESEARCH

 

Naples Medical Center may disclose information to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information.

 

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

 

Naples Medical Center may disclose health information to funeral directors consistent with applicable law to carry out their duties.

 

ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATIONS

 

Consistent with applicable law, Naples Medical Center

may disclose health information to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.

 

MARKETING

 

Naples Medical Center may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

 

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)

 

Naples Medical Center may disclose to the FDA health information relative to adverse events with respect to food, supplements, product and product defects, or post marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs, or replacement.

 

WORKERS COMPENSATION

 

Naples Medical Center may disclose health information to the extent necessary to comply with  laws relating to workers compensation or other similar programs established by law.

 

PUBLIC HEALTH

 

As required by law, Naples Medical Center may disclose your health information to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.

 

LAW ENFORCEMENT

 

Naples Medical Center may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes as required by law or in response to a valid subpoena.

 

Federal law makes provisions for your health information to be released to an appropriate health oversight agency, public health authority, or attorney, provided that a workforce member or business associate believes in good faith that we have engaged in unlawful conduct or have otherwise violated professional or clinical standards and are potentially endangering one or more patients, workers, or the public.