Medical Records and Privacy Practices
Medical Records and Privacy Practices
1.) Privacy.
Personal health information is defined as information concerning a patient’s/visitor's health, medical history, or past or present medical care; it is in a form that enables or could enable the patient/visitor to be identified. It includes information about an individual’s expressed wishes concerning current and future health services. All healthcare providers (HCP) and practice staff will ensure that patients/visitors can discuss issues relating to their health and that the doctor can record relevant personal health information in a setting that provides visual privacy and protects against any conversation being overheard by a third party. Staff will not enter a consultation room during a consultation without knocking or otherwise communicating with the doctor. Staff will not be present during the consultation without the prior permission of the patient/visitor.
2.) Informing new patients/visitors.
New patients and visitors will be able to review the privacy policy on the website, and if requested, it will also be explained verbally. The doctor and HCP will make a contemporaneous note in the patient’s record outlining the patient’s or visitor's consent to the collection and use of particularly sensitive information.
3.) Patient access to their personal health information.
Under privacy legislation provisions all patients/visitors have the right to access their health information stored at the practice. The treating doctor will provide an up-to-date and accurate summary of their health information only upon request to the doctor during a consultation. The treating doctor will consider all requests made by a patient/visitor for access to their medical record. In doing so, the doctor will need to consider the risk of any physical or mental harm resulting from disclosing health information. If the doctor is satisfied that the patient/visitor may safely obtain the record, then he/she will either show the patient/visitor the record or arrange for the provision of a photocopy and explain the contents to the patient/visitor. Any information provided by others (such as information provided by a referring medical practitioner or another medical specialist) is part of the health record and can be accessed by the patient/visitor. Appropriate administration costs may be charged to the patient/visitor. This center will respond to a patient’s/visitor's request for access within 7 days of receiving payment of the fee, or within 45 days of the request, whichever is the latter.
4.) Alteration of patient records
This practice will alter personal health information at the request of the patient/visitor when the request for alteration is straightforward (e.g. amending an address or telephone number). Alternatively, the patient/visitor can fill in a new patient/visitor details form to allow for changes to their records. With most requests to alter or correct information, the doctor will annotate the patient’s/visitor's record to indicate the nature of the request and whether the doctor agrees with it. For legal reasons, the doctor will not alter or erase the original entry.
5.) Confidentiality agreements
To protect personal privacy, this center's staff, including temporary or casual staff, subcontractors (e.g., software providers, etc.), and medical students sign a confidentiality agreement.
6.) Uses and Disclosures:
All healthcare providers of SOLUTIONS4MANKIND TOTAL WELLNESS CENTER are permitted by law to disclose the minimum necessary personal health information about each patient or visitor to carry out treatment, payment, and healthcare operations of the facility.
For treatment purposes, such disclosures may be made to physicians and other healthcare providers as necessary to effectuate the appropriate treatment and care of patients/visitors.
The facility may also use personal health information to carry out day-to-day operations, such as scheduling appointments, sending reminders, and reviewing quality.
7.) Required Authorizations:
The facility will not disclose any patient’s or visitor's personal health information for any purpose other than payment, treatment, and healthcare operations without the patient’s or visitor's authorization. Upon request for such authorization, the patient/visitor shall have the right to refuse and/or revoke any disclosure of the patient’s or visitor's personal health information.
8.) Privacy Compliance Per the privacy regulations promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164 (“The Privacy Regulations”), the facility has adopted privacy policies regarding the use of patients’ and visitors' personal health information. The facility complies with the Privacy Regulations and all other laws and regulations regarding patients’ and visitors' right to privacy.
9.) Medical Records
• Medical records remain the property of the center. They do not belong to the patient or visitor, although patients may have access to their records.
• Medical records are confidential and are not to be discussed with any third party. The one exception would be information given in an emergency situation to another healthcare practitioner to assist in the management of an acute problem.
• Patients/visitors who no longer attend the center can have a summary provided to another doctor or surgery upon written request.
• Records must be kept for at least seven (7) years for adults and up to twenty-five (25) years for children from the date that the patient/visitor was last provided with medical treatment or services by the doctor.
10.) Additional Information
For additional information regarding the facility’s privacy policy or a copy of this notice, please use the contact form here. The facility reserves the right to change this notice and make the revised notice effective for medical information it already has about you and for any information it receives in the future. The notice will contain the effective date.
11.) Refund policy
The only prepayment request via our website is for submitting and reviewing our questionnaire. Reviewing and analyzing the 80 fields takes time. There will be no reimbursement once you have successfully paid and submitted the questionnaire. However, if you do not submit the questionnaire, conditionally, the maximum reimbursed amount will be up to equivalent USD $161.50 will be refunded. The condition is that the request needs to be submitted within 12 hours of the payment.