| St. Catherine Hospital is required to provide you with a notice of
its privacy practices because of a federal law called the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA. St. Catherine Hospital
and the physicians, employees, volunteers and other health providers
that we have relationships with are required to abide by the privacy
practices that are explained in the Notice of Privacy Practices. The
Notice of Privacy Practices (Notice) is a lengthy document, and this
letter summarizes what is in the Notice. We suggest that you take some
time to read the full Notice when it is more convenient for you.
State and federal laws regulate how St. Catherine Hospital uses,
releases and keeps your health information. When you come to St.
Catherine Hospital or seek health care services, you give our staff
personal health information so that we can provide you with appropriate,
quality medical care. We are permitted by law to use your health
information for your treatment, to share your health information
with other health care providers involved with your care, and to
use your health information to obtain payment from your insurer or
other payer. We also use your health information to run our business.
Some examples of ways that St. Catherine Hospital is permitted to
use your health information include appointment reminders and quality
improvement activities. St. Catherine Hospital is also permitted
to release your health information to members of your family or friends
for continuing treatment; to visitors who ask for you by name; to
clergy, funeral directors and organ procurement organizations; and
to insurance providers.
St. Catherine Hospital reports your health information to various
organizations as required by state or federal laws. We are required
to report births, deaths, communicable diseases, suspected child
abuse, suspected neglect and medication and medical equipment recalls
or problems to state and federal agencies. St. Catherine Hospital
is also required to provide your health information to state and
federal health oversight agencies, courts, judicial systems, law
enforcement officials and national security and intelligence agencies
when requested.
You must provide written authorization for any other use or release
of your health information that is not required or permitted by law.
For example, we would need your authorization before we would use
or release your health information in response to a request by an
attorney to review your records for a proposed legal proceeding.
Also, you may revoke an authorization at any time by writing to us.
You have certain rights regarding the health information we maintain
about you, including the right to review your information and to
make copies of it.
You have the right to ask that certain portions of your health information
be amended or corrected if you feel that the information is incorrect; to
place certain restrictions on who can use your health information; and to
specify where you want your health information to be sent or communicated
to you. You have the right to request a list of persons or entities that
have seen your health information. You also have the right to file a complaint
with us or with the Department of Health and Human Services if you feel that
your rights may have been violated.
This is only a summary of the information contained in St. Catherine
Hospital’s Notice of Privacy Practices. We recommend that you
take time to read the full Notice to become informed of our practices
and the ways in which we may use and release your health information.
If you have specific questions, concerns or complaints regarding
this Notice, please contact our Privacy Official at 620-272-2173.
reports your health information to various organizations as required
by state or federal laws. We are required to report births, deaths,
communicable diseases, suspected child abuse, suspected neglect and
medication and medical equipment recalls or problems to state and
federal agencies. St. Catherine Hospital is also required to provide
your health information to state and federal health oversight agencies,
courts, judicial systems, law enforcement officials and national
security and intelligence agencies when requested.
You must provide written authorization for any other use or release
of your health information that is not required or permitted by law.
For example, we would need your authorization before we would use
or release your health information in response to a request by an
attorney to review your records for a proposed legal proceeding.
Also, you may revoke an authorization at any time by writing to us.
You have certain rights regarding the health information we maintain
about you, including the right to review your information and to
make copies of it.
You have the right to ask that certain portions of your health information
be amended or corrected if you feel that the information is incorrect; to
place certain restrictions on who can use your health information; and to
specify where you want your health information to be sent or communicated
to you. You have the right to request a list of persons or entities that
have seen your health information. You also have the right to file a complaint
with us or with the Department of Health and Human Services if you feel that
your rights may have been violated.
This is only a summary of the information contained in St. Catherine
Hospital’s Notice of Privacy Practices. We recommend that you
take time to read the full Notice to become informed of our practices
and the ways in which we may use and release your health information.
If you have specific questions, concerns or complaints regarding
this Notice, please contact our Privacy Official at 620-272-2173.
|