Patient Privacy Regulations
Many people are aware that patient privacy regulations exist, but there are a lot of misconceptions about what these regulations are. HIPAA is the acronym that stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and is the law governing patient privacy.
Following is an overview of the HIPAA regulations and notice of Memorial Medical Center’s privacy practices. This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.
Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan uses health information about you
• for treatment
• to obtain payment for treatment
• for administrative purposes
• and to evaluate the quality of care that you receive
Your health information is contained in a medical record that is the physical property of Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan.
How Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan May Use or Disclose Your Health Information
For Treatment. Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan may use your health information to provide you with medical treatment or services. For example, information obtained by a health care provider, such as a physician, nurse, or other person providing health services to you, will record information in your record that is related to your treatment. This information is necessary for health care providers to determine what treatment you should receive. Health care providers will also record actions take by them in the course of your treatment and note how you respond to the actions.
For Payment. Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan may use and disclose your health information to others for purposes of receiving payment for treatment and services that you receive. For example, a bill may be sent to you or a third-party payor, such as an insurance company or health plan. The information on the bill may contain information that identifies you, your diagnosis, and treatment or supplies used in the course of treatment.
For Health Care Operations. Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan may use and disclose health information about you for operational purposes. For example, your health information may be disclosed to members of the medical staff, risk or quality improvement personnel, and others to:
• evaluate the performance of our staff;
• assess the quality of care and outcomes in your cases and similar cases;
• learn how to improve our facilities and services; and
• determine how to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the health care we provide.
Appointments. Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan may use your information to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
Fund Raising. Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan may use your information to contact you to raise funds for Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan.
Required by law. Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan may use and disclose information about you as required by law. For example, Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan may disclose information for the following purposes:
for judicial and administrative proceedings pursuant to legal authority;
to report information related to victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violence; and
to assist law enforcement officials in their law enforcement duties;
Public Health. Your health information may be used or disclosed for public health activities such as assisting public health authorities or other legal authorities to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability, or for other health oversight activities.
Decedents. Health information may be disclosed to funeral directors or coroners to enable them to carry out their lawful duties.
Organ/Tissue Donation. Your health information may be used or disclosed for cadaveric organ, eye or tissue donation purposes.
Research. Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan may use your health information for research purposes when an institutional review board or privacy board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information has approved the research.
Health and Safety. Your health information may be disclosed to avert a serious threat to the health or safety of you or any other person pursuant to applicable law.
Government Functions. Your health information may be disclosed for specialized government functions such as protection of public officials or reporting to various branches of the armed services.
Workers' Compensation. Your health information may be used or disclosed in order to comply with laws and regulations related to Workers' Compensation.
Other uses. Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization and you may revoke the authorization except to the extent Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan has taken action in reliance on such.
Your Health Information Rights
You have the right to:
• request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures or your information as provided by 45 C.F.R. §164.522; however, Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan is not required to agree to a requested restriction;
• obtain a paper copy of the notice of information practices upon request;
• inspect and obtain a copy of your health record as provided for in 45 C.F.R. §164.524;
• request that your health record be amended as provided in 45 C.F.R. §164.526;
• request communications of your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations; and
• receive an accounting of disclosures made of your health information as provided by 45 C.F.R. §164.528.
Complaints
You may complain to Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan and to the Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Obligations of Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan
Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan is required by law to:
• maintain the privacy of protected health information;
• provide you with this notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information;
• abide by the terms of this notice;
• notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction on how your information is used or disclosed;
• accommodate reasonable requests you may make to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations; and
• Memorial Medical Center of West Michigan reserves the right to change its information practices and to make the new provisions effective for all protected health information it maintains. Revised notices will be made available.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or complaints, please contact Memorial Medical Center 's Privacy Officer at 231-845-2318.