Southwest Florida Spine & Joint, doing business as Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida Notice of HIPAA Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW CERTAIN MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.   To the extent we request and obtain any personal healthcare information (“PHI”) about your medical history and current health that may be protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and applicable state law, this Notice of Privacy Practices explains how that information may be used and shared with others. It also explains your privacy rights regarding this information. Under HIPAA, certain parties that obtain PHI entities are required by law to abide by the terms of this Notice, to make sure that information that identifies you is kept private, and to provide this Notice of our legal duties and practices with respect to PHI about you. We are also required to notify you in the event there is a breach of your health information. Uses and Disclosures of your Health Information. We may use PHI to carry out treatment, payment and health care operations.

• Treatment is the provision, coordination or management of health care. For example, we may use and disclose your information to consult with a third party or to refer you to other health care providers.
• Payment includes the activities necessary to obtain reimbursement for the provision of health care. For example, we may need to give your health plan information about treatment you received so your health plan will pay us or reimburse you for the treatment.
• Health care operations include the activities necessary for Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida to run its business operations. For example, we may use your information to review treatment and services and to evaluate the performance of our staff.

We may use or disclose your health information:

• When required by federal, state, or local law.
• To support public health activities by reporting as required or authorized by state or federal law. These reports may include the reporting of exposure to a communicable disease or risk of spreading a disease or condition.
• To cooperate with law enforcement officials for certain law enforcement purposes as directed by a court order, warrant, criminal subpoena, or other lawful process.
• To report abuse or neglect.
• To support health oversight activities that are authorized by law, such as administrative or criminal investigations, inspections, licensure or disciplinary actions and other similar activities necessary for appropriate oversight of government benefit programs or functions.
• When required by a coroner or medical examiner for the purpose of identifying a deceased person, determining a cause of death or other duties as required by law.
• When necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health and safety of a person or the public and the disclosure is to a person reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat, as consistent with applicable law and standards.
• • For judicial or administrative proceedings, in response to a valid court order, administrative order, a grand jury subpoena, or with your written consent.
  • For research purposes, with your written authorization or as permitted by law.
  • To business associates to perform functions on Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida’s behalf, if the business associate has signed an agreement to protect the confidentiality of the information.
  We may disclose your health information to a family member, other relatives, or a close friend or any other person you identify if the information relates to that person’s involvement in your health care if you consent to such a disclosure. If you are unable to agree or object to the use or disclosure, we may disclose such information as necessary if we determine that it is in your best interest. We May Use or Disclose Your Health Information for Other Purposes Only with Your Authorization Your written authorization to use and disclose your health information is required in order for us to:
  • Use and disclose psychotherapy notes containing your health information (to the extent we hold any).
  • Send marketing communications to you. If we will receive payment for making a marketing communication, we will state this in the authorization.
  • Receive payment in exchange for your health information.
  In addition to the above situations, any other uses and disclosures of your health information not described elsewhere in this Notice will be made only with your prior written authorization. Patient Rights 
  • Inspect and obtain a copy of your health information.You have a right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health information that is used to make decisions about your care for as long as Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida maintains the information. You may request an electronic copy of this health information that we maintain electronically. This right does not apply to certain health information, including information compiled in reasonable anticipation of or for litigation. Requests for access to health information should be made in writing to the Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida’s Privacy Office. You may also ask us to provide a copy of this health information to another person. In that case, your written request must be signed by you, must clearly identify the person to whom you want us to send the copy of your health information, and must state where the copy is to be sent. If access is denied, you will be provided with a written explanation that sets forth the basis for the denial, a description of how you may review those rights and a description of how you may complain.
  • Request an amendment.You have the right to request that Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida amend your health information if it is incorrect or incomplete. Requests for amendment of information should be made in writing to Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida, Privacy Office, and you must provide a reason that supports your request to have the information changed. Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida may deny your request for an amendment if the request is not in writing and submitted to the Privacy Office. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that: (a) was not created by Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida (unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make the amendment); (b) is not part of the medical information kept by Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida; (c) is not part of the information you would be permitted to inspect and copy; or (d) is accurate and complete.
  Receive an accounting of disclosures. At your request, Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida will provide you with an accounting of disclosures by Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida of your health information during the six years prior to the date of your request. However, such accounting will not include certain disclosures, such as those made: 1) to carry out treatment, payment or be posted in a clear and prominent location. You may access the notice by visiting our website at: www.spineandjointofswfl.com   Complaints, Questions, and Requests You may direct your questions about this Notice, privacy practices, requests regarding your information, or other privacy or confidentiality concerns to: Spine and Joint of Southwest Florida office@spineandjointofswfl.com