Ocean Health Center – Address: 1323 SE 3rd Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Adam Fackler D.C. – Phone: (954)-399-8070

Effective Date: August 8, 2013

THIS NOTICE EXPLAINS THE USAGE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THE PROCEDURES TO ACCESS SUCH INFORMATION. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.

We acknowledge the significance of privacy and are dedicated to upholding the confidentiality of your medical data. We create a documented record of the medical treatment we administer and may acquire records from external sources. These records are employed to offer or facilitate superior healthcare provision by other medical practitioners, to obtain reimbursement for services rendered within the boundaries of your healthcare plan, and to fulfill our professional and legal obligations in running this medical practice appropriately. By law, we are obligated to safeguard protected health information, provide individuals with notification of our legal responsibilities and privacy protocols concerning protected health information, and inform affected individuals following any unauthorized exposure of unsecured protected health information. This notification outlines how we may utilize and divulge your medical information. It also elucidates your rights and our legal obligations concerning your medical data. Should you have any inquiries regarding this notification, kindly reach out to our aforementioned Privacy Officer.

CONTENTS

1. Utilization or Disclosure of Your Health Information by this Medical Facility
2. Instances Where Your Health Information Will Not be Utilized or Disclosed by this Medical Facility
3. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
4. Requesting Additional Privacy Safeguards
5. Requesting Confidential Communications
6. Access and Copying Rights
7. Amendment or Supplement Request Rights
8. Accounting of Disclosures Rights
9. Obtaining a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Privacy Notice
10. Modifications to this Privacy Notice
11. Filing Complaints

A. How This Medical Practice May Utilize or Disclose Your Health Information

This medical facility gathers health-related data about you and archives it in both physical and digital formats. This compilation of information constitutes your medical record. While the medical record is the property of this practice, the contents of the record belong to you. According to legal provisions, we are permitted to employ or disclose your health information for the following purposes:

1. Provision of Medical Care: We utilize your medical information to deliver the necessary medical care. This involves sharing relevant information with our staff members and other healthcare providers involved in your treatment. For instance, we may share your medical details with other physicians or healthcare professionals who provide services beyond our scope. Similarly, we may disclose this information to pharmacists responsible for dispensing prescriptions, or laboratories conducting tests. In certain situations, we might also disclose your medical information to family members or individuals assisting you during illness, injury, or posthumously.

2. Payment Processing: We employ and disclose your medical information to facilitate payment for the services we provide. This includes furnishing your health plan with the necessary details for reimbursement. Additionally, we may disclose information to other healthcare providers to assist in their own payment collection processes.

3. Health Care Operations: To ensure the smooth functioning of this medical practice, we may utilize and disclose your medical information for operational purposes. This includes reviewing and enhancing the quality of care, assessing the competence and qualifications of our staff, obtaining authorization for services or referrals, conducting medical reviews, engaging legal services, performing audits (including fraud and abuse detection), and managing the business aspects of our practice. We may also share your medical information with our “business associates,” such as billing services, which provide administrative support. All our business associates are bound by written contracts that require them and their subcontractors to uphold the confidentiality and security of your protected health information. Furthermore, we may share information with other healthcare providers, clearinghouses, or health plans associated with you when they require such data for quality assessment, patient safety, population health improvement, protocol development, case management, care coordination, professional evaluations, training programs, accreditation, certification, licensing activities, or healthcare fraud and abuse detection.

4. Appointment Reminders: We may use and disclose your medical information to remind you about upcoming appointments. If you are unavailable, we may leave a message on your answering machine or with the person answering your phone.

5. Sign-In Sheet: For administrative purposes, we may request that you sign in upon your arrival at our office. Additionally, we may call out your name when it is time for your appointment.

6. Family Notification and Communication: In certain circumstances, we may disclose your health information to notify your family, personal representative, or someone responsible for your care regarding your location, general condition, or, unless specified otherwise, in the event of your demise. During emergencies or disasters, we may disclose information to relief organizations for coordination purposes. We may also share information with individuals involved in your care or responsible for payment. If you are capable of providing consent or objection, we will afford you the opportunity to object before making such disclosures. However, in emergencies, we may disclose the information despite your objection if it is necessary to respond promptly.

7. Treatment-related Communications: Provided that we do not receive any payment, we may contact you to furnish information about products or services relevant to your treatment, case management, or care coordination. We may also recommend other treatments, therapies, healthcare providers, or care settings that may be of interest. Additionally, we may describe products or services offered by our practice, inform you about the health plans we participate in, encourage healthy lifestyles and recommended tests, provide small gifts, share information about government-sponsored health programs, or recommend the purchase of certain products or services. However, we will not engage in marketing activities or accept payment for marketing communications without obtaining your prior written authorization. Any authorization granted will explicitly state whether we receive compensation for authorized marketing activities, and you have the right to revoke such authorization, thereby ceasing any future marketing endeavors.

8. Sale of Health Information: We will not sell your health information without your explicit written consent. The authorization will specify the compensation received in exchange for selling your information, and we will discontinue any future sale upon revocation of the authorization, as required by law. We will adhere to the relevant legal requirements when using or disclosing your health information.

9. Public Health: We may, and are sometimes obligated by law, to disclose your health information to public health authorities for purposes like disease prevention or control, reporting abuse or neglect, reporting domestic violence, reporting problems with products or medication reactions to the Food and Drug Administration, and reporting disease or infection exposure. In instances of suspected abuse or domestic violence, we will promptly inform you or your personal representative, unless it could potentially place you at serious risk or involve informing a personal representative responsible for the abuse or harm.

10. Health Oversight Activities: As part of audits, investigations, inspections, licensure processes, and similar proceedings, we may disclose your health information to health oversight agencies, subject to legal limitations.

11. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: When authorized by a court or administrative order, we may disclose your health information in the course of any administrative or judicial proceeding. This may include responding to subpoenas, discovery requests, or lawful processes after making reasonable efforts to notify you and address any objections you may have.

12. Law Enforcement: In specific situations outlined by law, we may disclose your health information to law enforcement officials. This includes identifying or locating suspects, fugitives, material witnesses, and missing persons, and complying with court orders, warrants, subpoenas, or other law enforcement requirements.

13. Coroners: In the course of their investigations into deaths, we may disclose your health information to coroners, as mandated by law.

14. Organ or Tissue Donation: To facilitate organ or tissue procurement, banking, or transplantation, we may disclose your health information to the respective organizations involved.

15. Public Safety: When it is necessary to prevent or mitigate a serious and imminent threat to an individual’s or the general public’s health or safety, we may disclose your health information to the appropriate individuals or authorities, as mandated by law.

16. Proof of Immunization: If you have consented on your behalf or on behalf of your dependent, we will disclose proof of immunization to schools requiring such documentation for student admission.

17. Specialized Government Functions: Your health information may be disclosed for military or national security purposes, or to correctional institutions or law enforcement officers with lawful custody over you.

18. Workers’ Compensation: In compliance with workers’ compensation laws, we may disclose your health information as necessary. For example, if your care is covered by workers’ compensation, we may periodically report your condition to your employer. We are also legally obligated to report cases of occupational injury or illness to your employer or workers’ compensation insurer.

19. Change of Ownership: In the event of a sale or merger involving this medical practice, your health information/record will become the property of the new owner. However, you retain the right to request the transfer of copies of your health information to another physician or medical group.

20. Breach Notification: In the event of a breach of unsecured protected health information, we will comply with the legal requirement to notify you. If you have provided us with an up-to-date email address, we may communicate breach-related information via email. Alternatively, our business associate may handle the notification. We may also employ other appropriate methods for notification.

B. Under normal circumstances, this medical facility will not utilize or disclose your identifiable health information without your written consent, unless it is permitted or required by law.

This means that your information will remain confidential and protected, and we will adhere to our legal obligations regarding the use and disclosure of your health data. However, if you choose to grant authorization for the use or disclosure of your health information for a specific purpose, you have the right to revoke that authorization in writing at any time

C. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

1. Right to Request Special Privacy Protections: You have the right to request limitations on the use and disclosure of specific health information. This can be done by submitting a written request specifying the information you want to restrict and the limitations you wish to impose. We will respect your request unless there are treatment or legal reasons that require disclosure. Our decision on accepting or rejecting other requests will be communicated to you.

2. Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that your health information be communicated to you in a specific manner or at a designated location. For instance, you can ask us to send information to a particular email address or your workplace. We will fulfill reasonable written requests that specify your preferred method or location for receiving communications.

3. Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to access and obtain copies of your health information, with a few exceptions. To exercise this right, you must submit a written request indicating the specific information you want to access, whether you prefer to inspect it or receive a copy, and your desired form and format for the copy. We will provide the information in the requested format if readily available. If not, we will offer an alternative format that you find acceptable. Additionally, we can send a copy to another person designated by you in writing. A reasonable fee may be charged to cover labor, supplies, postage, and preparation of an explanation or summary if requested. In certain circumstances, we may deny your request, and if so, you have the right to appeal. If access to a child’s or incapacitated adult’s records is denied due to potential harm, you can challenge our decision. Similarly, if access to psychotherapy notes is denied, you can request their transfer to another mental health professional.

4. Right to Amend or Supplement: You have the right to request amendments to your health information that you believe to be incorrect or incomplete. To do so, submit a written request stating the specific information to be amended and the reasons for the inaccuracy or incompleteness. We may not be obligated to make changes but will provide information about the denial and the process for disagreeing with it. Grounds for denial include the unavailability of information, information not created by us (unless the creating party is unavailable to make the amendment), restrictions on access, or if the information is accurate and complete as is. If your request is denied, you can submit a written statement of disagreement, and we may provide a written rebuttal. All relevant information regarding amendment requests will be retained and disclosed alongside the disputed information.

5. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to receive a record of disclosures of your health information made by this medical practice, except for disclosures made to you or authorized by you in writing, as outlined in paragraphs 1 (treatment), 2 (payment), 3 (health care operations), 6 (notification and communication with family), and 18 (specialized government functions) of Section A of this Notice of Privacy Practices. Research or public health disclosures without direct patient identifiers, incidental disclosures permitted by law, and disclosures to health oversight agencies or law enforcement officials that would be impeded by accounting for them are also excluded.

6. Right to a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice: You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices, explaining our legal duties and privacy practices concerning your health information. Even if you have previously requested electronic delivery, we will provide a paper copy upon request.