Our Privacy Policy

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS

INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Understanding Your Health Record/Information

Each time you visit a hospital, physician, or other healthcare provider, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment.
This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, serves as a:
•Basis for planning your care and treatment
•Means of communication among the many health professionals who contribute to your care
•Legal document describing the care provided to you
•Means by which you or a third party payer can verify that services billed were actually provided
•A tool in educating health professionals
•A source of data for medical research
•A source of information for public health officials charged with improving the health of the nation
•A source of data for facility planning and marketing
•A tool with which we can assess and continually work to improve the care we render and the outcomes we achieve

Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to:
•Ensure its accuracy
•Better understand who, what, when, where, and why others may access your information
•Make more informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others

Your Health Information Rights

Although your health record is the physical property of South Central Regional Medical Center or its properties, the information belongs to you.  You have the right to:
•Request a restriction on certain uses and disclosures of your information
•Obtain a paper copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices on request or an electronic copy at our website, www.scrmc.com
•Inspect and request a copy of your health record (We may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request)
•Request an amendment of your health record if you feel that the medical information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete
•Obtain an accounting of disclosures of your health information
•Request communications of your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations
•Revoke your authorization to use or disclose health information except to the extent that action has already been taken

Our Responsibilities

SCRMC is dedicated to protecting your medical information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices with respect to protected health information. 

SCRMC is required by law to abide by the terms of this Notice, making any revision applicable to all the protected information we maintain. If we revise the terms of this Notice, we will post a revised notice at SCRMC and all properties.  We will make paper copies of this Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information available upon request.  We will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this Notice. Once given, you may revoke your authorization in writing at any time.

For More Information or to Report a Problem

If you have questions and would like additional information, you may contact our Privacy Officer at (601) 426-4508. 

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the Privacy Officer at SCRMC or with the Secretary of Health and Human Services.  There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.

Examples of Disclosures for Treatment, Payment and Healthcare Operations

We will use your health information for treatment purposes.
 
For example: Your family physician admits you to SCRMC with  pneumonia.  During your admission, your doctor may refer you to a pulmonary specialist.  In order to recover from the pneumonia, you may need treatment by a respiratory therapist.  Your information will be shared among those on our healthcare team who are involved in your care.

For example: You are transported to our emergency room after sustaining burns in a house fire. You are transferred to a facility which specializes in burn injuries.  Your information will be provided to that facility in order to continue your care.

We will use your health information for payment.

For example: A bill may be sent to you or a third-party payer. The information on or accompanying the bill may include information that identifies you, as well as your diagnosis, procedures, and supplies used.

We will use your health information for regular healthcare operations.

For example: Members of the medical staff, risk manager, or quality improvement team may use information in your record to assess the care and outcomes of your case and others like it. This information will then be used in an effort to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the healthcare and service we provide.

Business Associates: There are some services provided in our organization through contacts with business associates. 

Examples include physician services in the emergency room, reference laboratories, and radiology services. When these services are contracted, we may disclose your health information to our business associate so that they can perform the job we've asked them to do and bill you or your third-party payer for services rendered.  For your protection, we require our business associates to appropriately safeguard your information.
Directory: Unless you notify us that you object, we will use your name, location in the facility and religious affiliation for directory purposes.  This information may be provided to members of the clergy and, except for religious affiliation, to other people who ask for you by name. Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care: We may release medical information about you to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care or who helps pay for your care. We may also tell your family or friends your condition and that you are in the hospital. In addition, we may disclose information about you to assist in disaster relief efforts.

Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors: We will release medical information to a coroner or medical examiner consistent with applicable state law to carry out their duties. We may also release medical information about patients of the hospital to funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.

Organ Procurement Organizations: Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose health information to organ procurement organizations.

Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit or dispute, we may disclose information about you in response to an administrative order, court order, or valid subpoena.

Marketing: We may contact to you to provide appointment reminders or information about services that may be of benefit and/or interest to you.

Workers' Compensation: We may disclose health information to the extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to workers' compensation or other similar programs established by law.

Public Health: As required by law, we may disclose your health information for public health activities, including the reporting of disease, injury, vital events and the conduct of public health surveillance, investigation and/or intervention. 

We may disclose your medical information concerning abuse, neglect or violence in accordance with federal and state law.

Follow-up Activities: We may contact you to obtain follow-up for certain conditions diagnosed and/or treated at SCRMC.

Correctional Institution: Should you be an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or agents thereof health information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals.

Law Enforcement: We may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes as required by law or in response to a valid subpoena.

Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose medical information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include audits, investigations, inspections and licensure.

Military and Veterans: If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release medical information about you as required by military command authorities.

National Security and Intelligence Activities: We may release medical information about you to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities authorized by law.


Effective Date: June 1, 2002
Version Number: 0001