Notice of Privacy Practices

Hand & Ortho takes HIPAA and your privacy as a patient very seriously. Below you will find our entire Notice of Privacy Practices, which details how we keep your information safe and how we adhere to federal rules and regulations. 

At your scheduled evaluation, we will ask you to sign a document that agrees that you have read and understand this Notice. We will have a laminated copy available at the clinic, and a member of our front desk staff is available to assist you with any questions or concerns. We are also happy to give you a paper copy if that is your preference.

If you have any questions about anything in regards to our Privacy Practices or to report an incident, please contact Margo Brady at 801-261-3321.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES 

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

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) is a federal program that requires that all medical records and other individually identifiable health information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally, are kept properly confidential.  This Act gives you, the patient, significant new rights to understand and control how your health information is used.  “HIPAA” provides penalties for covered entities that misuse personal health information.

As required, we have prepared this explanation of how we are required to maintain this privacy of your health information and how we may use and disclose your health information. We may use and disclose your medical records only for each of the following purposes:  treatment, payment and health care operations. We may also create and distribute de-identified health information by removing all references to individually identifiable information. We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you. Any other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization.  You may revoke such authorization in writing and we are required to honor and abide by that written request, except to the extent that we have already taken actions relying on your authorization.

You have the following rights with respect to your protected health information, which you can exercise by presenting a written request to the Privacy Officer:

The right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of protected health information, including those related to  disclosures to family members, other relatives, close personal friends, or any other person identified by you.  We are, however, not required to agree to a requested restriction.  If we do agree to a restriction, we must abide by it unless you agree in writing to remove it.

The right to reasonable requests to receive confidential communications of protected health information from us by alternative means or at alternative locations.

The right to inspect and copy your protected health information.

The right to amend your protected health information.

The right to receive an accounting of disclosures of protected health information.

The right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from us upon request.

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information. This notice is effective as of the day signed, and we are required to abide by the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices currently in effect.  We reserve the right to change the terms of our Notice of Privacy Practices and to make the new notice provisions effective for all protected health information that we maintain.  We will post and you may request a written copy of a revised Notice of Privacy Practices from this office.

You have recourse if you feel that your privacy protections have been violated.  You have the right to file written complaint with our office, or with the Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, about violations of the provisions of this notice or the policies and procedures of our office.  We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

For more information about HIPPA or to file a complaint please contact Margo Brady, Privacy Officer (801) 261-3321.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

I understand that, under the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), I have certain rights to privacy regarding my protected health information.  I understand that this information can and will be used to:

Conduct, plan and direct my treatment and follow-up among the multiple healthcare providers who may be involved in that treatment directly and indirectly

Obtain payment from third-party payers

Conduct normal healthcare operations such as quality assessments and physician certifications