Privacy Practices
STATEMENT OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Alderwood Endodontics is dedicated protect the privacy rights of our patients and the confidential information that you have entrusted to us. The commitment of each employee to ensure that your health information is never compromised is a principle concept of our practice. We may, from time to time, amend our privacy policies and practices but will always inform you of any changes that might affect your rights.
PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
We use and disclose the information we collect from you only as allowed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the State of Washington. This includes issues relating to your treatment, payment and our dental care protocol. Your personal health information will never be otherwise given to anyone, even family members without your written consent. Of course, you may give written authorization for us to disclose your information to anyone you choose, for any purpose.
Our offices and electronic systems are secure from unauthorized access and our employees are trained to make certain that the confidentiality of your records is always protected. Our privacy policy and practices apply to all former, current, and future employees, so you can be confident that your protected health information will never be improperly disclosed or released.
COLLECTING PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
We will only request personal information needed to provide our standard of quality dental care, implement payment activities, conduct normal dental practice operations, and comply with the law. This may include your name, address, telephone number(s), Social Security Number, employment information, medical history, health records, etc. While most of the information will be collected from you, we may obtain information from third parties, if it is deemed necessary. Regardless of the source, your personal information will always be protected to the full extent of the law.
DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
As stated above, we may disclose information as required by law. We are obligated to provide information to law enforcement and governmental personnel under certain circumstances. We will not use your information for marketing purposes without your written consent. We may use and/or disclose your health information to communicate reminders about your appointments including voice messages, answering machines, and post cards.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) TREATMENT INFORMATION
If we receive or maintain any information about you from a substance use disorder treatment program that is covered by 42 CFR Part 2 (a “Part 2 Program”) through a general consent you provide to the Part 2 Program to use and disclose the Part 2 Program record for purposes of treatment, payment or health care operations, we may use and disclose your Part 2 Program record for treatment, payment and health care operations purposes as described in this Notice.
If we receive or maintain your Part 2 Program record through specific consent you provide to us or another third party, we will use and disclose your Part 2 Program record only as expressly permitted by you in your consent as provided to us.
In no event will we use or disclose your Part 2 Program record, or testimony that describes the information contained in your Part 2 Program record, in any civil, criminal, administrative or legislative proceedings by any Federal, State or local authority, against you, unless authorized by your consent or the order of a court after it provides you notice of the court order.
PATIENT RIGHTS
You have a right to request copies of your healthcare information; to request copies in a variety of formats; and to request a list of instances in which we, or our business associates, have disclosed your protected information for uses other than stated above. All such requests must be in writing. We may charge for your copies in an amount allowed by law. If you believe your rights have been violated, we urge you to notify us immediately. You can also notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.