Privacy Notice

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE CENTER, INC.

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. Please review it carefully.

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record.

Ask for corrections to your medical record.

Ask for  confidential communications.

Ask for limits on how your information is used or shared.

Get a list of those with whom we have shared your health information.

Notice of Privacy Practices.

Choose someone to act for you.

For certain information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations listed below, talk to us and let us know what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.

In these cases you have the right and it is your choice to tell us:

If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example, if you are unconscious, we may share your information if we believe it is in your best interest, or if needed lessen a serious or immediate threat to health or safety.

In these cases, we will never share your information without your written permission.
In the case of fundraising efforts.

How do we typically use or share your health information?  We typically use or share your health information (electronic, written, or oral) in the following ways.

To treat you

For payments

How else can we use or share your health information?  We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways—usually in ways that contribute to the public good such as public health and research.  We have to meet many conditions of the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information, see:

www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html

Help with public health or safety issues.

Health research

Required by law

Tissue and organ bank requests

Requests from medical examiner or funeral director

Worker’s compensation, law enforcement, or other government requests

Response to lawsuits legal actions

We are required by law to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of your health information.  We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.  We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.  We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

How can you file a complaint if you think your rights have been violated?  If you think your health information has been accessed, used or shared inappropriately, you can file a complaint.  We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

You can file a complaint with the Compliance Office at Community Healthcare Center by sending a letter to:

Community Healthcare Center
Attn:  Compliance Officer
200 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Wichita Falls, TX 76301

Or by calling (940) 766-6306, or online at www.chcwf.com

You can file a complaint by sending a letter to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

(CHC Notice of Privacy Practices, Rev. 10/2015)