Notice of Privacy Practice

This section details the Notice of Privacy Practice. It describes how we may use and share your protected health information to provide treatment, receive payment, operate our business, or other purposes that are permitted or required by state and federal law.  It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. You may request to change information to update our records. 

The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals' medical records and other individually identifiable health information (collectively defined as “protected health information”) and applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and those health care providers that conduct certain health care transactions electronically. The Rule requires appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of protected health information and sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be made of such information without an individual’s authorization. The Rule also gives individuals rights over their protected health information, including rights to examine and obtain a copy of their health records, to direct a covered entity to transmit to a third party an electronic copy of their protected health information in an electronic health record, and to request corrections.

TREATMENT

We may coordinate, manage, and share information with other providers treating you. This allows your care team to support your healthcare needs unless otherwise stated by you, the patient, in a written consent form.

PAYMENT

We may use and share your information to be paid for the services and care we have provided. This includes, but is not limited to, your insurance company.

HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS

We may use and share your information for several reasons within the clinic. For example, if your doctor is out sick and has coverage for their patients that day, your information may be shared to continue care.

APPOINTMENT REMINDERS

We may use your information to contact you to remind you of your upcoming appointments, if you're due for a follow up, or an annual physical.

TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES AND HEALTH-RELATED BENEFITS

If we find interesting health information that may serve your health needs, we may use your information to relay the message.

REQUIRED BY LAW

If subpoenaed by federal, state, or local law enforcements for your information, we are required to provide it.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

As described in RCW 70.02.050 1(c), we may share information to protect the welfare of the public. For example, our most recent pandemic with COVID-19.

ABUSE AND NEGLECT

As mandatory reporters, we are required by law to provide your information in any case that involve abuse or neglect of a child. We may provide your information to federal, state, or local authorities on cases of domestic violence if it escalates to self-harm or bringing harm to others. It is stated in RCW 74.34.035(4): A mandated reporter is not required to report to a law enforcement agency, unless requested by the injured vulnerable adult or his or her legal representative or family member, an incident of physical assault between vulnerable adults that causes minor bodily injury and does not require more than basic first aid, unless:

1. The injury appears on the back, face, head, neck, chest, breasts, groin, inner thigh, buttock, genital, or anal area;
2. There is a fracture;
3. There is a pattern of physical assault between the same vulnerable adults or involving the same vulnerable adults; or
4. There is an attempt to choke a vulnerable adult.

Right to Request Restrictions

You have the right to ask for a restriction/limitation on the medical information we use or share about you for payment, treatment or health-care operations and the information we may share with your family, friends or others involved in your care. We are not required to agree to your request. If we agree, we will follow your request unless the information is needed to provide you with emergency treatment. You must tell us the type of restriction you want and to whom it applies.

This Notice of Privacy Practice is available upon request via email.