Notice of Privacy Practices
We keep a record of the home health care services we provide you. You may ask us to see and copy that record. You may also ask us to correct that record. We will not disclose your record to others unless you direct us to do so or unless the law authorizes or compels us to do so. You may see your record or get more information about it by emailing info@elitecarenorthwest.com or calling (206) 321-7440.
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.
Your health record contains personal information about you and your health. Washington State and Federal laws protect the confidentiality of this information. Protected Health Information (PHI) is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical and mental health, or condition, and related health care services. If you suspect a violation of these legal protections, you may file a report to the appropriate authorities in accordance with Federal and State regulations.
This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your PHI in accordance with applicable laws. It also describes your rights regarding how you may gain access to and control your PHI. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of PHI and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices.
How We Are Permitted to Use and Disclose Your PHI:
For Treatment. We may use your PHI to provide you with appropriate treatment services.
For Payment. We may use and disclose your PHI so that we can receive payment for the treatment services we provide to you.
For Healthcare Operations. We may use and disclose your PHI for certain purposes in connection with the operation of our professional practice, including supervision and consultation, and/or internal training and development of therapy modules.
Without Your Authorization. State and Federal law also permits us to disclose information about you without your authorization in a limited number of situations. You can look at Chapter 70.02 RCW and 45 CFR § 164.512 to learn more. Permitted disclosures without your authorization include:
Abuse or Neglect. We may disclose your PHI to a state or local agency that is authorized by law to receive reports of abuse or neglect. However, the information we disclose is limited to only that information which is necessary to make the initial mandated report.
Deceased Clients. We may disclose PHI regarding deceased clients for the purpose of determining the cause of death, in connection with laws requiring the collection of death or other vital statistics, or permitting inquiry into the cause of death.
Research. We may disclose PHI to researchers if (a) an Institutional Review Board reviews and approves the research and a waiver to the authorization requirement; (b) the researchers establish protocols to ensure the privacy of your PHI; and (c) the researchers agree to maintain the security of your PHI in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Criminal Activity or Threats to Personal Safety. We may disclose your PHI to law enforcement officials if we reasonably believe that the disclosure will avoid or minimize an imminent threat to the health or safety of yourself or any third party.
Compulsory Process. We may be required to disclose your PHI if a court of competent jurisdiction issues an appropriate order, if we have been notified in writing at least fourteen days in advance of a subpoena or other legal demand, if no protective order has been obtained, and if a competent judicial officer has determined that the rule of privilege does not apply.
Essential Government Functions. We may be required to disclose your PHI for certain essential government functions.
Treatment Notes. We must obtain your authorization to use or disclose treatment notes with the following exceptions. We may use the notes for your treatment. We may also use or disclose, without your authorization, the treatment notes for our own training, to defend in legal or administrative proceedings initiated by you, as required by the Washington Department of Health or the US Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with applicable regulations, to avert a serious and imminent threat to public health or safety, to a health oversight agency for lawful oversight, for the lawful activities of a coroner or medical examiner or as otherwise required by law.
With Authorization. We must obtain written authorization from you for other uses and disclosures of your PHI. You may revoke such authorizations at any time, but your revocation must be in writing in accordance with 45 CFR §164.508(b)(5).
If you ask us to provide information under an authorization, we may charge you a reasonable fee for doing so, unless you are asking us to provide the information as part of your appeal of a denial of federal supplemental security income or social security disability benefits.
Incidental Use and Disclosure. We are not required to eliminate every risk of an incidental use or disclosure of your PHI. Specifically, a use or disclosure of your PHI that occurs as a result of, or incident to an otherwise permitted use or disclosure is permitted as long as we have adopted reasonable safeguards to protect your PHI, and the information being shared was limited to the minimum necessary.
Heightened Protection of Certain Types of Information. Some types of information have greater protections under Washington State or federal laws. The above disclosure practices do not necessarily apply to these types of information, which include confidential HIV-related information that is protected by Washington State laws; alcohol and substance abuse treatment information that is protected under both Washington State and federal laws; and mental health treatment information that is protected.
Your Right to Receive an Accounting of Our Disclosures of Your PHI:
You have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures of health care information made by us, for a period of six years before the date on which you request this accounting. We will provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months. Under Washington State laws, specifically RCW 70.02.020, we do not have to include in this accounting any disclosures we made:
To carry out treatment, payment, and health care operations;
To the client of health care information about them;
Incident to a use or disclosure that is otherwise permitted or required;
Pursuant to an authorization where you authorized the disclosure of health care information about yourself;
Of directory information;
To persons involved in your care;
For national security or intelligence purposes if an accounting of disclosures is not permitted by law;
To correctional institutions or law enforcement officials if an accounting of disclosures is not permitted by law; and
Of a limited data set that de-identifies you, or your relatives, employers or household members.
Asking Us to Correct Your Health and Claims Records:
You can ask us, in writing, to correct your health and claims records, if you think they are incorrect or incomplete. This applies to certain records such as those we use to make decisions about you. Ask us how to do this.
We may say “no” to your request, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days of your request.
Asking Us to Limit What We Use or Share:
You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.
You Can Request Confidential Communications from Us:
You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address. We will consider all reasonable requests, and must say “yes” if you tell us you would be in danger if we do not.
You Can Choose Someone to Act for You:
If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action. File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated.
If You Believe Your Privacy Rights Have Been Violated or You have Questions:
Dr. Paradis Reed is the privacy and security officer for Elite Care Northwest, Inc. Please contact her in writing at info@elitecarenorthwest.com if you have concerns or questions about your private information.
You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Right to Opt Out of Certain Communications:
You have the right to choose not to receive fundraising communications from your healthcare providers. However, we will not contact you for fundraising purposes.
Right to Notice of Breach. You have the right to be notified of any breach of your unsecured PHI. We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
Changes to the Terms of This Notice: We can change the terms of this notice and any addendums thereto, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. We reserve the right to change the terms of our Notice of Privacy Practices at any time. We will give you the new notice, or tell you about it and how to get a copy. At your request and direction, we will make available our current Notice of Privacy Practices by email, facsimile, U.S. Mail, or in person.
Addendum to Notice of Privacy Practices
Text and Email Messaging Practices
If you provide Elite Care Northwest, Inc. with a phone number or email address, you are consenting to receiving information from us that may be confidential or contain personal health information at that phone number or email address. If you wish to change your communication methods with us, the following information will assist you.
Opting Out of Email Communications: You may opt out of email communications with us at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. You may also email an unsubscribe request to info@elitecarenorthwest.com.
Text Messages: By providing your cell phone number and replying Y to opt into text messages, you are consenting to receive text messages that may be sent via an automatic telephone dialing system to the mobile number provided from Elite Care Northwest, Inc., its affiliates or its successors (“ECN”). You understand that you are not required to provide your consent as a condition of purchasing any goods or services.
Your consent to receive text messages (including daily reminders, weekly appointment reminders, etc.) from ECN is subject to the following terms:
You agree that when you consent to receive text messages from any of our text message programs, you will receive confirmatory opt-in text messages from the respective program.
You may opt out of receiving text messages from any of our programs if you subsequently reply STOP to any text messages you receive, or if you unsubscribe through emailing a request to info@elitecarenorthwest.com.
You agree that these opt-out instructions, and/or any opt-out instructions in the Website Privacy Policy, provide the exclusive means of revoking your consent to receive text messages.
For help related to any text message program, reply HELP to any text message received from the phone number (206) 321-7440. You agree that when you initiate a text message to any of our text message programs, you may receive related text messages in reply.
You may temporarily pause text messages for a few days at any time by replying SNOOZE to any text messages you receive.
Please consult your service agreement with your wireless carrier to determine your phone's pricing plan related to text messaging. This program may not be available on all wireless carriers. The carriers supported by this program are AT&T, Boost Mobile, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon, but ECN may add or remove any wireless carrier from this program without notice.
You warrant that you have provided your accurate mobile telephone number to ECN and that you have authority to consent to receive text messages at that number. Before changing, deactivating, or relinquishing your mobile phone number, you agree that you will opt-out of ECN text message programs.
For customer service related to ECN text message programs, please text or call (206) 321-7440 or email info@elitecarenorthwest.com.