home                           THE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF THE GREATER YOUNGTOWN AREA

                                                                                   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.

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information (PHI). "Protected Health Information or PHI" is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health and related health care services.

We are required to abide by the terms of this Privacy Notice. We may change the terms of our notice at any time. The new notice will apply to all protected health information we maintain at that time. At your request, you will be provided by mail with any revised Notice of Privacy Practices by calling our office at 330-782-5606.

Uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information (PHI) - We will use and disclose elements of your PHI in the following ways:

1. For Treatment- in order to provide, coordinate or manage your health care and any related services.

Examples:

a. Disclosure of PHI to a laboratory that performs diagnostic testing.

b. Disclosure of PHI to a physician that you may have been referred to.

c. Contacting you about treatment changes or diagnostic results.

2. For Payment – your protected health information will be used as needed to obtain payment for your home care services.

Example:

a. Disclosure of PHI to your health plan to determine eligibility /coverage for insurance benefits.

3. For Agency Operations- your protected health information will be disclosed in order to support the business activities of our home care agency.

Examples:

a. Disclosure of PHI for quality improvement activities.

b. Disclosure of PHI for employee review activities.

c. Disclosure of PHI to accreditation bodies or state survey agencies.

d. Disclosure of PHI to medical and nursing students who visit our patients during training.

4. To contact you about appointment reminders, treatment alternatives, and other health related benefits and services.

5. We will share your protected health information with "business associates" that perform various activities (e.g. answering service, accounting) for which we shall have a written contract that contain terms that will protect the privacy of your PHI.

6. We may use PHI for non-marketing communication activities, such as using your name and address to send you newsletters about our agency, services, or other health-related matters; or telephoning you after discharge as a follow-up service.

7. We may use or disclose your demographic information in order to contact you about fundraising activities in support of our non-profit agency. You may contact our Privacy Officer to request these materials not be sent to you.

We may also use or disclose your protected health information in the following situations without your consent or authorization. These situations include:

1. Required by law- use and disclosure of PHI will be made in compliance with the law

2. Public Health- disclosure of PHI for the purpose of controlling disease, injury, disability

3. Health Oversight- disclosure of PHI to agencies that oversee the health care system

4. Abuse or neglect- disclosure of PHI if we believe you have been a victim of abuse, neglect,

or domestic violence.

5. Legal proceedings- disclosure of PHI in response to a court order or subpoena.

6. Food and Drug Administration- disclosure of protected health information to a person or

company required by the F.D.A. for the purpose of reporting such things as adverse

events, product defects or problems, biologic product deviations, etc.

7. Law Enforcement- disclosure of PHI as long as applicable legal requirements are met.

8. Coroners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation- Disclosure of PHI to a coroner for the

purposes of identification, determining cause of death, or other duties authorized by law.

PHI may also be disclosed to a funeral director to carry out their duties and to

organ/tissue donation organizations, if we have no indication on hand about your

donation preferences.

9. Criminal Activity- disclosure of PHI if we believe it is necessary to prevent or lessen a

serious threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.

10.Workers Compensation- disclosure of your PHI to comply with workers compensation laws.

11. Emergencies- we may use or disclose your PHI in an emergency treatment situation or to

avert health/safety situations.

Other uses and disclosures of your protected health information by our agency will require us to obtain from you a written authorization in addition to any other permission you provide us. Disclosure of PHI that involves HIV/AIDS, substance abuse or psychotherapy notes require your authorization. You may revoke this authorization, at any time, in writing, except to the extent that the agency has taken action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in the authorization.

YOUR RIGHTS - following is a list of the rights you have with respect to your protected health information and a brief description on how you may exercise these rights.

1. The right to inspect and copy your protected health information- You may request to inspect and obtain a copy of all or part of your PHI as permitted under federal and state regulations. Requests are to be made in writing addressed to the Privacy Officer at the address below. If you request a copy of your health information, we will charge a reasonable charge of 25¢ per copied page.

2. The right to request to receive confidential correspondence from us by alternative means or at an alternative location. We will accommodate reasonable requests. Please make this request in writing to our Privacy Officer.

3. The right to request a restriction of your protected health information- This means you may request us not to use or disclose any part of your protected health information for the purposes of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You may also request that any part of your PHI not be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in your care or for notification purposes as described in this notice. Your request must state the specific restriction requested and to whom you want the restriction to apply. We are not required to agree to the restriction that you request if we believe that it is in your best interest to permit use and disclosure of your protected health information. If your request is granted, we will not use or disclose your restricted protected health information unless it is needed to provide emergency treatment. Requests must be made in writing to the Privacy Officer stating the specific restriction requested and to whom the restriction is to apply.

4. The right to have us amend your protected health information- You may request an amendment to your PHI as permitted under federal and state regulations for as long as we maintain your PHI. We are not required to grant your request, and if your request should be denied, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us and we may respond to and provide you a copy of a rebuttal to your statement. Please contact the Privacy Officer with questions about amending your medical record.

5. The right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any, of your protected health information- This right applies to disclosures for purposes other than treatment, payment or healthcare operations as described in this Notice of Privacy, and excludes disclosures we may have made to you, to family members or friends involved in your care or for notification purposes. Requests for this accounting must be made in writing to our Privacy Officer and you may receive only specific information regarding disclosures that occurred after April 14, 2003. You may request a shorter timeframe. The right to receive this information is subject to certain exceptions and restrictions.

7. The right to obtain a paper copy of this notice from us- This right also applies to getting updates or reissues of this Notice of Privacy at your request.

8. Complaints- You have the right to complain to us or to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated by us. To register a complaint with us, please notify the Privacy Officer of our agency. The law forbids us from taking retaliatory action against you if you complain.

For more information about our Privacy Practices, please contact our Privacy Officer:

Judy Thompson, RN (330) 782-5606

The Visiting Nurse Assn. of Greater Youngstown

518 E. Indianola Ave., Youngstown, OH 44502

This Notice of Privacy Practices becomes effective on April 14, 2003.