HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU.

Appointment Reminders.  We may use and disclose medical information to contact you to remind you of an appointment for treatment or medical care at the hospital.

Treatment Alternatives.  We may use and disclose medical information to tell you about or recommend possible treatment options that may be of interest to you.

Health-Related Benefits and Services.  We may use and disclose medical information to tell you about health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.

Business Associates.  Individuals or organizations that are not part of the Grabow Hand to Shoulder Center may provide certain aspects of your care or services related to your care, such as billing.  We will disclose medical information as needed so the appropriate service can be rendered.  We will obtain assurances that these individuals or organizations will also safeguard your information and protect your privacy.

Research.  Participation in clinical research studies may be an option available to you as a recipient of care here at The Grabow Hand to Shoulder Center. Dr.Grabow may be aware of newer treatments that may be available only under research protocols.  However, in order to determine whether these treatments are applicable to you, we may need to review your medical records from time to time.  Prior to approval, all research protocols must be reviewed by an independent committee to assure, among other things, that the privacy of your medical information is protected.  Dr.Grabow and his staff may view your medical information to determine if a research protocol is practical or to determine whether you would be a candidate for it.  The medical information they review does not leave the office.  Only Dr.Grabow and our staff will review your medical record and none of your protected health information will be disclosed to third parties without your specific authorization.  If it is preliminarily determined that you may be eligible for treatment under a research protocol and that such treatment may be beneficial to you, your doctor or a member of our staff will contact you with further information

As Required By Law.  We will disclose medical information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law.  This may include disclosures to Boards governing the professional practice of health care providers such as the State Medical Board.  It also may include registries where we are required to provide information such as the Trauma registry in Ohio.  Disclosure of highly sensitive information such as an individual who has taken an HIV test, the results of an HIV test, and the identity of an individual with AIDS will only be released as mandated by law or authorized by the individual.

To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety.  We may use and disclose medical about you when needed to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.  Any disclosure, however, would only be to someone able to help prevent the threat.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Military and Veterans.  If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release medical information about you as required by military command authorities.  We may also release medical information about foreign military personnel to the proper foreign military authority.

Workers’ Compensation.  We may release medical information about you for workers’ compensation or similar programs.  These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.

Public Health Risks.  We may disclose medical information about you for public health activities.  These activities generally include the following:

Health Oversight Activities.  We may disclose medical information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law.  These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure.  These activities are needed for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with laws and regulations.

Lawsuits and Disputes.  If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose medical information about you in response to a court or administrative order.  We may disclose medical information to defend a lawsuit brought against the hospital or any of its staff.  We may also disclose medical information about you in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

Law Enforcement.  We may release medical information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official:

Emergency Circumstances.  We may release medical information about you if you are unable to object due to incapacity or if there is a need for emergency treatment.  We may disclose some or all of your personal health information for the facility’s directory based on previous selections that were expressed by you.  We may also disclose some or all of your personal health information if it is in your best interest, which would be determined by The Grabow Hand to Shoulder Center in the exercise of professional judgment

National Security and Intelligence Activities.  We may release medical information about you to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities authorized by law.

Protective Services for the President and Others.  We may disclose medical information about you to authorized federal officials so they may provide protection to the President, other authorized persons or foreign heads of state or conduct special investigations.

Inmates.  If you are an inmate of a correctional institution or under the custody of a law enforcement official, we may release medical information about you to the correctional institution or law enforcement official.  This release would be necessary (1) for the institution to provide you with health care; (2) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others; or (3) for the safety and security of the correctional institution.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

Right to Inspect and Copy.  You have the right to inspect and copy medical information that may be used to make decisions about your care.  Usually, this includes medical and billing records, but does not include information gathered in anticipation of a legal proceeding and information prohibited by law.  To inspect and copy medical information that may be used to make decisions about you, you must submit your request in writing to The Grabow Hand to Shoulder Center 5546 South Fort Apache Road, Suite A,  Las Vegas, NV  89148.  If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies used due to your request.  We may deny your request to inspect and copy of records in these and other very limited cases.  If you are denied access to medical information, you may request that the denial be reviewed.  Another licensed health care professional chosen by the hospital will review your request and the denial.  The person doing the review will not be the person who denied your request.  We will comply with the outcome of the review.

Right to Amend.  If you feel that medical information we have about you is wrong or missing, you may ask us to amend the information.  You have the right to request a change as long as the information is kept by or for the hospital.  To request an amendment, your request must state the reason for your request and must be made in writing and submitted to Medical Records.  In addition, you must provide a reason that supports your request.  We may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does not include a reason to support the request.  We may also deny your request if you ask us to amend information that:

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures.  You have the right to request an "accounting of disclosures".  This is a list of the disclosures we made of medical information about you that is outside of the information disclosed as described in this document.  For example, disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations, or those, which you have authorized, are part of the expected disclosures and therefore would not be included in a disclosure history.  To request this list or accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to Medical Records.  Your request must state a time period, which may not be longer than six years and may not include dates before April 14, 2003.  Your request should indicate in what form you want the list (for example, on paper, electronically).  The first list you request within a 12-month period will be free.  For more lists, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list.  We will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any costs are incurred.

Right to Request Restrictions.  You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the medical information we use or disclose about you for treatment, payment or health care operations.  We are not required to agree to your request.  If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you emergency treatment.  To request restrictions, you must make your request in writing to Office Manager Grrabow Hand to Shoulder Center marked "personal and confidential".  In your request, you must tell us (1) what information you want to limit; (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure or both; and (3) to whom you want the limits to apply.

Right to Revoke Authorization.  You have the right to revoke your authorization at any time only if it is in writing.

Right to Request Confidential Communications.  You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location.  To request confidential communications, you must make your request in writing to the Director of Medical Records marked "personal and confidential".  We will not ask you the reason for your request.  Your record must specify how or where you would like us to contact you.  We will comply with all reasonable requests.

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice.  You have the right to a paper copy of this notice.  You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at anytime.  Even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this notice.  You may obtain a copy of this notice at our website.  Additional paper copies of this notice are available at our offices.

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

COMPLAINTS

OTHER USES OF MEDICAL INFORMATION