Protected Health Information: Our Privacy Policy
Like all healthcare providers, at Atrium Dermatology® we keep a record of health care services we provide you. The legal term for these records is Protected Health Information, and the law that controls how this information can be used or looked at is known by its acronym, HIPAA.
We have always been committed to protecting all of the information you share with us. We respect your privacy, and will not disclose your record to anyone unless you ask us to do so or unless the law authorizes or compels us to do so. You can ask to see and copy your medical record, and you may, if necessary, ask us to make a correction to your record. For more information on how to access your record speak to Edward Geller, our office manager.
We have established standards and procedures to prevent unauthorized access to your records. Our staff is trained to properly handle our patients’ records, and must abide by the terms of a confidentiality agreement. We have physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to ensure that only authorized personnel see your information. We do not disclose any non-public, personal information about our patients or former patients to anyone, except as directed by you and as permitted or required by law.
Collecting Protected Health Information
We place test results, hospital and physician reports and other documents relating to your treatment, such as office notes made by Dr. Gumpertz, into your medical record. Information in your medical file generally includes your name, address, insurance information, Social Security number, symptoms, medical history, test results, diagnoses, treatment, health information from other providers, and billing and payment information relating to these services. We keep this information in your record to accurately identify you, provide for your health care, and to administer your account.
Access to Protected Health Information
The health and billing records we create and store are the property of Atrium Dermatology, LLC and/or Esti Gumpertz, M.D. The information in your record, outlined above, generally belongs to you. We have forms available for you to request access to your record. These requests, along with our responses, will also be kept in your medical record, and will be included with any release of your records. Upon your request we will give you a list of disclosures of your health information, except, of course, disclosures to third-party payors. Unless you direct otherwise in writing, we will not release Protected Health Information about you to anyone, including family members or friends. We have forms for you to authorize us to use or disclose your health information, as well as forms to cancel any prior authorizations.
Appointment Reminders
Occasionally we may contact you over the phone or by mail to remind you about appointments, to discuss your account, or to give you information about treatment and other health-related benefits and services. Our general practice is to call patients to remind them of an upcoming appointment; unless you advise us not to, we may leave a message on your answering machine reminding you of the appointment. However, we will not give any additional information in such a message beyond identifying our practice, and referencing your name and the date and time of the scheduled appointment.
Use of Protected Health Information
We may use and disclose your information for services, including medical review by your health insurance plan, and accounting, collection, legal, risk management and insurance services, as well as is required by law. We use the information you share with us in addressing your health care needs, respond to your requests, and to collect payment for services. We may share this information with others, but only as necessary, and always only to the extent permitted by law. This can include sharing information with third parties that provide services necessary to effect, administer or enforce transactions that you request or authorize, as well as required by law enforcement officers, governmental agencies and court orders. Upon their request, but only the extent necessary and permitted by law, we may also give information to someone who helps pay for your care.
Questions?
At Atrium Dermatology® we take your privacy very seriously. If you have questions, want more information, or want to report a problem about our handling of your medical record or protected health information, or if you believe your privacy rights have been violated, feel free to discuss your concerns with any staff member.
IDENTITY THEFT COMPLIANCE POLICY
Our practice is committed to the protection of all information entrusted to us by our patients. Beyond HIPAA, which protects unauthorized access to health records, our practice has enacted a policy in compliance with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) and the “Red Flags Rule” enacted by the FTC, which developed guidelines for the detection, prevention, and mitigation of identity theft. In the context of a dermatology practice, identity theft typically means a patient’s use of someone else’s information to obtain medical care. We recognize that this kind of theft can cause a variety of harms including false billing and exhaustion of benefits for innocent victims.Our office manager monitors all personal information you provide us. We carefully check all insurance cards, and may ask to see additional information to verify a patient’s identity and relationship to the named insured. Credit card information is never retained by our office, checks are treated as confidential documents, and access to insurance and medical data is restricted to authorized personnel.
Our staff is instructed to look for typical “Red Flags” which indicate potential identity theft. New patients are asked to confirm their identity by showing us photo ID, such as a driving license, when they first come into our office. We check the name on patients’ insurance cards to confirm that the name matches their ID. If there is any doubt we will request further information to confirm both the ID and entitlement to coverage.
