Privacy Policy

Last updated September 23th, 2013

MIDTOWN DENTAL STUDIO

Protected health information (PHI), about you, is maintained as a wrrtten and/or electronic record of your contacts or visits for healthcare services with our practice. Specifically, PHI is information about you, including demographic information (i.e., name, address, phone, etc.), that may identify you and relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health condition and related healthcare services.

Our practice is required to follow specific rules on maintaining the confidentiality of your PHI, using your information, and disclosing or sharing this information with other healthcare professionals involved in your care and treatment. This Notice describes your rights to access and control your PHI. It also describes how we follow applicable rules and use and disclose your PHI to provide your treatment, obtain payment for services you receive, manage our healthcare operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law.

Your Rights Under The Privacy Rule

Following is a statement of your rights, under the Privacy Rule, in reference to your PHI. Please feel free to discuss any questions with our staff.

You have the right to receive, and we are required to provide you with, a copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices

We are required to follow the terms of this notice. We reserve the right to change the terms of our notice, at any time. Upon your request, we will provide you with a revised Notice of Privacy Practices 1f you call our office and request that a revised copy be sent to you in the mail or ask for one at the time of your next appointment. The Notice will also be posted in a conspicuous location within the practice, and if such is maintained by the practice, on it's web site.

You have the right to authorize other use and disclosure

This means you have the right to authorize any use or disclosure of PHI that is not specified within this notice. For example, we would need your written authorization to use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes, for most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes, or if we intended to sell your PHI. You may revoke an authorization, at any time, in writing, except to the extent that your healthcare provider, or our practice has taken an action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in the authorization.

You have the right to request an alternative means of confidential communication

This means you have the right to ask us to contact you about medical matters using an alternative method (i.e., email, telephone), and to a destination (i.e., cell phone number, alternative address, etc.) designated by you. You must inform us in writing, using a form provided by our practice, how you wish to be contacted 1f other than the address/phone number that we have on file. We will follow all reasonable requests.

You have the right to Inspect and copy your PHI

This means you may inspect, and obtain a copy of your complete health record. If your health record is maintained electronically, you will also have the right to request a copy in electronic format. We have the rrght to charge a reasonable fee for paper or electronic copies as established by professional, state, or federal guidelines.

You have the right to request a restriction of your PHI

This means you may ask us, in writing, not to use or disclose any part of your protected health information for the purposes of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. If we agree to the requested restriction, we will abide by it, except 1n emergency circumstances when the information is needed for your treatment. In certain cases, we may deny your request for a restriction. You will have the right to request, in writing, that we restrict communication to your health plan regarding a specific treatment or service that you, or someone on your behalf, has paid for in full, out-of-pocket. We are not permitted to deny this specific type of requested restriction.

You may have the right to request an amendment to your protected health information

This means you may request an amendment of your PHI for as long as we maintain this information. In certain cases, we may deny your request.

You have the right to request a disclosure accountability

This means that you may request a listing of disclosures that we have made, of your PHI, to entities or persons outside of our office.

You have the right to receive a privacy breach notice

You have the right to receive written notification 1f the practice discovers a breach of your unsecured PHI, and determines through a risk assessment that notification is required.

If you have questions regarding your privacy rights, please feel free to contact our Privacy Manager. Contact information is provided on the following page under Privacy Complaints.

How We May Use or Disclose Protected Health Information

Following are examples of uses and disclosures of your protected health information that we are permitted to make. These examples are not meant to be exhaustive, but to describe possible types of uses and disclosures.

Treatment

We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your healthcare with a third party that is involved in your care and treatment. For example, we would disclose your PHI, as necessary, to a pharmacy that would fill your prescriptions. We will also disclose PHI to other Healthcare Providers who may be involved in your care and treatment.

Special Notices

We may use or disclose your PHI, as necessary, to contact you to remind you of your appointment. We may contact you by phone or other means to provide results from exams or tests and to provide information that describes or recommends treatment alternatives regarding your care. Also, we may contact you to provide information about health-related benefits and services offered by our office, for fund-raising activities, or with respect to a group health plan, to disclose information to the health plan sponsor. You will have the right to opt out of such special notices, and each such notice will include instructions for opting out.

Payment

Your PHI will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your healthcare services. This may include certain activities that your health insurance plan may undertake before it approves or pays for the healthcare services we recommend for you such as, making a determination of eligibility or coverage for insurance benefits.

Healthcare Operations

We may use or disclose, as needed, your PHI in order to support the business activities of our practice. This includes, but is not limited to business planning and development, quality assessment and improvement, medical review, legal services, auditing functions and patient safety activities.

Health Information Organization

The practice may elect to use a health information organization, or other such organization to facilitate the electronic exchange of information for the purposes of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

To Others Involved in Your Healthcare

Unless you object, we may disclose to a member of your family, a relative, a close friend or any other person, that you 1dent1fy, your PHI that directly relates to that person's involvement in your healthcare. If you are unable to agree or object to such a disclosure, we may disclose such information as necessary if we determine that it is in your best interest based on our professional judgment. We may use or disclose PHI to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative or any other person that is responsible for your care, of your general condition or death. If you are not present or able to agree or object to the use or disclosure of the PHI, then your healthcare provider may, using professional Judgment, determine whether the disclosure is in your best interest. In this case, only the PHI that is necessary will be disclosed.

Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures

We are also permitted to use or disclose your PHI without your written authorization for the following purposes: as required by law; for public health activities; health oversight activities; in cases of abuse or neglect; to comply with Food and Drug Administration requirements; research purposes; legal proceedings; law enforcement purposes; coroners; funeral directors; organ donation; criminal activity; military activity; national security; worker's compensation; when an inmate in a correctional facility; and if requested by the Department of Health and Human Services in order to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of the Privacy Rule.

Privacy Complaints

You have the right to complain to us, or directly to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated by us. You may file a complaint with us by notifying the Privacy Manager at:

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

  • Address: 7500 NW 5 ST
  • No.:115                                                              
  • City: Plantation
  • State: FL                                                                                  
  • Zip Code: 33317

PATIENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 381.026 Florida Statues

A PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO:

  • Be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his/her dignity, and with protection of privacy.
  • Receive a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
  • Know who is providing medical services and is responsible for his/her care.
  • Know what patient support services are available, including if an interpreter is available if the patient does not speak English.
  • Know what rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct.
  • Be given by the health care provider information such as diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.
  • Refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
  • Be given full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for care.
  • Know whether the health care provider or facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate, if the patient is covered by Medicare.
  • Know whether the health care provider or facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate, if the patient is covered by Medicare.
  • Receive prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
  • Receive a copy of an understandable itemized bill and, if requested, to have the charges explained.
  • Receive medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment.
  • Receive treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
  • Know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give his/her consent or refusal to participate in such research.
  • Express complaints regarding any violation of his/her rights.

A PATIENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

  • Giving the health care provider accurate information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and any other information about his/her health.
  • Reporting unexpected changes in his/her condition to the health care provider.
  • Reporting to the health care provider whether he/she understands a planned course of action and what is expected of him/her.
  • Following the treatment plan recommended by the health care provider.
  • Keeping appointments and, when unable to do so, notifying the health care provider or facility.
  • His/her actions if treatment is refused or if the patient does not follow the health care provider's instructions.
  • Making sure financial responsibilities are carried out.
  • Following health care facility conduct rules and regulation.

CONTACT US

If you have questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

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