NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Effective Date: 03/15/2025
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
WHO DOES THIS NOTICE APPLY TO?
This Notice of Privacy Practices applies to Plastic Surgery Northwest and all of its workforce members who handle your medical information.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY
Plastic Surgery Northwest understands that your medical information is personal. We are committed to safeguarding your Protected Health Information (PHI) while delivering the highest quality medical care. This Notice applies to all records of your care received or created by Plastic Surgery Northwest.
Other healthcare providers, such as hospitals or specialty doctors, may have different privacy policies for their records.
We are required by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) and federal law to:
- Maintain the confidentiality of your PHI.
- Provide you with this Notice detailing our legal duties and privacy practices.
- Abide by the terms of the most current Notice.
- Notify you in case of a breach of your unsecured PHI.
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PHI
By receiving treatment at Plastic Surgery Northwest, you consent to our use and disclosure of your PHI for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations (TPO), as described below:
1. Treatment
We may use and disclose your PHI to provide you with medical treatment. This includes sharing your PHI with other medical professionals involved in your care, such as referring physicians, hospitals, and pharmacies.
2. Payment
We may use and disclose your PHI for billing and payment purposes. This includes submitting claims to your insurance provider and obtaining authorization for procedures.
3. Healthcare Operations
We may use and disclose PHI for healthcare operations to improve the quality of care we provide. Examples include evaluating our services, training medical staff, and conducting compliance audits.
OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES PERMITTED OR REQUIRED BY LAW
We may also disclose your PHI in the following situations without additional authorization:
- Appointment Reminders: To remind you of upcoming medical appointments.
- To Family & Caregivers: If you designate a family member, close friend, or caregiver, we may share necessary PHI related to your care.
- Emergencies: If you are in a life-threatening situation, we may disclose PHI to assist in your treatment.
- Public Health & Safety: Reporting communicable diseases, adverse reactions to medications, and medical device concerns.
- Health Oversight Activities: Disclosures for audits, investigations, and inspections by regulatory bodies.
- Abuse & Neglect Reporting: If required by law, we may report suspected abuse or neglect.
- Legal Proceedings: Disclosures required by court orders, subpoenas, or legal investigations.
- Law Enforcement Requests: Including responses to lawful warrants, missing person cases, and criminal investigations.
- Workers’ Compensation: PHI may be disclosed for claims processing.
- National Security & Military: If required by federal laws, we may disclose PHI to military or government officials.
- Coroners & Funeral Directors: PHI may be shared to facilitate identification, cause of death determination, and burial processes.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PHI
You have several rights under HIPAA regarding your PHI:
1. Right to Access & Copy
You can request access to inspect or obtain a copy of your medical records. Requests must be made in writing, and we may charge a fee for processing.
2. Right to Request Restrictions
You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your PHI. We are not required to agree but will comply when legally obligated.
3. Right to Confidential Communications
You can request that we communicate with you through alternative means (e.g., only by mail or at a different phone number).
4. Right to Amend Your Records
If you believe your PHI is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request an amendment. We may deny requests if we believe the current record is accurate.
5. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You can request a list of PHI disclosures made for purposes other than treatment, payment, or healthcare operations within the last six years.
6. Right to Receive a Paper Copy of This Notice
You may request a printed copy of this Notice at any time.
7. Right to File a Complaint
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint without retaliation:
- With Plastic Surgery Northwest – Contact the Office Manager at 509-838-1010.
- With the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Call 1-877-696-6775 or visit www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We reserve the right to revise this Notice and apply those changes to all PHI we maintain. Updated versions will be available on our website and at our office.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For any questions regarding this Notice, please contact:
Plastic Surgery Northwest
530 S Cowley Street, Spokane, WA 99202
Phone: 509-838-1010
Website: https://www.plasticsurgerynorthwest.com