University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Policy Name: Health Services Privacy
Policy Number: LR 510.2
Effective Date: May 1, 2010 (review date)
Revised Dates:
Most Recent Review Date:
Policy
UA Little Rock Health Services is required by law to maintain the privacy of “Protected Health Information” and to provide you with this notice of our duties and privacy practices with respect to “Protected Health Information.” (“Protected Health Information” is information about you, including demographic data such as name, address, phone numbers, etc., that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health and related healthcare services.) This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please read it carefully. You may request a copy of this notice. Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization.
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES THE PRACTICES OF UALR HEALTH SERVICES HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHERS WHO WORK OR PROVIDE HEALTHCARE SERVICES AT OUR FACILITY.
Our Responsibilities
We are required to protect the privacy of your protected health information, abide by the terms of this Notice, make this Notice available to you, and to notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction or an alternative means of communicating.
Examples of Uses and Disclosures
- Treatment. We will use your protected health information for treatment. Information obtained by your healthcare provider is recorded in your chart to determine the course of treatment that will work best for you. Your healthcare team members record the actions they took and their observations. No medical information or advice is given via e-mail for security reasons.
- Health Care Operations. We will use your protected health information for regular operations. We may use information from your health record to assess the care and outcomes in your case and others like it. This information is used in an effort to continually improve the effectiveness of the healthcare and the services that we provide.
- Contacting You. We may contact you to provide reminders of needed follow-up care.
- FDA. We may disclose protected health information relative to adverse effects of food, medications, supplements, products, or product defects to the FDA.
- Public Health. We may disclose protected health information to public or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, as required by law.
- Required by Law. We may disclose protected health information for law enforcement purposes as required by law or in response to a valid subpoena.
- Notification. We may use or disclose protected health information with a family member, a close friend, or a person that you identify, if we determine they are involved in your care or in payment for your care, unless you tell us not to do so.
- Family and Friends. We may share protected health information with a family member, a close friend, or a person that you identify, if we determine they are involved in your care or in payment for your care, unless you tell us not to do so.
- Research. We may disclose protected health information to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information.
- Worker’s Compensation. We may disclose protected health information for worker’s compensation claims.
- Your Employer. We may disclose protected health information to your employer if the health care you receive is at the request of your employer.
- Communicable Disease. We may disclose protected health information, if authorized by law to do so, to a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease or may otherwise be at risk of contracting or spreading the disease or condition.
- To Avoid Harm. We may use and disclose information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of the public or another person.
UA Little Rock Health Services has the right to change their notices and practices. You will be given a copy of any change when you come to Health Services.
Your Rights
- You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your protected health information. You must make a written request to obtain copies of your health information.
- You have the right to receive an accounting of disclosures of protected health information.
- You have the right to request restrictions or to amend how your protected health information may be used to carry out treatment or healthcare operations. Health Services does not have to agree to the restrictions requested. A consent may be revoked in writing, except to the extent that Health Services has already taken action in reliance thereon.
- You may request that an amendment be added to your record if you feel information is incomplete or incorrect. We are allowed to deny this request in certain circumstances.
- If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the Director of Human Services, the Vice Chancellor for Educational and Student Services, or with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with the Director of Health Services, send a letter describing the violation to:
UALR, Health Services Director
2801 S. University Ave., DSC 102
Little Rock, AR 72204
Source: Health Services Webpage
Status: Active
Approved by: Health Services, May 1, 2010
Originator:
Custodian: Health Services