Uses and Disclosure of Patient Information
Treatment
Your health information may be used by staff members evaluating your health care professionals for the purpose of evaluating your health, diagnosing medical conditions, and providing treatment. For example, results of laboratory tests and procedures will be available in your medical record to all health professionals who may provide treatment or who may be consulted by staff members.
Payment
Your health information may be used to seek payment from your health plan, from other sources of coverage such as an automobile insurer, or from credit card companies that you may use to pay for services. For example, your health plan may request and receive information on dates of service, the services provided, and the medical condition being treated.
Health care operations
Your health information may be used as necessary to support the day-to-day activities and management of Southeast Neuroscience Center. For example, information on the services you received may be used to support budgeting and financial reporting, and activities to evaluate and promote quality.
Law enforcement
Your health information may be disclosed to public health agencies to support government audits and inspections, to facilitate law-enforcement investigations, and to comply with government-mandated reporting.
Public health reporting
Your health information may be disclosed to public health agencies as required by law. For example, we are required to report certain communicable diseases to the state’s public health department.
Other uses and disclosures require your authorization. Disclosure of your health information or its use for any purpose other than those listed above requires your specific written authorization. If you change your mind after authorizing a use or disclosure of your information you may submit a written revocation of the authorization. However, your decision to revoke the authorization will not affect or undo any use or disclosure of information that occurred before you notified us of your decision to revoke your authorization.
Additional Uses of Information
Your health information will be used to
- Provide you with appointment reminders (via voicemail, US Postal Service or E-mail).
- Send you information that you may find interesting on the treatment and management of your medical condition and other health-related products and services that may interest you.
- Get help with your healthcare or with payment for your healthcare from family member, friend or other person to the extent necessary (only if you agree that we may do so).
- Notify, or assist in the notification of (including identifying or locating) a family member, your personal representative or another person responsible for your care, of your location, your general condition, or death.
If you are present, then prior to use or disclosure of your health information, we will provide you with an opportunity to object to such uses or disclosures. In the event of your incapacity or emergency circumstances, we will disclose health information based on a determination using our professional judgment disclosing only health information that is directly relevant to the person’s involvement in your healthcare.
We will also use our professional judgment and our experience with common practice to make reasonable inferences of your best interest in allowing a person to pick up medication samples, medical supplies, x-rays or other similar forms of health information.
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