Sanctuary Treatment Center collects health information about you and stores it in a chart, on a computer, and/or in a personal health record. This is your medical record. The medical record is the property of Sanctuary Treatment Center, but the information in the medical record belongs to you. The following categories describe different ways that Sanctuary Treatment Center may use or disclose protected health information. For each category of uses and disclosures, Sanctuary Treatment Center will explain what is meant and may give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways Sanctuary Treatment Center is permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories. Some information such as certain drug and alcohol information, HIV, or mental health information is entitled to special restrictions.
4.1 For Internal Communications. Your protected health information will be used within Sanctuary Treatment Center between and among Sanctuary Treatment Center staff who have a need for the information, in connection with Sanctuary Treatment Center’s duty to diagnose, treat, or refer you for treatment. This means that your protected health information may be shared between or among personnel for treatment, payment or health care operation purposes. For example, two or more providers within Sanctuary Treatment Center may consult with each other regarding your best course of treatment. Sanctuary Treatment Center may share your protected health information in a billing effort to receive payment for healthcare services rendered to you. And/or, your protected health information may be discussed within Sanctuary Treatment Center about your treatment in connection with others receiving treatment, in an effort to improve the overall quality of care provided by Sanctuary Treatment Center. Your protected health information will not be re-disclosed by Sanctuary Treatment Center personnel except as is otherwise permitted herein.
4.2. To Qualified Service Organizations and/or Business Associates. Some or all of your protected health information may be subject to disclosure through contracts for services with qualified service organizations and/or business associates, outside of Sanctuary Treatment Center, that assist Sanctuary Treatment Center in providing healthcare. Examples of qualified service organizations and/or business associates include billing companies, data processing companies, or companies that provide administrative or specialty services. To protect your health information, Sanctuary Treatment Center requires these qualified service organizations and/or business associates to follow the same standards held by Sanctuary Treatment Center through terms detailed in a written agreement.
4.3. In Medical Emergencies. Your health information may be disclosed to medical personnel in a medical emergency, when there is immediate threat to the health of an individual, and when immediate medical intervention is required.
4.4. To Researchers. Under certain circumstances, Sanctuary Treatment Center may use and disclose your protected health information for research purposes. For example, a research project may involve comparing the health and recovery of all clients who received one test or treatment to those who received another, for the same condition. All research projects, however, must be approved by an Institutional Review Board, or other privacy review board as permitted within the regulations, that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your protected health information.
4.5. To Auditors and Evaluators. Sanctuary Treatment Center may disclose protected health information to regulatory agencies, funders, third-party payers, and peer review organizations that monitor alcohol and drug programs to ensure that Sanctuary Treatment Center is complying with regulatory mandates and is properly accounting for and disbursing funds received.
4.6. Pursuant to Authorizing Court Order. Sanctuary Treatment Center may disclose your protected health information pursuant to an authorizing court order. This is a unique kind of court order in which certain application procedures have been taken to protect your identity, and in which the court makes certain specific determinations as outlined in the federal regulations and limits the scope of the disclosure.
4.7. Crime on Sanctuary Treatment Center Premises or Against Sanctuary Treatment Center Personnel. Sanctuary Treatment Center may disclose a limited amount of protected health information to law enforcement when a client commits or threatens to commit a crime on Sanctuary Treatment Center premises or against Sanctuary Treatment Center personnel. Federal law and regulations do not protect any information about a crime committed by a client either at Sanctuary Treatment Center or against any person who works for Sanctuary Treatment Center or about any threat to commit such a crime.
4.8. Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect. Sanctuary Treatment Center may report suspected child abuse or neglect as mandated by state law. Federal law and regulations do not protect any information about suspected child abuse or neglect from being reported under state law to appropriate state or local authorities.
4.9. As Required By Law. Sanctuary Treatment Center will disclose protected health information as required by state law in a manner otherwise permitted by federal privacy and confidentiality regulations.
4.10. Appointment Reminders. Sanctuary Treatment Center reserves the right to contact you, in a manner permitted by law, with appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives and other health related benefits that may be appropriate to you.
4.11. Other Uses and Disclosure of Protected Health Information. Other uses and disclosures of protected health information not covered by this Notice will be made only with your written authorization or that of your legal representative. If you or your legal representative authorize Sanctuary Treatment Center to use or disclose protected health information about you, you or your legal representative may revoke that authorization, at any time, except to the extent that Sanctuary Treatment Center has already taken action relying on the authorization.