This
notice describes how medical information about you may by used and disclosed
and how you can get access to this information.
Our practice is
dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your protected health information,
PHI. In conducting our business, we will create records regarding you
and the treatment we provide to you. We are required by law to maintain
the confidentiality of health information that identifies you. By Federal
and State law, we must follow the terms of the notice of privacy practices
that we have in effect at this time.
These laws are
complicated, but we must provide you with the following important information:
- How we may use
and disclose your PHI
- Your rights
regarding PHI about you
- Our obligations
concerning the use and disclose of your PHI
If you have questions
about this notice please contact:
Jackie
Bevilacqua
Trinity University Health Services
Privacy Officer
One Trinity Place
San Antonio, Texas 78212-7200
210-999-8111
Uses and Disclosures
Treatment.
Your health information may be used by staff members or disclosed to other
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. PHI may be provided to the University Athletic Trainer if you
are participating in intercollegiate athletics. We may use and disclose
PHI when you need a prescription, lab work, an x-ray or other health care
services. We may use and disclose PHI about you when referring you to
another health care provider.
Payment.
Your health information may be used and disclosed if you seek payment
from your health plan or from other sources of coverage such as an automobile
insurer. For example, your health plan may request and receive information
on dates of service, the services provided, and the medical condition
being treated. Trinity University does not submit claims directly to
your insurance company. PHI may be used when billing your student account
for treatment received in Health Services.
Health
Care Operations. Your health information may be used
as necessary to support the day-to-day activities and management of
Trinity University Health Services. For example, information on the
services you received may be used to support budgeting and financial
reporting, and activities to evaluate and promote quality. PHI may be
used to ensure that you are in compliance with the university's immunization
and insurance requirements.
Appointment
Reminders and Follow Up Calls.
We may use and disclose your health information to contact you to
remind you of an appointment or for follow up after a visit to Health
Services.
Law
Enforcement. Your health information may be disclosed
to law enforcement agencies, without your permission, 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.
Serious
Threats to Health or Safety. We may disclose your protected
health information when necessary to reduce or prevent a serious threat
to your health and safety or the health and safety of another individual
or the public.
Workers
Compensation. We may release your health
information for worker's compensation and similar programs.
Other uses &
disclosures require your authorization.
Disclosures of
your health information or its use for any purpose other than those
listed above require your specific written authorization. If you change
your mind after authorizing a use or disclosure of your information,
you must 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.
Individual Rights
You have certain
rights under the federal privacy standards. These include:
- The right to
request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your protected health
information
- The right to
receive confidential communications concerning your medical condition
and treatment
- The right to
inspect and receive a copy your protected health information
- The right to
amend or submit corrections to your protected health information
- The right to
receive an accounting of how and to whom your protected health information
has been disclosed
- The right to
receive a printed copy of this notice
Right to Revise
Privacy Practices
As permitted by
law, we reserve the right to amend or modify our privacy policies and
practices. These changes in our policies and practices may be required
by changes in federal and state laws and regulations. The revised policies
and practices will be applied to all protected health information that
we maintain.
Requests to Inspect
Protected Health Information
As permitted by
federal regulation, we require that requests to inspect or copy protected
health information be submitted in writing. You may obtain a form to
request access to your records by contacting one of the nurses or the
Privacy Officer.
Complaints
If you would like
to submit a comment or complaint about our privacy practices, you can
do so by sending a letter outlining your concerns to:
Trinity
University
Health Services
One Trinity Place
San Antonio, Texas 78212-7200
If
you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you should
call the matter to our attention by sending a letter describing the
cause of your concern to the same address. You will not be penalized
or otherwise retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Contact
Person: JACKIE BEVILACQUA, 210-999-8111
