 |
Website Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy.
This Privacy Policy describes BarsaHealth.com current policies and practices with regard to data collected by BarsaHealth.com through this Web site. The term "data" refers to information about you, such as your name, birth date, e-mail address or mailing address, and any other information that is identified with you personally.
Notification of Changes to This Policy.
BarsaHealth.com is continually improving and adding new functionality and features to this Web site and improving and adding to our existing services and programs. Because of these ongoing changes, changes in the law and the changing nature of technology, BarsaHealth.com's data practices will change from time to time. If and when our data practices change, BarsaHealth.com will post the changes on our Web site to notify you of the changes. We encourage you to check this page frequently.
Data Collected Through BarsaHealth.com.
The only data BarsaHealth.com currently collects through this Web site is the information you give us when you use our site. For example, you may use this site to contact BarsaHealth.com with your questions and comments. When you submit information using one of the forms on this site, we ask you for your name and other information, including, for example, your mailing address and medical insurance provider. All data collection is done through a secure server utilizing PGP standard encryption technology. Although, BarsaHealth.com can not guarantee beyond all doubt that data submitted through the BarsaHealth.com website will not be digitally intercepted by unknown third parties, we are utilizing the standard in website security.
Use of Data Collected Through BarsaHealth.com.
BarsaHealth.com uses the information you provide only for the explicit purpose for which you have submitted the information.
Storage of Data Collected Through BarsaHealth.com.
All information collected through BarsaHealth.com is stored on secure server space rented from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The security and privacy of information residing on the secure server is wholly dependent on the policy of the ISP which owns the server. To ensure further privacy protection, BarsaHealth.com stores your information through a proprietary encryption system known only to BarsaHealth.com. Although, BarsaHealth.com can not guarantee beyond all doubt that the ISP may decode and utilize data submitted to BarsaHealth.com for unauthorized purposes, BarsaHealth.com utilizes the services of an ISP whose policy it is to keep all data stored on rented server space secure and private. Once the data which you have submitted through BarsaHealth.com has been viewed by a Annapolis Asthma, Pulmonary, and Sleep Specialists employee it will be stored in paper format with your records and it will no longer be stored digitally on the ISPs server.
Anonymous Data Collected Through BarsaHealth.com.
BarsaHealth.com uses technology to collect anonymous information about the use of our Web site. An example of anonymous data collection includes tracking how many visitors access our Web site, the date and time of visits, the length of time anonymous visitors stay at the site, and which pages are viewed.
Cookies.
At this time, BarsaHealth.com does not use temporary "cookies". These "cookies" would collect the first level domain name of the user (for example, if your e-mail address is "bob.com," the cookie collects the "xyz.com" portion of your e-mail address) and the date and time you accessed this Web site. Cookies by themselves cannot be used to discover the identity of the user. A cookie is a small piece of information which is sent to your browser and stored on your computer's hard drive. Cookies do not damage your computer. You can set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie. This enables you to decide if you want to accept it or not. BarsaHealth.com reserves the right to use cookies in the future. If BarsaHealth.com chooses to use "cookies" it will state so on this Privacy Policy Statement.
Disclosure of Your Data.
BarsaHealth.com will not share any of your personal information with any other parties, except as specified in the HIPAA policy below.
Children.
BarsaHealth.com does not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of thirteen. If you are under thirteen, please do not give us any personal data. If you have reason to believe that a child has provided information to BarsaHealth.com, please contact us.
Link to Other Sites.
This Privacy Policy applies only to BarsaHealth.com. BarsaHealth.com contains hyperlinks to Web sites that are not operated by BarsaHealth.com. These hyperlinks are provided for your reference and convenience only and do not imply any endorsement of the activities of these third-party Web sites or any association with their operators. BarsaHealth.com does not control these Web sites and is not responsible for their data practices. We urge you to review the Privacy Policy posted on any site you visit before using the site or providing any personal data about yourself.
Access, Duplication and Ammendments to Information Stored by BarsaHealth.com.
For access, duplication or to amend the information that you submitted, contact us.
Questions About Our Privacy Policy.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or concerns about the way BarsaHealth.com processes your personal data, please contact us.
Adopted from the Privacy Policy at Guidant.com and adjusted to include HIPPA regulations.
HIPPA Policy
Our HIPPA Policy:
This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact your doctor. This notice describes the privacy practices at our office.
We are required by law to:
- Maintain the privacy of protected health information.
- Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices regarding your health information.
- Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.
How we may use and disclose your health information.
Described as follows are the ways we may use and disclose your health information. Except for the following purposes we will use and disclose your health information only with your written permission. You may revoke such permission at any time by writing to the Office Manager.
Treatment.
We may use and disclose your health information for your treatment and to provide you with treatment-related health care services. For example, we may disclose your health information to doctors, nurses, technicians, or other personnel, including people outside our office, who are involved in your medical care and need the information to provide you with medical care.
Payment.
We may use and disclose your health information so that others or we may bill and receive payment from you, an insurance company, or a third party for the treatment and services you received. For example, we may give information to your health plan so that they will pay for your treatment.
Health Care Operations.
We may use and disclose your health information to evaluate and improve our medical care and to operate and manage our office. For example, we may use and disclose information to a peer review organization or a health plan that is evaluating our care. We may also share information with others that have a relationship with you for their health care operation activities.
Appointment Reminders, Treatment Alternatives, and Health-Related Benefits and Services.
We may use and disclose your health information to contact you and remind you of your appointment, to tell you about treatment alternatives or health-related benefits and services you could use.
Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care.
When appropriate, we may share your health information with a person involved in, or paying for, your care (such as your family or a close friend). We may notify your family about your location or condition or disclose such information to an entity assisting in disaster relief.
Research.
We may use and disclose your health information for research. For example, a research project may involve comparing the health of patients who received one treatment to those who received another for the same condition. Before we do so, the project needs to go through a special approval process. Even without special approval, we may permit researchers to look at records to help identify patients who may be included in their research, as long as they do not remove or copy any of your health information.
As Required by Law.
We will disclose your health information when required to do so by international, federal, state or local law.
To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety.
We may use and disclose your health information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to the health and safety of you, another person, or the public. Disclosures will be made only to someone who can prevent the threat.
Business Associates.
We may disclose your health information to our business associates that perform functions on our behalf or provide us with services if necessary. For example, we may use another company to perform billing services on our behalf. All of our business associates are obligated to protect the privacy of your information and are not allowed to use or disclose the information for any other purpose than appears in their contract with us.
Military and Veterans.
If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release your health information as required by military command authorities. If you are a member of a foreign military we may release your health information to the foreign military command authority.
Worker's Compensation.
We may release your health information for worker's compensation or similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.
Public Health Risks.
We may disclose your health information for public health activities to prevent or control disease, injury or disability. We may use your health information in reporting births or deaths, suspected child abuse or neglect, medication reactions or product malfunctions or injuries, and product recall notifications. We may use your health information to notify someone who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition. If we are concerned that a patient may have been a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence we may ask your permission to make a disclosure to an appropriate government authority. We will make that disclosure only when you agree or when required or authorized to do so by law.
Health Oversight Activities.
We may disclose your health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These may include audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure. These activities are necessary to for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.
Lawsuits and Disputes.
If you are involved in a lawsuit or dispute, we may disclose your health information in response to a court or administrative order. We may disclose your health information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.
Law Enforcement.
We may release your health information if requested by a law enforcement official if:
- there is a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process;
- the request is limited to information needed to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person;
- the information is about the victim of a crime even if, under certain very limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain your agreement;
- the information is about a death that may be the result of criminal conduct;
- the information is relevant to criminal conduct on our premises; and
- it is needed in an emergency to report a crime, the location of a crime or victims, or the identity, description, or location of the person who may have committed the crime.
Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors.
We may release your health information to a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director to identify a deceased person or cause of death, or other similar circumstance.
National Security and Intelligence Activities.
We may disclose your health information to authorized federal officials for intelligence and other national security activities authorized by law.
Inmates or Individuals in Custody.
If you are an inmate of a correctional institution or in custody we may disclose your information:
- for the institution to provide you with health care,
- to protect your health and safety or that of others, and
- for the safety and security of the institution.
Your rights regarding your health information.
Right to Inspect and Copy.
You have the right to inspect and copy your medical and billing records by written request to your doctor.
Right to Amend.
You have the right to request an amendment to your records by written request to your doctor.
Right to an Accounting Of Disclosures.
You have a right to an accounting of certain disclosures by written request to your doctor.
Right to Request Restrictions.
You have the right to request restriction or limitation on your health information used for treatment, payment or health care operations. You may request us to limit disclosure to someone involved in your care or in payment for your care (such as a spouse) by written request to your doctor. We are not required to agree with your request, but we will try to comply.
Right to Request Confidential Communication.
You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. You can ask, for example, that we contact you only by mail or at work. Your written request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted and be addressed to your doctor. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Changes to this notice.
We may change this notice and make it effective for medical information we already have about you as well as new information. The current notice will be posted and available at all times. You have a right to request a paper copy of the current notice at any visit or by written request to your doctor.
|
 |
