MROHCA Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information.

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you may get access to this information.  Please read it carefully. 

MROHCA is dedicated to protecting your medical information.  We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information.  MROHCA is required by law to abide by the terms of this notice, and we reserve the right to change the terms of this notice, making any revision applicable to all the protected health information we maintain.  If MROHCA revises the terms of this notice, it will post a revised notice at all locations and will make paper copies of this notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information available upon request. 

How Your Medical Information Will Be Used and Disclosed:

MROHCA will use your medical information as part of rendering patient care.  For example, your medical information may be used by the health care professional treating you, by the business office to process your payment for the services rendered and by administrative personnel reviewing the quality and appropriateness of the care your receive. 

MROHCA may also use and / or disclose your information in accordance with federal and state laws for the following purposes:

• MROHCA may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
• One of the MROHCA organizations may contact you for fundraising purposes.
• MROHCA may disclose medical information when required by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as part of an investigation or determination of the hospital’s compliance with relevant laws.
• Unless you object, and with the exception of behavioral health patients, MROHCA will include general information, including your name, location in the hospital, your condition described in general terms and your religious affiliation in a directory of individuals admitted to Middletown Regional Hospital. The directory information, except for your religious affiliation, will be released to people who ask for you by name. Your religious affiliation may be given to members of the clergy, even if they do not ask for you by name.
• Unless you object, and with the exception of behavioral health patients, MROHCA may disclose to family members, other relatives or close personal friends the medical information directly relevant to such person’s involvement with your care.
• Unless you object, and with the exception of behavioral health patients, MROHCA may use or disclose your medical information to notify a family member, a personal representative or another person responsible for your care of your location, general condition or death.
• MROHCA may disclose your medical information to a public or private entity for the purpose of coordinating with that entity to assist in disaster relief efforts.
• MROHCA may use or disclose your medical information for public health activities, including the reporting of disease, injury, vital events and the conduct of public health surveillance, investigation and / or intervention.  MROHCA may disclose your medical information to a health oversight agency for oversight activities authorized by law, including audits, investigations, inspections, licensure or disciplinary actions, administrative and / or legal proceedings.
• MROHCA may disclose your medical information in the course of certain judicial or administrative proceedings.
• MROHCA may disclose your medical information for law enforcement purposes or other specialized governmental functions.
• MROHCA may disclose your medical information to a coroner, a medical examiner or a funeral director.
• If you are an organ donor, MROHCA may disclose your medical information to an organ donation and procurement organization.
• MROHCA may use or disclose your medical information for certain research purposes.
• MROHCA may use or disclose your medical information to prevent or lessen a serious threat to the health or safety of another person or the public.
• MROHCA may disclose your medical information as authorized by laws relating to workers’ compensation or similar programs.
• Unless you object, MROHCA may disclose your name, social security number, or other identifying information for tracking medical devices under the Safe Medical Device Act.

Ohio law requires that we obtain a consent from you in many instances, such as before disclosing the performance or results of an HIV test or diagnoses of AIDS or an AIDS-related condition, before disclosing information about drug or alcohol treatment you have received in a drug or alcohol treatment program and before disclosing information about mental health services you may have received. For full information on when such consents may be necessary, you can contact Robyn Myers, privacy officer. MROHCA will not use or disclose your medical information for any other purpose without your written authorization. Once given, you may revoke your authorization in writing at any time.

Your Rights Regarding Your Medical Information:

You have the following rights with respect to your medical information:

• The right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your medical information.  MROHCA is not required to agree to your requested restriction.
• The right to receive communications from MROHCA in a confidential manner.
• The right to inspect and copy your medical information.  This right is subject to certain specific exceptions, and you may be charged a reasonable fee for any copies of your records.
• The right to request an amendment of your medical information.  MROHCA may deny your request for certain specific reasons, and, if denied, you will be provided with a written explanation for the denial and information regarding further rights you would have at that point.
• The right to receive an accounting of the disclosures of your medical information made by MROHCA in the six years prior to your request, except for disclosures for treatment, payment or operational purposes, and for certain other specific disclosure types.
• The right to request a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information. 
• The right to complain to MROHCA and / or to the United States Department of Health and Human Services if you believe that your privacy rights have been violated. To complain to MROHCA, please contact the Hospital’s Privacy Officer.

If you would like further information regarding your rights or regarding the uses and disclosures of your medial information, you may contact Robyn Myers, privacy officer at 513/424-2111.

 

This Notice Is Effective as of April 14, 2003