Ways in Which We May Use and Disclose your Protected Health Information:

The following paragraphs describe different ways that we may use and disclose your protected health information. We have provided an example for each category, but these examples are not meant to be exhaustive. We assure you that all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose your health information fall within one of these categories.

Treatment We will use and disclose your protected health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. We will also disclose your health information to other physicians who may be treating you. Additionally, we may from time to time disclose your health information to another physician who we have requested to be involved in your care. For example-we would disclose your health information to a specialist to whom we have referred you for a diagnosis to help in your treatment.

Payment We will use and disclose your protected health information to obtain payment for the health care services we provide you. For example, -we may include information with a bill to a third-party payer that identifies you, your diagnosis, procedures performed, and supplies used in rendering the service.

Health Care Operations We will use and disclose your protected health information to support the business activities of our practice. For example-we may use medical information about you to review and evaluate our treatment and services or to evaluate our staff's performance while caring for you. In addition, we may disclose your health information to third party business associates who perform billing, consulting, or transcription services for our practice.

Other Ways We May Use and Disclose Your Protected Health Information:

Appointment Reminders We will use and disclose your protected health information to contact you as a reminder about scheduled appointment or treatment.

Treatment Alternatives We will use and disclose your protected health information to tell you about or to recommend possible alternative treatments or options that may be of interest to you.

Others Involved in Your Care We will use and disclose your protected health information to a family member, a relative, a close friend, or any other person you identify that is involved in your medical care or payment for care.

Research We will use and disclose your protected health information to researchers provided the research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information.

As Required by Law We will use and disclose your protected health information when required to by federal, state, or local law. You will be notified of any such disclosures.

To Avert a Serious Threat to Public Health or Safety We will use and disclose your protected health information to a public health authority that is permitted to collect or receive the information for the purpose of controlling disease, injury, or disability. If directed by that health authority, we will also disclose your health information to a foreign government agency that is collaboration with the public health authority.

Worker's Compensation We will use and disclose your protected health information for worker's compensation or similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.

Inmates We will use and disclose your protected health information to a correctional institution or law enforcement official if you are an inmate of that correctional institution or under the custody of the law enforcement official. This information would be necessary for the institution to provide you with health care; to protect the health and safety of others; or for the safety and security of the correctional institution.

Your Health Information Rights

Although your health record is the physician property of the health care practitioner or facility that compiled it, the information belongs to you. You have the right to:

A Paper Copy of This Notice You have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice upon request. You may obtain a copy by asking our receptionist at your next visit or by calling and asking us to mail you a copy.

Inspect and Copy You have the right to inspect and copy the protected health information that we maintain about you in our designated record set for as long as we maintain that information. This designated record set includes your medical and billing records, as well as any other records we use for making decisions about you. Any psychotherapy notes that may have been included in records we received about you are not available for your inspection or copying by law. We may charge you a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, or other supplies used in fulfilling your request.

If you wish to inspect or copy your medical information, you must submit your request in writing to our practice manager, Kim Davis
3998 Vista Way, Suite C200, Oceanside, Ca., 92056. You may mail in your request, or bring it to our office. We will have 30 days to respond to your request for information that we maintain at our practice site. If the information is stored off-site, we are allowed up to 60 days to respond but must inform you of this delay.