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University of Utah Health Care

Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective: April 14, 2003

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.

I. Our Organization

This notice describes the privacy practices of the University of Utah Health Sciences Center (UUHSC). UUHSC includes University Hospital, University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI), clinics, doctor’s offices, and other health care facilities owned by the University of Utah, as well as the UUHSC providers, employees, students, trainees, and volunteers at those facilities. This notice also describes the privacy practices of affiliated providers while they are performing services in a UUHSC facility, unless they provide you with a notice of their specific privacy practices. Affiliated providers are not employed by UUHSC but are either authorized to provide services to patients in a UUHSC facility or have a contractual relationship with University of Utah Employee Health Plan and Healthy “U” insurance.

The UUHSC participates in an organized healthcare arrangement with other providers. For a complete list, contact the UUHSC privacy office or visit their web page at http://uuhsc.utah.edu/privacy/. University of Utah Employee Health Plan, Healthy “U” insurance, and affiliated providers may have different privacy practices from those described in this notice. For more information about the privacy practices of our health plans and affiliated providers, please contact them directly.

II. Our Privacy Responsibilities

UUHSC is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information; provide this notice that describes the ways we may use and share your health information; and follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.

III. Privacy Promise

UUHSC understands that your health information is personal and protecting your health information is important. We follow strict federal and state laws that require us to maintain the confidentiality of your health information.

IV. Uses and Disclosures of Health Information Permitted by Law

The following categories describe the ways that the UUHSC may use and disclose your health information. Some health records, including confidential communications with a mental health professional, some substance abuse treatment records, some genetic test results, and some health information of minors, may have additional restrictions for use and disclosure under state and federal laws. Your health information will be used or disclosed only for the following purposes:

When you receive care from UUHSC, we may use your health information for treating you, billing for services, and conducting our normal business known as health care operations. Examples of how we use your information include:

Treatment: We keep records of the care and services provided to you. Health care providers use these records to deliver quality care to meet your needs. For example, your doctor may share your health information with a specialist who will assist in your treatment. The UUHSC may use or disclose health information to contact you to remind you of an appointment at the UUHSC. If you do not wish to be reminded of appointments, notify the scheduler.

Payment: We keep billing records that include payment information and documentation of the services provided to you. Your information may be used to obtain payment from you, your insurance company, or another third party. We may also contact your insurance company to verify coverage for your care or to notify them of upcoming services that may need prior notice or approval. For example, we may disclose health information about the services provided to you to claim and obtain payment from your insurance company or Medicare.

Health Care Operations: We use health information to improve the quality of care, train staff and students, provide customer service, manage costs, conduct required business duties, and make plans to better serve our communities. For example, we may use your health information to evaluate the quality of treatment and services provided by our physicians, nurses, and other health care workers.

Individuals Involved in your Care or Payment for your Care: We may disclose your health information to a spouse, family member, close personal friend, or any individual identified by you if we obtain your agreement. You will have the opportunity to identify this person or to object to our disclosing information to them. We may also disclose to them if we can reasonably infer from you that you do not object to the disclosure.

Directory of Patients: The UUHSC may include information about you in a patient directory while you are at UUHSC. This information may include your name, your general health status (critical, fair, stable, etc.), and your location in the hospital. This is so your family, friends, and people who ask for you by name can visit you in the Hospital and generally know how you are doing. The directory may also include your religious affiliation which we will share with clergy only. If you do not want your information in the patient directory OR do want clergy to visit you, let us know when you register. Information about patients receiving psychiatric or substance abuse treatment is never included in any patient directory. If you opt-out of the directory, UUHSC will be unable to provide information to your family, friends, or others who ask for you by name.

Outside Contractors: The UUHSC may use or disclose health information about you with people who contract with us to provide goods and services used in your treatment or for hospital operations. Examples include copy services, consultants, interpreters, and health transcriptionists. The UUHSC requires these contractors to protect the confidentiality of your health information as we do.

Research: Under certain limited circumstances, the UUHSC may use or disclose health information about you for research after the University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) has approved the research proposal. The IRB is a committee that reviews all research at the University involving patients to protect patients and their privacy.

Fundraising: The UUHSC is a charitable institution with a three-fold mission of patient care, research, and teaching. To further this mission, we may wish to contact you occasionally for fundraising purposes. If you do not wish to be contacted for this purpose, please notify the UUHSC Development office in writing at 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132.

Health Care Communications: To identify health-related services and products that may benefit you and then contact you about the services and products.

Organ Procurement Organizations: To the extent allowed by law, the UUHSC may disclose your health information to organ procurement organizations and other entities engaged in the procurement, banking or transplantation of organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant. For example, the UUHSC is required to disclose a positive communicable disease test result before or after transplantation to the medical director or executive director of the organ procurement organization and the United Network for Organ Sharing (“UNOS”), pursuant to UNOS regulations.

Public Health Activities: The UUHSC may use or disclose your health information with public health authorities in charge of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability. For example, the UUHSC is required to report infectious diseases to the Utah Department of Health; billing practices may be audited by the Utah State Auditor; records are subject to review by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure product safety.

Workers Compensation: The UUHSC may use or disclose health information about you for workers’ compensation or similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses.

Health Oversight Activities: To a health oversight agency that oversees the health care system and ensure compliance with the rules of government health programs such as Medicare or Medicaid.

Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: In the course of a judicial or administrative proceeding in response to a legal order or other lawful purpose.

Threat to Health and Safety: To reduce or prevent a serious threat to public health and safety.

Law Enforcement Officials; Specialized Government Functions: We may disclose information to the police or other law enforcement officials as required by law or in compliance with a court order. We may disclose information to military or veterans' authorities about Armed Forces personnel, under certain circumstances. We may also disclose information to authorized federal officials for purposes of lawful intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities.

Decedents: To a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director as authorized by law.

All other uses and disclosures, not described in this notice, require your signed authorization. You may revoke your authorization at any time with a written statement submitted to Health Information.

V. Your Individual Rights

You have the following rights concerning your health information. A request to exercise any of these rights must be made in writing. Forms are available on the Internet at http://uuhsc.utah.edu/privacy/

Right to Alternative Communications	You have the right to request the UUHSC communicate with you in a certain manner. For example, you may ask that the UUHSC contact you only at work or at a different address than your home address. You may request this during registration.
Right to Inspect or Receive Copy	You have the right to inspect or receive a copy your health information. Call the Health Information department at (801) 587-3887 or visit http://uuhsc.utah.edu/privacy on the Internet to find out how to do this.
Right to Amend	You have the right to request an amendment to your health information. Call the Health Information department at (801) 587-3887 or visit http://uuhsc.utah.edu/privacy on the Internet to find out how to do this.
Right to an Accounting	You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made by us. The list does not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, and health care operations and some disclosures required by law. Your request must state the period of time requested for the accounting. An accounting goes back only six years and does not cover disclosures made prior to April 14, 2003. The first accounting is free but a fee will apply if more than one request is made in a 12-month period. Call the Health Information department at (801) 587-3887 or visit http://uuhsc.utah.edu/privacy on the Internet to find out how to do this.
Right to Request Special Restrictions	You may request that the UUHSC provide special restrictions on the sharing of your health information. If you are in a health care emergency, we may share restricted health information without your permission Call the Health Information department at (801) 587-3887 or visit http://uuhsc.utah.edu/privacy on the Internet to find out how to do this. Right to Revoke Authorization: You have the right to revoke your authorization to disclose your health information, except to the extent that action has already been taken in reliance on your authorization. Call the Health Information department at (801) 587-3887 or visit http://uuhsc.utah.edu/privacy on the Internet to find out how to do this. Request a paper copy of this notice even if you agree to receive it electronically.

VI. Changes to this Notice

The UUHSC will follow the terms of the notice currently in effect. The UUHSC reserves the right to change this notice and to make the new notice effective for all health information that it maintains. An updated version of this notice may be obtained on the Internet at http://uuhsc.utah.edu/privacy or in Hospital Admitting, Clinic Registration, Hospital Emergency Department, or in Customer Service.

This Notice is Effective: April 14, 2003.

VII. Contact Us

If you would like further information about your privacy rights, are concerned that your privacy rights have been violated, or disagree with a decision that we made about access to your health information:

Contact the UUHSC Customer Service Department 50 North Medical Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84132 (801) 581-2668

E-mail: Customer.Service@hsc.utah.edu

We will investigate all complaints and will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint. You may also file a written complaint with the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Forms are available online at http://uuhsc.utah.edu/privacy or in the Customer Service Office, located in the lobby of the Hospital. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.