Privacy Statement

Hunt Regional Healthcare

Hunt Regional Medical Center at Greenville

Hunt Regional Community Hospital at Commerce

Hunt Regional Home Care

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that all medical records or individually identifiable health information used or released by us in any form be kept confidential. HIPAA gives you the right to understand and control how your health information is used.

Understanding Your Health Information

Each time you receive medical care a record is created. The health information in your record is used to manage the care you receive. We understand that your health information is personal and confidential.

• This notice will explain how your health information may be used and released.
• This notice will tell you how you can obtain a copy of your health information.
• This notice will explain your health information rights.

The physicians treating you are not employees or agents of the facilities listed in this notice.

This notice explains your rights to control the use of your health information.

Your Health Information Rights

• You have the right to ask us not to let a specific person read or have access to your health information.
• You have the right to read your medical record and to obtain a copy of your record.
• If you feel that information in your medical record is not correct, you have the right to ask us to correct it.
• You have the right to ask us to receive communication of health information in any way or at a specific location.
• You have the right to obtain an accounting of protected health information released out of your medical record.
• You have the right to request a paper of this Notice of Privacy Practices. [end bullet]
• We are not required to agree to a health information request if agreeing to the request would impact our ability to care for you.

Do you want to be listed in the facility directory?

• When you are registered, you have the right to ask us not to include your name in the facility directory.
• The facility directory includes your name, location in the facility, general condition, and religion.
• Your religion will only be released to members of the clergy.
• Your location and general condition may be released to anyone who asks for you by name.

Do you want us to share your health information with your family, friends, or with visitors that ask about you?

• With your permission, we will let family members or friends be involved in discussions about your condition.
• It is your responsibility to ask friends, family, or visitors to leave your room when a hospital employee enters the room to talk to your about your condition.

Our Responsibilities

• Your health care team is responsible for keeping your health information private.
• Your health care team is required to follow the privacy guidelines included in this document.

How can you get a copy of your health information?

For instructions on how you can get a copy of your health information, please call the facility where you were treated.

Hunt Regional Medical Center at Greenville
903-408-1634

Hunt Regional Community Hospital at Commerce
903-886-3161

Hunt Regional Home Care
903-408-1950

How is your health information used?

We may use and disclose your medical records for treatment, payment, and health care operations.

Treatment means providing, coordinating, or managing health care and related services by one or more health care providers. Example: lab results sent to your physician.

Payment means obtaining reimbursement for services, confirming coverage, billing or collection activities, and utilization review. Example: sending a bill for your visit to your insurance company for payment.

Health care operations means the business aspects of our organization. The information in your medical record may be used to review and improve the services we provide. Example: quality assessment, auditing, customer service, etc. students may access your information as part of a patient care training program.

When can we release your health information without obtaining your written permission?

Your information can be released:

• To state or federal officials in the case of suspected abuse, violence, or neglect.
• To prevent a serious threat to the health or safety of another person or the public.
• To law enforcement when seeking information about a criminal suspect.
• To the military if you are a member of the armed forces.
• To federal officials for security or intelligence needs.
• To jail or law enforcement if you are an inmate.
• To process and administrative or judicial request, subpoena, or court order.
• To assist in a disaster relief effort.
• To contracted businesses that provide necessary services. Example: external laboratories, transcription agencies, etc.

When can we release your information without obtaining your written permission?

• The state requires the release of information for organ or tissue donations.
• Your information may be released for public health purposes. Example: reporting births, deaths, and diseases.
• Your information may be released to the Food and Drug Administration.
• Your information may be released for health oversight activities. Example: audits or inspections.
• Your information may be released for research purposes.
• Your information may be released to coroners and funeral directors.
• Your information may be released when requested by Workers' Compensation.
• Your information may be released if requested by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Your information may be used when we contact you to remind you about appointments for treatment or medical care.
• Your information may be used when we are advertising health-related services that may be of interest to you.
• You can contact the facility Privacy Officer to be removed from mailing lists.

How do you give us permission to release your health information?

• Your written permission will be needed for all uses of your health information not listed in this notice.
• You give the facility permission to release your health information by signing a written authorization form.
• You may cancel a written authorization at any time.
• To cancel an authorization, contact the Privacy Officer at the facility where you were treated.

Complaints?

You have the right to file a complaint if you think that the facility has not kept your health information private. Complaints should be sent to the Privacy Officer listed below.

Questions?

Please forward questions to the Privacy Officer at the facility where your were treated.

Privacy Officers

Hunt Regional Medical Center at Greenville
Director, Health Information Management, 903-408-1645

Hunt Regional Community Hospital at Commerce
Coordinator, 903-886-3161

Hunt Regional Home Care
Director, Hunt Regional Home Care, 903-408-1951

Complaints can also be sent to:

U. S. Dept. Of Health & Human Services
Office of Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
202-619-0257 or 1-877-696-6775

We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices and to make the new provisions effective for all health information that we maintain.