The Office of Sea Coast Chiropractic

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW CHIROPRACTIC AND MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.
PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

 
In the course of your care as a patient at Sea Coast Chiropractic, we may use or disclose personal and health related information about you in the following ways:

*Your personal health information, including your clinical records, may be disclosed to another health care provider or hospital if it is necessary to refer you for further diagnosis, assessment or treatment.
*Your health care records as well as your billing records may be disclosed to another party, such as an insurance carrier, an HMO, a PPO, or your employer (if they are responsible for the payment of your services).
*Your name, address, phone number, email address and your health care records may be used to contact you regarding appointment reminders, newsletter, and birthday correspondence, to provide information about alternatives to your present care, or for other health related information that may be of interest to you.

If you are not at home to receive an appointment reminder, a message may be left on your answering machine. Further, you have the right to inspect or obtain a copy of the information we will use for these purposes. You also have the right to refuse to provide authorization for this office to contact you regarding these matters. If you do not provide us with this authorization it will not affect the care provided to you or the reimbursement avenues associated with your care.
Under Federal law, we are also permitted or required to use or disclose your health information without your consent or authorization in the following circumstances:

*If we are providing health care services to you based on the orders of another health care provider.
*If we provide health care services to you in an emergency.
* If we are required by law to provide care to you and we are unable to obtain your consent after attempting to do so.
* If there are substantial barriers to communicating with you, but in our professional judgment we believe that you intend for us to provide care.
*If we are ordered by the courts or another appropriate agency.

Any use or disclosure of your protected health information, other than as described in the examples outlined above, will only be made upon your written authorization. We normally provide information about your health care to you in person at the time you receive chiropractic care from us. We may also mail information to you regarding your health care or regarding the status on your account. If you would like to receive this information at an address other than your home or, if you would like the information in a different form, please advise us in writing as to your preferences. 

You have the right to inspect and/or copy your health information for seven years or for as long as the information remains in our files. In addition, you have the right to request an amendment to your health information. Requests to inspect, copy or amend your health related information should be provided to us in writing.

We are required by state and federal law to maintain the privacy of your patient file and the health protected health information therein. We are also required to provide you with this notice of our privacy practices with respect to your health information.

We are further required by law to abide by the terms of this notice while it is in effect. We reserve the right to alter or amend the terms of this privacy notice; we will notify you in writing as soon as possible following the changes. Any change in our privacy notice will apply for all of your health records in our files.

Information that we use or disclose based on this privacy notice may be subject to re-disclosure by the person or persons to whom we provide the information and may no longer be protected by the federal privacy rights.

If you have a complaint regarding our privacy notice, our privacy practices or any aspect of our privacy activities you should direct your complaint to Dr. Sean Reese (910) 392-3100.

If you would like further information about our privacy policies and practices please contact Dr. Sean Reese (910) 392-3100.

 
This office utilizes an “open-adjusting” environment for ongoing patient care. “Open-adjusting” involves several patients being seen in the same adjusting room at the same time. Patients are within sight of one another and some ongoing routine details of care are discussed within earshot of other patients and staff. This environment is used for ongoing care and this is NOT the environment used for taking histories, providing examinations or presenting reports of findings. These procedures are completed in a private, confidential setting. The use of this format is intended to make your experience in our office more efficient and productive as well as to enhance your access to quality health care and health information. If you choose not to be adjusted in an open-adjusting environment, other arrangements will be made for you.

This notice is effective as of _______________________. This notice, and any alterations or amendments made hereto, will expire seven years after the date upon which the record was created. My signature acknowledges that I have received a copy of this notice. 
      

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