At Delightful Chiropractic, we are fully committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal health information. 

To our patients, this notice describes how health information about you, as a patient of our practice, may be used and disclosed, and how you can access your health information. This notice is required by the Privacy Regulations created under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Please review it carefully.

At Delightful Chiropractic, we understand the importance of your privacy and are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your medical information. We create records of the care and services you receive to provide quality care and comply with legal requirements. This notice applies to all records of your care generated by our practice.

We are required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI).
  • Provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices concerning your PHI.
  • Notify you following any breach of unsecured PHI.
  • Abide by the terms of the notice currently in effect.

How We May Use or Disclose Your Health Information

We use and disclose your health information for various purposes, including:

1. Treatment

We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services. This includes sharing information with other healthcare providers involved in your care, such as specialists, laboratories, or pharmacies.

2. Payment

We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for our services. This may involve sharing information with your health insurance plan or other third parties responsible for payment.

3. Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose your PHI for operations necessary to run our practice and ensure you receive quality care. This includes quality assessment, employee evaluations, training programs, licensing, and conducting or arranging for other business activities.

4. Appointment Reminders

We may use and disclose your PHI to contact you about upcoming appointments. If you are not available, we may leave a message with limited information on your voicemail or with the person answering your phone.

5. Treatment Alternatives and Health-Related Benefits

We may use and disclose your PHI to inform you about treatment options, alternatives, or other health-related benefits and services that may interest you.

6. Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment

With your permission, we may disclose your PHI to a family member, friend, or any other person you identify who is involved in your medical care or payment for your care.

7. Required by Law

We will disclose your PHI when required by federal, state, or local law.

8. Public Health Activities

We may disclose your PHI for public health activities, such as reporting diseases, injuries, births, deaths, and reactions to medications or other problems.

9. Health Oversight Activities

We may disclose your PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure.

10. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings

We may disclose your PHI in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, or other lawful processes.

11. Law Enforcement

We may disclose your PHI to law enforcement officials for purposes such as identifying or locating a suspect, fugitive, or missing person or reporting a crime.

12. Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors

We may disclose your PHI to coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.

13. Organ and Tissue Donation

If you are an organ donor, we may disclose your PHI to organizations involved in procuring, banking, or transplanting organs and tissues.

14. Research

We may use and disclose your PHI for research purposes under certain conditions and only with your authorization or as permitted by law.

15. To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety

We may use and disclose your PHI when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of others.

16. Specialized Government Functions

If you are a armed forces member, we may disclose your PHI as required by military command authorities. We may also disclose PHI to authorized federal officials for national security and intelligence activities.

17. Workers’ Compensation

We may disclose your PHI for workers’ compensation or similar programs providing benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses.

18. Breach Notification

In case of a breach of unsecured PHI, we will notify you as required by law.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights concerning your PHI:

1. Right to Inspect and Copy

You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI, including medical and billing records. To access your records, please submit a written request specifying your desired information. We may charge a reasonable fee for copying, mailing, or other supplies associated with your request.

2. Right to Amend

If you believe that the PHI we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. Your request must be in writing and provide a reason supporting the amendment. We may deny your request if the information is accurate and complete.

3. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI. This does not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations or those you have authorized.

4. Right to Request Restrictions

You have the right to request a restriction on the PHI we use or disclose for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. You may also request a limit on the PHI we disclose to someone involved in your care or payment for your care. While we are not required to agree to your request, we will consider it carefully.

5. Right to Request Confidential Communications

You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a specific way or location. For example, you may ask that we contact you only at home or by mail. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

6. Right to a Paper or Electronic Copy of This Notice

You have the right to a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically. To obtain a copy, please contact our office.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this notice at any time. Changes will apply to PHI we already have and any new information we receive after the change occurs. The current notice will be posted in our office and on our website, including the effective date.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with us, please contact our office. All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

Contact Our Office

If you have any questions about this notice or wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact us right away.