Privacy Policy

WENATCHEE VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Effective Date March, 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.

Wenatchee Valley Medical Center respects your privacy. We understand that your personal health information is very sensitive. We will not disclose your information to others unless you tell us to do so, or unless the law authorizes, or requires us to do so.

The law protects the privacy of the health information we create and obtain in providing our care and services to you. For example, your health information includes your symptoms, test results, diagnoses, treatment, health information from other providers, and billing and payment information relating to these services. Federal and state law allows us to use and disclose your health information for purposes of treatment and health care operations. State law requires us to get your authorization to disclose this information for payment purposes.

Examples of Use and Disclosures of Protected Health Information for Treatment,

Payment, and Health Operations

For treatment:
· Information obtained by a nurse, physician, or other member of our health care team will be recorded in your medical record and used to help decide what care may be right for you.

· We may also release information to other providers involved in your care. This will help them stay informed about you.

For payment:
· We request payment from your health insurance plan. Health plans need information from us about your medical care. Information provided to health plans may include your diagnoses, procedures performed, or recommended care.

For health care operations:
· We use your medical records to assess quality and improve services.

· We may use and disclose medical records to review the qualifications and performance of our health care providers and to train our staff.

· We may contact you to remind you about appointments and give you information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services.

· We may use and disclose your information to conduct or arrange for services, including:

 medical quality review by your health plan;

 accounting, legal, risk management, and insurance services;

 audit functions, including fraud and abuse detection and compliance programs.

Your Health Information Rights

The health and billing records we create and store are the property of Wenatchee Valley Medical Center. The protected health information in it, however, generally belongs to you. You have a right to:
· Receive, read, and ask questions about this Notice.

· Ask us to restrict certain uses and disclosures. You must deliver this request in writing to us. We are not required to grant the request. But we will comply with any request granted;

· Request and receive from us a paper copy of the most current Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information ("Notice");