NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
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.
Bishop Spencer Place is providing this Notice of Privacy
Practices because the privacy of your health information is very important
to you and to us, and in compliance with federal regulations.
By "your health information" we mean the
information that we maintain that specifically identifies you and your
health status.
Summary
This Notice describes how we use your health information
within Bishop Spencer Place and disclose it outside Bishop Spencer Place,
and why.
The Notice covers:
• Uses or disclosures which do not require your
written authorization.
>> Treatment, payment, and health care operations.
>> Uses or disclosures of your health information to which you
may object.
>> Uses or disclosures required or permitted.
• Uses or disclosures which require your written
authorization.
• Your rights as a resident regarding privacy
of your health information.
• Our duties in protecting your health information.
• Complaints, contact person, effective date,
and acknowledgement.
Uses or disclosures which do not require your written
authorization
Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations
We use or disclose your health information to carry
out your treatment; to obtain payment for your treatment; and to conduct
health care operations. For example:
>> For treatment, we use your health information
to plan, coordinate, and provide your care. We disclose your health
information for treatment purposes to physicians and other health care
professionals outside our facility who are involved in your care.
Uses or disclosures which do not require your written
authorization
(continued)
Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations (continued)
>> For payment, we use your health information
to prepare documentation required by your insurance company or HMO or
by Medicare or Medicaid. We disclose that part of your health information
that these organizations require to pay us.
>> For health care operations, we use or disclose
your health information, for example, to improve the quality of our
services, to plan better ways of treating residents, and to evaluate
staff performance.
Uses or Disclosures of Your Health Information to Which
You May Object
We may use or disclose your health information for the
following purposes, unless you ask us not to.
• Facility directories.
We maintain a resident directory including, for each
resident, name, location in our facility, health condition in general
terms, and religious affiliation. We may disclose this information to
people who ask for you by name. We will make known your religious affiliation
only to clergy.
• Informing family and friends. We may disclose
your health information to family, friends, or others identified by
you who are involved in your care.
• Assistance in disaster relief efforts.
• For fundraising activities. We may contact you
or your family for fundraising purposes. If you do not wish to be contacted
for this purpose, please contact and indicate that you do not wish to
receive fundraising communication from us.
• Confirming appointments.
• Informing you about treatment alternatives or
other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to
you.
If you object to our use of your health information
for any of these purposes please contact:
Sharon Eby, Chief Operating Officer and Privacy Officer
Bishop Spencer Place, Inc.
4301 Madison
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816)931-4277
Uses or Disclosures Required or Permitted
Where we are required or permitted to do so, we may
use or disclose your health information in the following circumstances
without your written authorization.
• Federal government investigation, when required
by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine
our compliance with federal regulation.
• Federal, state or local law requirements.
• Public health activities, for example to report
communicable diseases or death; or for matters involving the Food and
Drug Administration.
• Reporting of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
• Health oversight activities by a health oversight
agency. (A health oversight agency is an organization authorized by
the government to oversee eligibility and compliance and to enforce
civil rights laws.)
• Judicial or administrative proceedings, for
example responding to a court order or subpoena.
• Law enforcement purposes, for example to report
certain types of wounds or other physical injuries or to identify or
locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person.
• Use by coroners, medical examiners, or funeral
directors.
• Facilitating organ, eye, or tissue donation.
• Research, provided that very strict controls
are enforced.
• Averting a serious threat to your health or
safety or that of the public.
• Specialized government functions such as military
or veterans' affairs; national security, and intelligence activities.
Uses or disclosures which require your written authorization
Your written authorization, which you may revoke (in
writing), is required if we use or disclose your health information
for any other purpose, in particular:
• Our use of psychotherapy notes beyond treatment,
payment, and health care operations.
• Marketing of goods or services to you.
Your Rights As A Resident to Privacy Of Your Health
Information
• Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request restrictions on our uses and disclosures
of your health information, however we may refuse to accept the restriction.
• Right to Request Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you confidentially,
for example to speak with you only in private; to send mail to an address
you designate; or to telephone you at a number you designate. [OPTIONAL:
Your request must be in writing.] We will make every attempt to honor
your request.
• Right to Request Access to Your Health Information
You have the right to request access to your health information in order
to inspect or copy it. Your request must be in writing. We may deny
your request and, if so, you may request a review of the denial. However,
we will make every attempt to honor your request.
• Right to Request an Amendment of Your Health
Information
You have the right to request an amendment to your health information.
Your request must be in writing and must provide a reason for the amendment.
We may deny your request and, if so, you may submit a statement of disagreement.
However, we will make every attempt to honor your request.
• Right to Request an Accounting of Disclosures
of Your Health Information
You have the right to request an accounting of our disclosures of your
health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, and health
care operations. We will make every attempt to honor your request. We
are not required to provide an accounting for disclosures before April
14, 2003 or for more than 6 years prior to the date of your request.
• Right to Obtain a Paper Copy of this Notice
If you received this Notice electronically, you have the right to receive
a paper copy.
To exercise any of these rights please write or telephone:
Sharon Eby, Chief Operating Officer and Privacy Officer
Bishop Spencer Place, Inc.
4301 Madison
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816)931-4277
Our Duties in Protecting Your Health Information
• We are required by law to maintain the privacy
of your health information.
• We must inform residents or their legal representatives
of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.
This Notice discharges that duty.
• We must abide by the terms of the Notice currently
in effect.
• We reserve the right to change the terms of
this Notice and to make the new Notice provisions effective for all
health information that we maintain. At any time, you may obtain a copy
of the current notice from .
Complaints, Contact Person, Effective Date, and Acknowledgement
• You may complain to us and to the Secretary
of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have
been violated.
• You will not be retaliated against for filing
a complaint.
• You may file your complaint with our facility
by writing to .
• You may file a complaint with the Secretary
of Health and Human Services by writing to:
Secretary of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
(source: www.hhs.gov)
• For further information you may write or call
.
Sharon Eby, Chief Operating Officer and Privacy Officer
Bishop Spencer Place, Inc.
4301 Madison
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816)931-4277
• This notice is effective April 14, 2003