NOTICE OF PRIVACY

Ø                  Marketing/Health-Related Benefits and Services  We may use and disclose protected health information to tell you about health-related benefits and services to your treatment, case management or care coordination or recommend possible treatment options or alternatives that may be of interest to you or to provide you with small gifts. We may also encourage you to purchase a product and services when we see you. In addition, we may use and disclose your protected health information for certain marketing activities, such as, using your name and address to send you a newsletter about our office and the services we offer.

Ø                  Fundraising Activities   We may use protected health information about you in order to contact you for fundraising activities supported by us.  Only your name, address and phone number and the date you received treatment or services from us would be used.

Ø                  Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care   We may disclose to one of your family members, to a relative, to a close personal friend or to any other person identified by you, protected health information directly relevant to the person's involvement with your care or payment related to your care. In addition, we may disclose protected health information about you to notify, identify or locate a member of your family, your personal representative, another person responsible for your care or certain disaster relief agencies of your location, general condition or death. In the case of a communication barrier, we may disclose your protected health information to an interpreter.

Ø                  Emergencies/Disaster Relief     We may use or disclose your protected health information about you to a public or private agency (like American Red Cross) for emergencies or disaster relief purposes. Even if you object, we may still share information about you, if necessary for emergency circumstances.

Ø                  Research/Stem Cell Research  Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose protected health information about you for research purposes.  For example, a research project may involve comparing the health and recovery of all patients who received one medication to those who received another, for the same condition.  All research projects, however, are subject to a special approval process.  We will almost always ask for your specific permission if the researcher will have access to your name, address or other information that reveals who you are, or will be involved in your care.

Ø                  As Required By Law  We will disclose protected health information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law. The use or disclosure will be made in compliance with the law and will be limited to the relevant requirements of the law.  We will make a reasonable effort to inform you of the request.

Ø                  To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety  We may use and disclose protected health information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.  Any disclosure, however, would only be to someone able to help prevent the threat.

Ø                  Military and Veterans  If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release protected health information about you as required by military command authorities.  We may also release protected health information about foreign military personnel to the appropriate foreign military authority.

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