Privacy Policy & Patient Right

Privacy Policy

Student Health Services Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective Date: 9/13/2016

*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*

PRIVACY POLICY

The Student Health Center (SHC) is required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide individuals with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information. While this policy is in effect, we are required by law to abide by its terms.

Patients who have questions or require additional information should be referred to the SHC Director who serves as the Privacy Officer. Patients who believe their rights have been violated can submit complaints on the suggestion forms available in the waiting room. They will be reviewed by the SHC Director. Patients who have complaints that require immediate attention should ask for the Director or designated alternate. Patients whose complaints have not been resolved to their satisfaction can address complaints to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The SHC will not retaliate against any individual for filing a complaint.

TERMS

  • Any medical information that could in any way identify an individual patient is considered Protected Health Information (PHI).
  • Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations (TPO) are activities related to the provision of medical care, and activities related to collecting payment from the patient or a third party, and health care operations.
  • Health Care Operations encompasses functions such as quality improvement, peer review, accreditation, licensing, contracting with insurers, business planning, auditing, and general administration.
  • The Minimum Necessary information is the least amount of PHI that is required to achieve the desired purpose.

ACCESS AND DISCLOSURE

You have the right to have your personal health information held in confidence as protected by state and federal law. This information cannot be shared with anyone outside ECU Student Health Center and ECU Student Counseling Center without your written permission or under circumstances prescribed by law, such as a life threatening situation; court order; reporting of certain communicable diseases and actual or potential abuse of vulnerable individuals; or providing confidential information to authorized officials conducting security investigations under the Patriot Act (which prohibits us from notifying you when a release occurs). Student workers handling your record are trained in strict confidentiality. A violation is cause for immediate dismissal.

PATIENT RIGHTS INCLUDE:

  1. The right to request and receive information concerning your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, in easily understandable terms. This includes your right to review your medical record and/or receive a copy of it.
  2. The right to receive enough information to give informed consent before any procedure is performed and when possible, to participate in all decisions affecting your health.
  3. The right to be informed regarding your treating professional's qualifications, record keeping, goals, techniques to be used, limitations of treatment, and to receive a response to any other questions you may have. The right to expect your health care provider to adhere to all ethical standards of his/her profession.
  4. The right to refuse any medical or counseling services and to request and receive information about the potential risks and benefits associated with not receiving care.
  5. The right to privacy regarding all aspects of your treatment.
  6. The right to receive and review a current copy of our NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES. It can be found on the ECU web site.
  7. The complete list of your patient rights and responsibilities may be found posted in the lobby and on our website.

SECURITY

Privacy measures are designed to protect the confidentiality of PHI. Staff will observe the following rules:

  • staff will receive instruction about the Privacy Policy, and will be required to be familiar with it.
  • staff will exert due diligence to avoid being overheard when discussing PHI.
  • all records will be kept secured. When the SHC is open, exposed patient records are not left unattended in unlocked offices. When the SHC is closed, it is locked. Individual charts are either in locked offices, or are in a file area. Computer information is secured in accordance with ECU Technology regulations.

Patient Rights

Patients have the right to:

  1. Be treated with respect, consideration and dignity.
  2. Be provided appropriate privacy
  3. Confidentiality of records. Patients are given the opportunity to approve or refuse release of their medical information.
  4. Clear explanations about their condition, any proposed procedure, any risk of mortality, serious side effects and recuperation problems.
  5. Clear explanations of their diagnosis, prognosis and method(s) of treatment and alternatives in care and treatment.
  6. Refuse treatment or any procedure, or seek a second opinion outside the SHS at their own expense.
  7. To be informed of fees for service or procedures provided, and to receive a copy of their SHS bill.
  8. Address any grievance to the Administration of the SHS.
  9. Expect marketing or advertising regarding the competence and capabilities of the SHS that are not misleading.

SHS patients have the responsibility to:

  1. Provide accurate information relating to their health.
  2. Cooperate in the treatment plan recommended by SHS Physician, PA and other health providers.
  3. Accept personal responsibility if they refuse treatment
  4. Abide by the SHS rules, regulations and policies
  5. Accept financial responsibility for services received.
  6.  Respect the rights of other patients and SHS personnel