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Patient Privacy Practices
We are required by law to protect the privacy of health information that may reveal your identity, and to provide you with a copy of this notice which describes the health information privacy practices of our hospital, its medical staff, and affiliated health care providers that jointly perform treatment, payment activities and business operations with our hospital. A copy of our current notice will be posted in all reception areas for your information.
You will also be able to obtain your own copies by calling our Privacy Officer
at 718-734-2513.
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Patient Bill of Rights
As a patient in a
hospital in New York State, you have the right, consistent with the law:
- To understand
and use these rights. If for any reason you do not understand or you
need help to understand, the hospital must provide assistance,
including an interpreter.
- To receive
treatment without discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex,
national origin, disability, sexual orientation or source of payment.
- To receive
considerate and respectful care in a clean and safe environment, free of
unnecessary restraints.
- To receive
emergency care if you need it.
- To be informed
of the name and position of the physician who will be in charge of your
care while in the hospital.
- To know the
names, positions and functions of any hospital staff involved in your
care and to refuse their treatment, examination or observation.
- To receive a no
smoking room.
- To receive
complete information about your diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
- To receive all
the information that you need to give informed consent for any proposed
procedure or treatment. This information shall include the possible
risks and benefits of the procedure or treatment.
- To receive all
the information you need to give informed consent for an order to not
resuscitate. You also have the right to designate an individual to give
this consent for you if you are too ill to do so. More information is
available in the “Do Not Resuscitate A Guide for Patients and
Families.”
- To refuse
treatment and be told what effect this may have on your health.
- To refuse to
take part in research. In deciding whether or not to participate, you
have the right to a full explanation.
- To privacy
while in the hospital and confidentiality of all information and records
regarding your care.
- To participate
in all decisions about your treatment and discharge from the hospital.
The hospital must provide you with a written discharge plan and a
written description of how you can appeal your discharge.
- To review your
medical record without charge and to obtain a copy of your medical
record for which the hospital can charge a reasonable fee. You cannot be
denied a copy solely because you cannot afford to pay.
- To receive an
itemized bill and explanation of all charges.
- To complain
without fear of reprisals about the care and services you are receiving
and to have the hospital respond to you, if you are not satisfied with
the hospitals response, you may complain to the New York State
Department of Health. The hospital must provide you with the Department
of Health phone number.
- To authorize
those family members (or other adults who will be given priority) to
visits, consistent with your ability to receive visitors.
- Make known your
wishes in regard to anatomical gifts. You may document your wishes in
your health care proxy or on a donor card, available from the hospital.
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Important
Summary Information |
Requirement for written authorization. We will generally obtain your written
authorization before using your health information or sharing it with others
outside the hospital.
You may also initiate
the transfer of your records to another person by completing an
authorization form, which may be obtained in our Health Information
Management Service Department. If you provide us with written authorization,
you may revoke that authorization at anytime, except to the extent that we
have already relied upon it. To revoke an authorization, please contact
Health Information Management Services at 718-7342518.
Exceptions to
requirement. There are some situations when we do not need your written
authorization before using your health information or sharing it with
others. They are:
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Exception for treatment, payment, and hospital operations.
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Exception for hospital directory and disclosure to
friends and family involved in your care.
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Exception to emergencies or public need.
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Exception if information does not identify you.
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You are entitled to the following information:
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How to access your health information.
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How to correct your health information.
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How to keep track of the ways your health information
has been shared with others.
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How to request additional privacy protections.
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How to request more confidential communications.
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How someone may act on your behalf.
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How to learn about special protections for HIV, Alcohol
and Substance Abuse, Mental Health and and genetic information.
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How to obtain a copy of this notice.
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How to obtain a copy of revised notices.
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How to file a complaint.
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How not to participate in Hospital Fundraising activities.
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If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services at the Office for Civil Rights, U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue S.W., Room 509F, IIHH Building, Washington, D.C. 20201. To file a complaint with us, please contact our Privacy Officer, Alan F. King, at 718/7342513.
No one will retaliate or take action against you for filing a complaint. |
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HIPAA
- What it Means to you...
The
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
was enacted by the
U.S. Congress in
1996.
According to the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
website, Title I of HIPAA protects health insurance coverage
for workers and their families when they change or lose
their jobs.
Title II of HIPAA, the Administrative Simplification (AS)
provisions, requires the establishment of national standards
for electronic health care transactions and national
identifiers for providers,
health insurance plans, and employers.
The
AS provisions also address the security and privacy of
health data. The standards are meant to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of the nation's health care
system by encouraging the widespread use of
electronic data interchange in the US health care
system.
To
learn more about HIPAA visit the official website at
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Copyright© 2008
Peninsula Hospital Center, all rights reserved.