Southwestern Medical Center

Your Privacy & Health Information

Southwestern Medical Center is committed to protecting the healthcare information of its patients pursuant to the Federal Guidelines outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA.)

We consider you a partner in your hospital care. When you are well informed, participate in treatment decisions, and communicate openly with your doctor and other health professionals, you help make your care as effective as possible. This hospital encourages respect for the personal preferences and values of each individual.

As a patient at Southwestern Medical Center, your privacy and rights are very important to us. For your convenience, we’ve provided information on your rights & responsibilities and your right to privacy under HIPAA. If you have additional questions, please contact us at 580-531-4724.

HIPAA Y SU PRIVACIDAD

Información acerca de HIPAA

(Ley de responsabilidad y portabilidad de seguro médico)

Los hospitales de la familia Capella Healthcare estamos dedicados a proteger la información sobre la salud de nuestros pacientes de acuerdo a las Normas Federales delineadas en la ley HIPAA. Por favor lea nuestro aviso sobre las practicas de privacidad HIPAA. Hacer clic en el enlace correspondiente.

You have privacy rights under a federal law that protects your health information. These rights are important for you to know. Federal law sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information.

Who Must follow this law?

• Most doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and many other health care providers
• Health insurance companies, HMOs, and most employer group health plans
• Certain government programs that pay for health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid

What information is protected?

• Information your doctors, nurses, and other health care providers put in your medical records
• Conversations your doctor has with nurses and others regarding your care or treatment
• Information about you in your health insurer’s computer system
• Billing information about you at your clinic
• Most other health information about you held by those who must follow this law

You have rights over your health information.

Providers and health insurers who are required to follow this law must comply with your right to:

• Ask to see and get a copy of your health records
• Have corrections added to your health information
• Receive a notice that tells you how your health information may be used and shared
• Decide if you want to give your permission before your health information can be used or shared for certain purposes, such as for marketing
• Get a report on when and why your health information was shared for certain purposes
• File a complaint

To make sure that you health information is protected in a way that doesn’t interfere with your health care, your information can be used and shared:

• For your treatment and care coordination
• To pay doctors and hospitals for your health care and help run their businesses
• With your family, relatives, friends, or others you identify who are involved with your health care or your health care bills, unless you object
• To make sure doctors give good care and nursing homes are clean and safe
• To protect the public’s health, such as by reporting when the flu is in your area
• To make required reports to the police, such as reporting gunshot wounds

Without your written permission, your provider cannot:

• Give your health information to your employer
• Use or share your health information for marketing or advertising purposes
• Share private notes about your mental health counseling sessions

Adapted from U.S. Department of Health & HumanServices Office for Civil Rights

Your Information

If you believe your health information was used or shared in a way that is not allowed under the privacy law, or if you weren’t able to exercise your rights, please call Southwestern Medical Center’s Privacy Officer at 580-531-4700.

You can also file a complaint with your provider, health insurer or with the U.S. government.

Go online to www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/ for more information.

A separate law provides additional privacy protections to patients of behavioral health treatment programs.

For more information, go online to www.samhsa.gov.