Your privacy is our priority...

At United Memorial Medical Center, we care about our patients, that’s why we are very concerned with your privacy.  HIPAA privacy regulations were passed by the United States government to safe guard your privacy as a hospital patient. 

There are certain situations where the hospital is permitted to use your health information without your prior approval.  These situations include:

• Treatment:  We may use the information in your medical records to better diagnose your condition and to determine the best possible type of treatment for you. We may also share your information with any health care provider involved in your direct treatment. In the event that you get transferred to another hospital we may share your information with that hospital to ensure optimal treatment and understanding.

 

• Payment:  In order to receive payment from your insurance company for our services to you, we will disclose your health care information, as required by your insurance carrier. For example, we may need to disclose your information to process your claim. 

 

• Health Care Operations:  In order to improve on the quality and cost of the care we deliver, we may need your diagnosis, treatment and outcome information. We may disclose your information as part of normal operations such as quality improvement activities, patient-satisfaction surveys and/or audits. We may also, as a service to you, call to remind you of an upcoming appointment.

 

• As Required or Permitted by Law:  Sometimes we may be required by law to report some of your health information to authorities such as law enforcement officials, court officials, government agencies, public health authorities, health oversight agencies and organ procurement agencies.

 

• Inpatient Hospital Directory:  Upon admission to the hospital all of our patients will be entered into our hospital directory, unless you object at any time. The directory provides your name, location within the facility, and your general health condition. This will be released to people asking for information about your status.

As a patient,  you have several rights when it comes to your health information. If you wish to exercise any of the following rights, please contact the Medical Records Department at (585) 344-5271. Specifically you have the right to:

• Request Restrictions on Certain Uses and Disclosures:  You have the right to ask for restrictions on how your health information is used or to whom your information is disclosed, even if these restrictions affect your treatment. For example, you may want only family and friends to be provided with your health information or you may want to keep identifications such as your name and address private. We will do our best to accommodate your request but are not required to agree in all circumstances to your requested restriction.

 

• Inspect and Copy your Health Information: With a few exceptions (if your physician advises against it), patients have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of their health information after the physician has consented. However, if you as a patient would like to make a copy of your records, we may charge you for copying fees. Upon viewing your health records, if you believe that your information is incorrect you may ask us to correct the information. If we can find conclusive evidence that the information on the records is incorrect, we will correct your records. We have 90 days to complete your request.

 

• Receive Confidential Communication of Health Information:  You have the right to request that we communicate your health information to you in different places or ways. For example, if you would like to receive your health information in a private room or through a letter, we will make efforts to accommodate your requests.

 

• Receive a Record of Disclosures of your Health Information:  In some instances patients have a right to ask for a list of health information disclosure made within the last six years. This request cannot include dates before April 14, 2003. Please note that if you revoke your authorization we will not be able to take back any disclosures already made.  Every Patient has a right to complain when they feel that their privacy rights have been violated.

 

• Complaints: If you believe that your right to privacy has been violated, you may file a complaint with the Quality Management Department. They can be contacted by calling (585) 344-5409. Please be assured that your future care will not be affected.

 

Click here for United Memorial's complete notice of Privacy Practices


This Privacy Policy for United Memorial Medical Center is effective as of April 14, 2003. We may change the notice at anytime.