Privacy and health information

Hospital policies & practices

Privacy and health information

You have privacy rights under federal and state laws that protect your health information. These laws allow you to access your health information, and set rules and limits on others who can access your health information.

Who must follow this law?

• Doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers and their vendors • Health insurance companies, HMOs and employer group health plans • Certain government programs that pay for health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid

What information is protected?

• Information put in your medical records • Conversations between your doctors, nurses and others regarding your care • Information about you in your health insurer’s computer system • Bill information • Most other health information about you held by those who must follow this law

What rights do you have over your health information?

Providers and health insurers 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 how your health information may be used and shared • Decide if you want to give permission to share your information

Compliance Program

The Hospital is committed to providing the best care for patients, and that includes a Compliance Program which is designed to prevent and detect fraud and abuse based on federal, state and local regulations. For more information about St. Catherine of Siena’s Compliance Program, please contact our Compliance Department at (631) 784-7204. You may also call our confidential—and anonymous— Compliance Helpline at (866) 272-0004.

What are the rules and limits on who can see and receive your health information?

To make sure that your health information is protected in a way that does not 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 • With family, friends or others you identify who are involved with your health care, 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 prevalent in your area • To make required reports to 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 mental health counseling

Right to complain

If you believe your privacy rights are being denied, you can contact our Patient Advocacy Program at (631) 862-3251 or our Privacy Officer at (631) 862-3516, or you can file a complaint with the hospital, the Joint Commission (see box below), your health insurer or the U.S. government.

The Joint Commission and reporting a complaint

If you need to report a patient safety concern or file a complaint, contact: Office of Quality and Patient Safety The Joint Commission One Renaissance Boulevard Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 jointcommission.org/contact-us/ (630) 792-5800