Integrative Wellness Associates

1619 N 9th Street, Suite 10

Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Jonathon Warninger, D.C.

Phone: (570) 664-8120

This notice explains how your medical information may be used, how it may be shared, and how you can access it. Please take a few moments to review it carefully.

We know your personal health information is private, and protecting that privacy is an important responsibility. Each time you receive care, a record is created that describes the treatment and services you received. We may also receive health information from other providers involved in your care. These records are necessary for your treatment, for billing purposes, and for us to maintain the professional and legal standards required to run this practice. By law, we are required to protect your health information, to provide you with this notice of our privacy practices, and to let you know if a breach of unsecured information ever occurs.

This document explains the ways we may use or disclose your health records, the rights you have regarding your medical information, and our legal duties to you as our patient. If you have questions about anything contained in this notice, please reach out to the Privacy Officer listed above.

How We May Use or Share Your Health Information

We may use or disclose your health records in several ways, all permitted by law. Below are some examples:

Treatment: Information about your health may be shared with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratories, or other providers who are directly involved in your care. For example, if we refer you to another physician, we may send along relevant medical information so that they can provide proper treatment.

Payment: Your health information may be shared with insurance companies, health plans, or other providers in order to receive payment for services. This might include sending necessary details about your care so your insurance company can process claims.

Health Care Operations: We may use your health information to improve our services, review the quality of care we provide, or evaluate the performance of our staff. Sometimes, outside companies (such as billing services or auditing firms) help us perform these functions. In such cases, these business associates are required to keep your information confidential and secure.

Reminders and Notifications: We may contact you to remind you of upcoming appointments. If you are unavailable, a brief message may be left with someone who answers the phone or on voicemail. We may also use sign-in sheets at the front desk and call your name when it’s your turn to be seen.

Family and Caregivers: In certain situations, we may share relevant information with a family member, caregiver, or another individual involved in your care, unless you tell us not to. In emergencies or disasters, we may disclose information so that you can be located or assisted.

Public Health and Legal Requirements: We may be required to share information with public health agencies for reasons such as preventing the spread of disease, reporting abuse, or responding to court orders and law enforcement requests.

Other Disclosures: Your health information may also be shared for specialized government functions, worker’s compensation claims, organ donation programs, and when public safety is at risk. In the event of a change of ownership of this practice, your medical record would transfer to the new owner, although you would retain the right to request that your records be sent to another provider.

We will never sell your health information or use it for marketing purposes without your written consent.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have several important rights with respect to your medical information, including:

The right to request special privacy protections or restrictions on how your information is used.

The right to ask that communications be sent to you in a particular way or at a specific location.

The right to inspect and request a copy of your records in paper or electronic format.

The right to request corrections if you believe your records are incomplete or inaccurate.

The right to receive a list (an accounting) of certain disclosures of your health information.

The right to obtain a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have previously received it electronically.

Some requests may require written documentation, and in limited cases, requests may be denied as permitted by law. If a request is denied, you will be informed of the reason and told how to appeal the decision if applicable.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to update or revise this notice at any time. Any new version will apply to all of your health records maintained by this practice, regardless of when they were created. The most current notice will always be displayed in our office and posted on our website.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated or if you have concerns about how your information is handled, please contact our Privacy Officer using the information listed at the top of this notice. You may also file a complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by emailing [email protected] or visiting https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/what-to-expect. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.