Notice of Privacy Practices

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and our responsibilities to help you. To exercise any of the rights below, please contact our Privacy Officer at (737) 423-2311 or info@pec247.com.

You may request an electronic or paper copy of your medical record at any time. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for paper copies. All requests must be made in writing.

You may ask us to correct your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete. We may decline your request, but we will explain why in writing within 60 days.

You may ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or operations. If you have paid in full for a service out of pocket, you may request we do not share that information with your health insurer. We will honor this request unless required by law to share it.

You may ask us to contact you in a specific way or send mail to a different address. We will consider all reasonable requests and must comply if you indicate you would be at risk otherwise.

You may request a list of instances where we have shared your health information, with whom, and why — covering the past six years. We provide one accounting per year at no cost; additional requests within 12 months may incur a fee.

If you have granted someone medical power of attorney or they are your legal guardian, that person may exercise your rights on your behalf. We will verify their authority before taking any action.

If you believe your rights have been violated, you may contact our Privacy Office at (737) 423-2311. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

For certain health information, you can tell us your preferences. If you have a clear preference, let us know and we will follow your instructions. You have the right to tell us to:

• Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
• Share information in a disaster relief situation
• Include your information in a facility directory

If you are unable to express a preference — for example, if you are unconscious — we may share your information if we believe it is in your best interest or necessary to prevent a serious threat to health or safety.

We will never share the following without your written permission: psychotherapy notes, or your information for marketing purposes.

We use your health information to provide and coordinate your emergency care. We may share it with physicians, nurses, technicians, and other members of your care team — as well as outside providers involved in your follow-up care, laboratories, medical equipment suppliers, or pharmacies.

We may use and share your health information to bill your insurance company or a third party and to obtain payment for services rendered. We may also share it with other providers to help them obtain payment.

We use your information to manage and improve our services, conduct quality reviews, and contact you when necessary. We may share information in a limited data set that excludes certain identifying details.

We may share your health information with our business associates who perform services on our behalf, for the purposes listed above. All business associates are required to protect your information under HIPAA.

We may share information as required or permitted for public health purposes, including: preventing disease, reporting births and deaths, reporting suspected abuse or neglect, reporting reactions to medications, or preventing a serious threat to health or safety.

We will share your information when required by state or federal law, including with law enforcement, health oversight agencies, workers' compensation programs, in response to court orders or subpoenas, or for military and national security purposes.

We may use or share your information for health research, subject to all applicable legal requirements and protections.

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information
• We will notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised your information
• We will never sell your information
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice
• We will not use or share your information in ways not described here without your written consent
• All staff with access to PHI receive privacy training and are bound by our confidentiality policies
• Our computer systems protect your electronic PHI at all times

Priority Emergency Center reserves the right to change the terms of this notice at any time. Any changes will apply to all health information we hold about you. The updated notice will be posted on our website and made available at our facility.