Patient/Client Privacy
Summary of Notice Privacy Practice
Click here to see the Patient/Client Bill of Rights
File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated
You can file a complaint if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting Victor Fontaine, Director of Corporate Compliance/HIPAA Officer, at [email protected] or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.
Your Rights: When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights.
Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record
You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this.
As a current or past DAP Health patient, you can access your health records and information by filling out a Patient Access Request for Health Information Form or viewing them on MyChart. Download and fill out the form for DAP Health to release your records.
Fax: 760-416-1651
Or Mail to:
DAP Health - Health Information Department
1695 North Sunrise Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 15 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
Ask us to correct your medical record
You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this. We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.
Request confidential communications
You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone, email) or to send mail to a different address. We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.
What personal information we collect
We collect personal information that you voluntarily share with us by:
- becoming a patient;
- volunteering with us;
- creating an online account with us;
- requesting services;
- making a charitable donation;
- submitting comments;
- purchasing event tickets; or
- completing and submitting surveys, feedback, grievances, or just contacting us.
The personal information you provide may include:
- Contact information, including your name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number;
- account user name and password to register and access MyChart;
- Employment-related information, including your employment history, educational background, resume, skills, areas of interest, professional certifications and professional license number(s);
- Health information, including health services you require and insurance information;
- Financial information, such as your credit or debit card information when you make a donation to us, or when purchasing event tickets;
How we use the personal information we collect
We use the information we collect to serve you and improve your experience. Some examples include:
- To communicate with you, we may use your name and contact details for purposes of communicating with you and identifying you as a user of the website or our services;
- To verify your identity, we may use your personal information to verify who you are;
- To enroll you as our patient and provide patient-related care and services;
- To allow you to access and manage your account;
- To provide information on new services and upcoming events;
- To help you book consultations for our services;
- To process transactions, such as your donations. We may use your personal information that you provide to us to confirm your use of a valid credit card (or other authorized methods of payment), or process your payment via a credit card (or other authorized methods of payment);
- To process your volunteer form submission;
- To provide customer service, such as responding to general requests for information and to questions, feedback, and complaints;
- To provide you with marketing materials, surveys and information; and
- To conduct research and analysis.
How we share the personal information we collect
We do not sell, rent, or lease your personal information to third parties. The following are some of the ways we may share your personal information:
- With Our Partners: We may disclose your personal information to our partner health care service providers, clinical laboratories, pharmacies, and low income patient assistance programs.
- Required Disclosures: We may be required to share personal information in a court proceeding, in response to a court order, subpoena, civil discovery request, other legal process, or as otherwise required by law.
- Legal Compliance and Protections: We may disclose personal information when we believe disclosure is necessary to comply with the law or to protect the rights, property, or safety of DAP Health, our users, patients, employees, volunteers, or others.
Ask us to limit what we use or share
- You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.
- If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer. We will say “yes” unless a law requires us to share that information.
- We may use certain limited information (such as your name, address, phone number, and dates of service) to contact you about fundraising or wellness initiatives that help support our programs and services. You have the right to opt out of receiving these communications at any time. To opt out, please notify our Health Information Management Department at [email protected]
Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information
You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.
Get a copy of this privacy notice
You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.
Choose someone to act for you
If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.
File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated
- You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting DAP Health's Privacy Officer at [email protected].
- You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
For certain health information, you can tell DAP Health your choices about what we share.
If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.
In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:
Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care.
In these cases we never share your information unless you give us written permission:
Marketing purposes, sale of your information, and most sharing of psychotherapy notes.
In the case of fundraising:
We may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can tell us not to contact you again.
DAP Health typically uses or shares your health information in the following ways.
Treat you
We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.
Run our organization
We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.
Bill for your services
We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.
Help with public health and safety issues
We can use and share your health information to: Prevent disease, report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, prevent or reduce a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.
Do research
We can use or share your information for health research.
Comply with the law
We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.
Work with a medical examiner or funeral director
We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when you die.
Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
We can use or share health information about you: For workers’ compensation claims, For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official, With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law, For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services.
Respond to lawsuits and legal actions
We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
- We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
- We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.
- We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
- We can change the terms of this notice, and the new notice will be available upon request.
OCHIN
DAP Health is part of an organized health care arrangement including participants in OCHIN. A current list of OCHIN participants is available at www.ochin.org. As a business associate of DAP Health, OCHIN supplies information technology and related services to DAP Health and other OCHIN participants. OCHIN also engages in quality assessment and improvement activities on behalf of its participants. For example, OCHIN coordinates clinical review activities on behalf of participating organizations to establish best practice standards and assess clinical benefits that may be derived from the use of electronic health record systems. OCHIN also helps participants work collaboratively to improve the management of internal and external patient referrals. Your personal health information may be shared by DAP Health with other OCHIN participants or a health information exchange only when necessary for medical treatment or for the health care operations purposes of the organized health care arrangement. Health care operation can include, among other things, geocoding your residence location to improve the clinical benefits you receive.
The personal health information may include past, present, and future medical information as well as information outlined in the Privacy Rules. The information, to the extent disclosed, will be disclosed consistent with the Privacy Rules or any other applicable law as amended from time to time. You have the right to change your mind and withdraw this consent, however, the information may have already been provided as allowed by you. This consent will remain in effect until revoked by you in writing. If requested, you will be provided a list of entities to which your information has been disclosed.
To receive a detailed copy of this Notice, you may contact DAP Health Health Information Management Department at 1695 North Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262, Notice of Privacy Practice Summary Effective Date 4/1/14