Student Health Services
Bush Campus Center, Room 150 · (570) 320-5234
Notice of Privacy Practices
This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
The terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices applies to Pennsylvania College of Technology Student Health Services.
We understand that information about you and your health is very personal and, therefore, we are committed to protecting this medical information as required by law. We create a record of the care and services you receive from Health Services. This record is necessary to provide you with high quality care and to ensure we are in compliance. Health Services is committed to excellence in the provision of state-of-the-art health care services through the practice of patient care and education. In coming to Health Services, your medical information will be used to treat you.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of our patients’ protected health information and to provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your protected health information. We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice so long as it remains in effect. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices as necessary and to make the new Notice effective for all protected health information maintained by us. You may receive a copy of any revised notices at Pennsylvania College of Technology Health Services Office.
Uses and disclosures and of your SES and disclosures of your protected health information
Your Authorization
Except as outlined below, we will not use or disclose your protected health information for any purpose unless you have signed a form authorizing the use or disclosure. You have the right to revoke that authorization in writing, except to the extent we have already relied upon it.
Uses and Disclosures for Treatment
We will make uses and disclosures of your protected health information as necessary for your treatment. For instance, doctors and nurses and other professionals involved in your care will use information in your medical record and information that you provide about your symptoms and reactions to plan a course of treatment for you that may include procedures, medications, tests, etc. We may also disclose your protected health information to individuals or offices on or off campus that assist in the coordination of medical services or provide care.
Uses and Disclosures for Payment
We will make uses and disclosures of your protected health information as necessary for payment purposes. For instance, we may forward information regarding your medical procedures and treatment to your insurance company to arrange payment for the services provided to you related to Worker’s Compensation or a School Related Injury.
Uses and Disclosures for Health Care Operations
We will use and disclose your protected health information as necessary, and as permitted by law, for health care operations. This is necessary to run Health Services and ensure that our patients receive high quality care. For example, we may use your protected health information in order to conduct an evaluation of the treatment and services we provide, or to review the performance of our staff.
Persons Involved In Your Care
Unless you object, we may in our professional judgment disclose to a member of your family, a close friend, or any other person you identify, your protected health information that relates to that person’s involvement in your health care. We may use or disclose protected health information to assist in notifying a family member, personal representative or any other person that is responsible for your care of your location and general condition. Finally, we may also disclose limited protected health information to a public or private entity that is authorized to assist in disaster relief efforts in order for that entity to locate a family member or other persons that may be involved in some aspect of caring for you.
Appointments and Services
We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or test results
Other Uses and Disclosures
- We are permitted or required by law to make certain other uses and disclosures of your protected health information without your consent or authorization. Subject to conditions specified by law:
- We may release your protected health information for any purpose required by law;
- We may release your protected health information for public health activities, such as required reporting of disease, injury, and birth and death, and for required public health investigations;
- We may release your protected health information to certain governmental agencies if we suspect child abuse or neglect; we may also release your protected health information to certain governmental agencies if we believe you to be a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence;
- We may release your protected health information to entities regulated by the Food and Drug Administration if necessary to report adverse events, product defects, or to participate in product recalls;
- We may release your protected health information to your employer when we have provided health care to you at the request of your employer for purposes related to occupational health and safety; in most cases you will receive notice that information is disclosed to your employer;
- We may release your protected health information if required by law to a government oversight agency conducting audits, investigations, inspections and related oversight functions;
- We may use or disclose protected health information in emergency circumstances, such as to prevent a serious and imminent threat to a person or the public;
- We may release your protected health information if required to do so by a court or administrative ordered subpoena or discovery request; in most cases you will have notice of such release;
- We may release your protected health information to law enforcement officials;
- We may release your protected health information to coroners, medical examiners, and/or funeral directors;
- We may release your protected health information if necessary to arrange an organ or tissue donation from you or a transplant for you;
- Certain aspects and components of our services are performed through contracts with outside persons or organizations, such as auditing, accreditation, legal services, etc. At times it may be necessary for us to provide certain of your protected health information to one or more of these outside persons or organizations who assist us with our health care operations. In all cases, we require these business associates to appropriately safeguard the privacy of your information.
- We may release your protected health information if you are a member of the military for activities set out by certain military command authorities as required by armed forces services; we may also release your protected health information if necessary for national security, intelligence, or protective services activities; and
- We may release your protected health information if necessary for purposes related to your workers' compensation benefits.
Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records, HIV-Related Information, and Mental Health Records
The confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records, HIV-related information, and mental health records maintained by us is specifically protected by state and/or Federal law and regulations. Generally, we may not disclose such information unless you consent in writing, the disclosure is allowed by a court order, or other limited and regulated circumstances pertain.
Your rights
Access to Your Protected Health Information
Generally, you have the right to access, inspect, and/or copy protected health information that we maintain about you. Requests for access must be made in writing and be signed by you or your representative. We will charge you in accordance with a schedule of fees established by Pennsylvania laws.
Amendments to Your Protected Health Information
You have the right to request, in writing, that protected health information that we maintain about you be amended or corrected. We are not obligated to make all requested amendments but will give each request careful consideration. All amendment requests, in order to be considered by us, must be in writing, signed by you or your representative, and must state the reasons for the amendment/correction request. If we make an amendment or correction at your request, we may also notify others who work with us and have copies of the uncorrected record if we believe that such notification is necessary. You must submit, in writing, an amendment to your protected health information to Health Services, College Nurse.
Confidential Communications
You have the right to request, and we will accommodate reasonable requests by you, to receive communications regarding your protected health information from us by alternative means or at alternative locations. For instance, if you wish appointment reminders to not be left on voice mail or sent to a particular address, we will accommodate reasonable requests. You must request such confidential communication in writing.
Paper Copy of Notice
As a patient, you have the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices.
Complaints
If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Health Services, Director. You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington D.C. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.