We respect our legal obligation to keep health information that identifies you private.  This notice describes how we protect your health information and what rights you have regarding it.

PERSONAL/PATIENT HEALTH INFORMATION:

Under federal law your personal health information is protected and confidential. Personal health information includes information about your symptoms, test results, diagnosis, treatment and medical information.

HOW WE USE YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

We use your health information for preparing personal reporting back to you, aggregate reporting to your employer, and possibly for working with a personal health coach at your discretion.  Your information may be shared with a third-party vendor at the discretion of your employer for the purposes of tailored health improvement program offerings to benefit you.  For questions regarding how your data may be used contact your health improvement program administrator.  We do not copy, fax or otherwise send individual health information to anyone else.  If your information is shared with anyone else, it will be done by you or authorized by you.

EXAMPLES OF TREATMENT AND HEALTH CARE OPTIONS:

Treatment

Your personal Health Coach will use your information to assist you with establishing your health goals.  This information will not be shared with any other healthcare practitioners without your written consent.

Health Care Operations

We may use and disclose your health information to conduct INTERNAL operations including proper handling of records, evaluation of the quality of the program, and to conduct Peer Review audits.

SPECIAL USES:

We may use your information to contact you with appointment reminders. We may contact you to provide health info/education that may be of interest to you.

OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES:

Required by Law

We may be required by law to report gunshot wounds, suspected abuse or neglect, or similar injuries and events.

Research

We will never release individual, identifiable data to any source at any time.  Your information will be used in the aggregate (will be grouped with all the data) to measure effectiveness and outcomes of this program.

Serious threat to health and safety

We may use and disclose information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person.

In any other situation, we will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing any identifiable health information about you. If you choose to sign an authorization to disclose information, you can later revoke that authorization to stop any further uses and disclosures.

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

You have the following rights with regard to your health information.  Please contact Health Improvement Solutions listed below to obtain the appropriate process for exercising these rights.

Request Restrictions

You may request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. We are not required to agree to these restrictions, but if we do agree, we must abide by those restrictions.

Confidential Communication

All communication is confidential between the Health Coach and you.

You may ask us to communicate with you confidentially, for example, by sending reminder postcards or other information to a special address. You may choose to use e-mail as a method of communication with your Health Coach. You must understand that because this is Internet based communication, which we cannot control, there is a chance that someone unknown to you or us could view your communication.  If you chose to use email you are indicating that you are aware of the risks and accept email as a communication tool. You may request it as a restriction or discuss with your Health Coach the kinds of information you would not like to have through email.

Inspect or Obtain Copies

You have the right to look at or get a copy of your health notes maintained by your Health Coach.

Amend Information

Health Coach notes are for internal use only to note your progress and goals.  That information may be amended, corrected or added to on your request.

Accounting of Disclosures

Health Improvement Solutions never discloses to anyone, identifiable, personal data or information without your written consent.

CHANGES IN PRIVACY POLICY

We may change our policies at any time.  Before we make a significant change we will change this notice and post the new one.  You may also request a copy of our Notice at any time. 

COMPLAINTS

If you are concerned that we have violated your privacy rights, or if you disagree with a decision we made about your records, you may send a written complaint to the Department of Health and Human Services.  The person listed below will provide you with the appropriate address upon request.  You will not be penalized in any way for filing a complaint.

CONTACT PERSON

If you have any questions, requests or complaints please contact: Kane Miller, Vice President – Operations, Health Improvement Solutions, PO Box 241434, Omaha, NE 68124-5434 ·402-827-3334 or email support@healthimprovementsolutions.com