NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Effective date: April 14, 2003
THIS NOTICE TELLS YOU HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND
DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT
CAREFULLY.
TMC records contain medical information, which identifies you. TMC has
the duty to:
Make sure your personal medical information is kept private
Give you this Notice of Privacy Practices
Follow the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices
If you have any questions about this Notice or TMC privacy practices, please
contact:
Chief Privacy Officer
Truman Medical Centers
2301 Holmes
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 404-3604
8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday
You may also contact Guest Relations at any TMC location.
WHO MUST FOLLOW THIS NOTICE
- All departments, TMC locations and health care professionals approved to
treat you at any TMC location.
- Anyone who works at TMC including: employees, medical students, trainees,
volunteers, physicians and credentialed providers.
- All TMC locations including, but not limited to: Truman Medical Center
Hospital Hill, Truman Medical Center Lakewood, Truman Medical Center
Behavioral Health Network, Jackson County Health Department, HealthSource of
Grandview and Family Medical Care of Oak Grove.
- Truman Medical Centers and the other classes of individuals listed above may
share medical information with each other for treatment, payment or
healthcare operations.
Important Information
Although physicians who treat you at TMC follow TMC's practices for the
privacy of your patient information, those physicians are not TMC employees
or agents, and they use their own medical judgment in treating you.
TMC MAY SHARE YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION
TMC may share your medical information for treatment, payment and health
care operations.
For Your Treatment - TMC may share your medical information with doctors,
nurses and other caregivers at TMC. We may also share your medical
information with others who help care for you while at TMC. For example, a
pharmacist may use your medical information in order to provide you with
your prescription, or medical students may use your medical information as a
part of their training program.
For Payment For Services - TMC may share your medical information about
your care in order to be paid for treating you. For example, a bill could be
sent to you or to your insurance company. The information sent will identify
you and the type of care or supplies that you received while at TMC.
For TMC's Healthcare Operations - TMC may share your medical information
to maintain our facilities. For example, TMC may use your medical
information to review quality of care.
INFORMATION SHARING TO WHICH YOU MAY OBJECT
TMC may share information, unless you tell us not to.
Facility Directories (Hospital Inpatients only)
Unless you object, TMC may give your name, location and general condition to
anyone who asks for you by name and your religious choice to the clergy. We
provide this service so your family, friends and clergy can visit you at TMC
and find out how you are doing. If you do not want to be included in this
directory, please tell a Patient Access Representative when you check in for
services.
Notification to Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment/Disaster
Relief Efforts
Unless you object, TMC may share your medical information to your family,
friend, or others identified by you who are involved in your medical
care/payment. TMC may also share your medical information for disaster
relief efforts and to family members, or others so that they can be told
about your location or condition.
Emergencies
Unless you object, TMC may share your medical information in emergencies,
tell you later, and give you the right to object to future sharing.
The above uses and disclosures may be made if it is in your best
interest. If you can't object, we will tell you about it at a later time.
Fundraising Activities
Unless you object by telling the TMC Charitable Foundation, the Foundation
may contact you for fundraising purposes.
Appointment Reminders
Unless you object, TMC may contact you for appointment reminders. You must
tell any clinic you use at a TMC facility if you do not want to receive
reminders from that clinic.
SHARING FOR WHICH YOUR APPROVAL IS REQUIRED
TMC will share your medical information only with your written approval for
the following:
Marketing Activities
Sharing for the marketing of certain TMC and Business Associate programs and
services. The only exceptions are:
- For TMC Case Management, Care Coordination, Disease Management, Health
and Wellness programs, or to recommend alternative therapies, or
- If this activity is communicated to you while you are at TMC, or
- If you are provided with a gift of small value, such as a pen, notepad, etc.
Psychotherapy Notes
Release of your Psychotherapy notes; except for treatment, payment, and
health care operations.
Other Uses and Disclosures of Medical Information
Other uses and disclosures of medical information not covered by this notice
or required by law which may require your approval.
Removing Your Written Approval You may change your mind and remove
approval. To remove approval, please contact TMC's Health Information
Management Department from 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday.
SHARING FOR WHICH YOUR APPROVAL IS NOT REQUIRED
TMC may share your medical information without your approval for the
following:
Public Health and Other Agencies
Public health activities may include birth and death reporting and public
health investigations. Health Oversight agencies may also have access to
your medical information.
Law Enforcement
Law enforcement disclosures may include reporting abuse or helping with
criminal investigations.
Research
TMC may also disclose your medical information for research purposes if your
approval is not required.
Other Businesses
Other businesses may include service providers that work on behalf of TMC.
Military Activity and National Security
This may include disclosure because of military activity or for national
security.
Legal Proceedings
Legal proceedings may include court orders, subpoenas or workers'
compensation claims.
Coroners and Funeral Directors
This may include disclosure to a coroner, medical examiner or funeral
director.
Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation
This may include requests for organ, eye, or tissue donation.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION
You may make certain requests regarding your medical information.
You may receive a copy of this notice and ask for a restriction form on
sharing your medical information at the registration area at any TMC
facility from 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday through Friday.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You may get a paper copy of this notice from a Patient Access
Representative. You may also get a copy of this notice at our website:
http://www.trumed.org
Inmates do not have the right to this notice.
Right to Request Restrictions
You may ask us to limit the sharing of your medical information by
filling out a form at any TMC location. TMC is not required to agree with
your request.
The following requests may be made on forms at the Health Information
Management department at any TMC facility from 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday through
Friday.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You may ask TMC to communicate with you in a certain way. For example, you
can ask that TMC only contact you at work, at home or by mail.
Right to Inspect and Copy
You may ask to look at and to get a copy of parts of your medical
information. There may be a cost for these copies. Health Information
Management will tell you how much the copies cost.
Right to Amend
You may ask TMC to change your medical information if you believe it is not
correct.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You may ask that TMC give you a list of disclosures TMC has made of your
medical information (other than for treatment, payment or healthcare
operations; disclosures made prior to April 14, 2003, or disclosures that
you have approved).
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
TMC may change this notice. A copy of the current notice will be posted at
each TMC location. The effective date will be on the front page of the
notice. TMC will give you with a copy of this notice at your first visit on
or after April 14, 2003, or upon request. You may also access the most
current Notice at: http://www.trumed.org
COMPLAINTS
If you feel that your privacy rights have been violated, you may complain by
calling our toll-free Compliance Concern Line at 1-866-494-3600, or you may
complain to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
YOU WILL NOT BE PENALIZED FOR FILING A COMPLAINT.