Privacy Policy

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.

During your treatment at The Rapid Care Clinic, our caregivers may gather information about your medical history and current health. This Notice of Privacy Practices explains how that information may be used and shared with others. It also explains your privacy rights regarding this information.

The Rapid Care Clinic is required by law to abide by the terms of this Notice, to make sure that information that identifies you is kept private, and to give you this Notice of our legal duties and practices with respect to medical information about you. We are also required to notify you in the event that there is a breach of your health information.

Uses and Disclosures of your Health Information

The Rapid Care Clinic may use health information to carry out treatment, payment and health care operations.

1. Treatment is the provision, coordination or management of health care. For example, we may use and disclose your information to consult with a third party or to refer you to other health care providers.
2. Payment includes the activities necessary to obtain reimbursement for the provision of health care. For example, we may need to give your health plan information about treatment you received at The Rapid Care Clinic so your health plan will pay us or reimburse you for the treatment.
3. Health care operations include the activities necessary for The Rapid Care Clinic to run its business operations. For example, we may use your information to review treatment and services and to evaluate the performance of our staff.

We may use or disclose your health information:

1. When required by federal, state, or local law.
2. To support public health activities by reporting as required or authorized by state or federal law. These reports may include the reporting of exposure to a communicable disease or risk of spreading a disease or condition
3. To cooperate with law enforcement officials for certain law enforcement purposes as directed by a court order, warrant, criminal subpoena, or other lawful process.
4. To report abuse or neglect.
5. To support health oversight activities that are authorized by law, such as administrative or criminal investigations, inspections, licensure or disciplinary actions and other similar activities necessary for appropriate oversight of government benefit programs or functions.
6. When required by a coroner or medical examiner for the purpose of identifying a deceased person, determining a cause of death or other duties as required by law.
7. When necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health and safety of a person or the public and the disclosure is to a person reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat, as consistent with applicable law and standards.
8. For judicial or administrative proceedings, in response to a valid court order, administrative order, a grand jury subpoena, or with your written consent.
9. For research purposes, with your written authorization or as permitted by law.

We may disclose your health information to a family member, other relatives, or a close friend or any other person you identify if the information relates to that person’s involvement in your health care if you consent to such a disclosure. If you are unable to agree or object to the use or disclosure, we may disclose such information as necessary if we determine that it is in your best interest.

We may use or disclose your health information for other purposes only with your authorization.

Your written authorization to use and disclose your health information is required in order for us to:

• Use and disclose psychotherapy notes containing your health information (to the extent we hold any).
• Send marketing communications to you. If we will receive payment for making a marketing communication, we will state this in the authorization.
• Receive payment in exchange for your health information.

In addition to the above situations, any other uses and disclosures of your health information not described elsewhere in this Notice will be made only with your prior written authorization.

State laws may be more stringent and may prohibit certain uses and disclosures identified above. When state law is more protective of your privacy, we will follow that state law. For example, some state laws require additional protection for records related to mental health treatment, drug and alcohol treatment, and HIV-related information.

Patient rights

Inspect and obtain a copy of your health information. You have a right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health information that is used to make decisions about your care for as long as The Rapid Care Clinic maintains the information. You may request an electronic copy of this health information that we maintain electronically. This right does not apply to certain health information, including information compiled in reasonable anticipation of or for litigation. Requests for access to health information should be made in writing to the The Rapid Care Clinic Privacy Office. You may also ask us to provide a copy of this health information to another person. In that case, your written request must be signed by you, must clearly identify the person to whom you want us to send the copy of your health information, and must state where the copy is to be sent. If access is denied, you will be provided with a written explanation that sets forth the basis for the denial, a description of how you may review those rights and a description of how you may complain.

Request an amendment. You have the right to request that The Rapid Care Clinic amend your health information if it is incorrect or incomplete. Requests for amendment of information should be made in writing to the The Rapid Care Clinic Privacy Office, and you must provide a reason that supports your request to have the information changed. The Rapid Care Clinic may deny your request for an amendment if the request is not in writing and submitted to the Privacy Office. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that: (a) was not created by The Rapid Care Clinic (unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make the amendment); (b) is not part of the medical information kept by The Rapid Care Clinic; (c) is not part of the information you would be permitted to inspect and copy; or (d) is accurate and complete.

Receive an accounting of disclosures. At your request, The Rapid Care Clinic will provide you with an accounting of disclosures by The Rapid Care Clinic of your health information during the six years prior to the date of your request. However, such accounting will not include certain disclosures, such as those made: 1) to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations; 2) directly to you or your personal representatives; or 3) based on your written authorization. If you request more than one accounting within a 12-month period, The Rapid Care Clinic will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for each subsequent accounting. Requests for a request of an accounting of disclosures should be made in writing to the The Rapid Care Clinic Privacy Office.

Request communications by alternative means or at alternative locations. You have the right to request confidential communications by alternative means or at alternative locations. For example, you may request that we communicate with you only by mail. We will accommodate all reasonable requests, but your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted, and we may require you to provide information about how payment will be handled. You must request confidential communications in writing.

Request a general restriction. A general restriction is one that restricts or limits our use or disclosure of your health information. To request a general restriction, you must identify in this request: (i) what particular information you would like to limit, (ii) whether you want to limit use, disclosure or both, and (iii) to whom you want the limits to apply. We will consider your request but are not required to agree. We have the right to terminate the restriction if: (i) you agree orally or in writing to terminate the restriction or (ii) if we inform you of the termination, which becomes effective only for your health information created or received after we inform you of the termination. These requests should be made in writing to the The Rapid Care Clinic Privacy Office.

Request a plan restriction. A plan restriction is one that meets the following three conditions: (a) it is to restrict disclosure of your health information to a health plan for purposes of payment or health care operations; (b) the health information relates solely to a health care item or service for which you, or someone on your behalf, has paid us in full; and (c) the disclosure is not otherwise required by law. If you wish to request a plan restriction, you must do so separately for each service visit, and must make your request at the The Rapid Care Clinic before your visit. Otherwise The Rapid Care Clinic will automatically submit the claim to your health plan on record, if any, for payment. We will not agree to a plan restriction unless we have first received payment in full for the item or service. We will also not agree to a plan restriction if by law we are required to submit your health information to the plan. If we do agree to a restriction, we will not apply the restriction in the event of an emergency.

Exercise rights through a personal representative. You may exercise your rights through a personal representative as permitted or required by applicable law. Your personal representative may be required to produce evidence of authority to act on your behalf before that person will be given access to your information or allowed to take any action for you.

Complaints. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated you may complain to the The Rapid Care Clinic Privacy Office. You may also file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. All complaints should be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized in any way for filing a complaint.

The Rapid Care Clinic Duties

This Notice was effective beginning October 1, 2017. However, The Rapid Care Clinic reserves the right to change its privacy practices and this Notice, and to apply the changes to any health information received or maintained by The Rapid Care Clinic prior to the date of the changes. If the terms of this Notice are changed, a revised version will be available upon request and will be posted in a clear and prominent location.