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PierceCare

POLICY

PIERCE MEMORIAL BAPTIST HOME respects the privacy and confidentiality of its residents’ protected health information. PIERCE MEMORIAL BAPTIST HOME recognizes that federal and state laws require that protected health information be safeguarded against improper use and disclosure. It is PIERCE MEMORIAL BAPTIST HOME’s policy to use or disclose a resident’s protected health information only as permitted by law and in accordance with our Notice of Privacy Practices and to adopt safeguards to preserve the confidentiality of our residents’ protected health information.

1. General Rule. PIERCE MEMORIAL BAPTIST HOME shall obtain an Authorization from the resident which complies with its policy on ”Authorizations“ prior to using or disclosing a resident’s protected health information except where facility policies and procedures specifically permit the proposed use or disclosure. Questions regarding the permissibility or conditions of a use or disclosure of protected health information should be directed to the Privacy Officer or designee.

2. The use and disclosure of protected health information is permitted by law, without an Authorization, for the following purposes in accordance with facility policy. Special restrictions and limitations per facility policy apply to some of these types of disclosures.

a. Treatment, Payment and Health Care Operations.
b. Public Health Activities.
c. Reports of Abuse, Neglect and Domestic Violence.
d. Health Oversight Activities.
e. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings.
f. Law Enforcement Purposes.
g. To various officials, in case of death (Decedents).
h. Organ, Eye and Tissue Donations.
i. Serious Threat to Health or Safety.
j. Specialized Government Functions.
k. Business Associates.
l. Fundraising.
m. Disclosures to the Resident.

3. The use and disclosure of limited protected health information is permitted by law, after an opportunity for the resident to agree or object, for the following purposes in accordance with facility policy.
a. Facility Directory.
b. To persons involved in the resident’s care, and for notification.

4. All other types of uses and disclosures require a written Authorization signed by the resident.

5. If the identity or authority of any person requesting protected health information is not known to PIERCE MEMORIAL BAPTIST HOME, PIERCE MEMORIAL BAPTIST HOME will verify that person’s identity and/or authority in accordance with its Verification Policy.

6. Except for disclosures required by law and to health care providers for purposes of treatment, payment and health care operations, PIERCE MEMORIAL BAPTIST HOME will make reasonable efforts to limit disclosures of protected health information to the minimum amount reasonably necessary to achieve the intended purpose of the disclosure. See Policy, ”Minimum Necessary Information“.

7. Each resident has the right to access his or her clinical record in accordance with the provisions of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-550 and 42 CFR § 483. lO(b)(2). PIERCE MEMORIAL BAPTIST HOME will require written request signed by the resident for such access.