HIPAA Privacy Policy

Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how SpineCo: Chiropractic & Performance may use and disclose your protected health information, and how you can access that information. Please review it carefully.

Privacy Officer: Ryan Bielecki D.C. — (630) 442-0146. Effective Date: August 8, 2013.

How we use your health information

We maintain your medical records to provide quality care and to enable other health care providers involved in your treatment to do the same.

Treatment: We may share your information with other healthcare providers, pharmacists, and laboratories involved in your care, as well as family members assisting with your medical needs.

Payment: We may disclose information to health plans and other providers for billing and payment purposes.

Health care operations: We may use your information to review and improve care quality, manage business associate relationships through written contracts, and coordinate within organized health care arrangements.

Appointment reminders: We may contact you about scheduled visits by phone, answering machine, or voicemail message.

Sign-in procedures: We may use sign-in sheets and call your name in waiting areas.

Family notification: We may notify family members of your location, general condition, or death, unless you object.

Marketing: We may contact you about products or services related to your treatment, case management, or care coordination without compensation.

Sale of health information: We will not sell your health information without written authorization that discloses any compensation involved.

Required by law: We will disclose your information when legally mandated.

Public health: We may report to public health authorities regarding disease, abuse, or medication reactions.

Health oversight activities: We may disclose to agencies conducting audits or investigations.

Judicial and administrative proceedings: We may provide information in response to court orders or subpoenas, with reasonable notification efforts.

Law enforcement: We may disclose to officials for identifying suspects or complying with lawful warrants.

Coroners and medical examiners: We may share information related to death investigations.

Organ or tissue donation: We may disclose to procurement and transplant organizations.

Public safety: We may disclose information to prevent a serious threat to health or safety.

Proof of immunization: We may share with schools when you have provided authorization.

Specialized government functions: We may disclose for military, national security, or correctional purposes.

Workers’ compensation: We report occupational injuries or illnesses as required by law.

Change of ownership: Your records may be transferred if this practice is sold or merged with another entity.

Breach notification: We will notify you of any breach of unsecured protected health information by email or other appropriate method.

Restrictions on use and disclosure

Consistent with our legal obligations, this practice will not use or disclose health information that identifies you without your written authorization, except as described in this notice.

You may revoke any authorization you have given us at any time by submitting a written request.

Your rights

Right to request special privacy protections: You may request in writing that we restrict how we use or disclose your health information. We are required to honor requests to restrict disclosures to commercial health plans for services you have paid for out of pocket, but we reserve the right to accept or reject other restriction requests.

Right to request confidential communications: You may ask that we send information to a specific location or by a specific method, such as a work email address. We will comply with all reasonable written requests.

Right to inspect and copy: You may access your medical information by submitting a written request specifying what you want and your preferred format. We will provide copies in your requested form and format if it is readily producible, or offer an acceptable alternative. Reasonable fees covering labor, supplies, and postage apply.

Right to amend or supplement: You may request amendments to information you believe is incorrect or incomplete by submitting a written request with your reasons. We may deny the request if the information is accurate and complete, was not created by this practice, or falls within a category you were not permitted to inspect. If denied, you may submit a written disagreement, and we may prepare a written rebuttal.

Right to an accounting of disclosures: You may receive an accounting of disclosures, except for disclosures related to treatment, payment, health care operations, family notification, specialized government functions, or research with excluded identifiers.

Right to a paper or electronic copy of this notice: You have the right to receive this notice in paper form even if you have previously requested receipt by email.

Changes to this notice

We reserve the right to amend this notice. Any updated notice will apply to all protected health information we maintain, regardless of when it was created or received. Current notices are available at our front desk and on this website.

How to file a complaint

If you have concerns about how your health information has been handled, contact our Privacy Officer at the address or phone number listed above.

You may also submit a formal complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, at OCRMail@hhs.gov. The complaint form is available at https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/what-to-expect/index.html.

You will not be penalized in any way for filing a complaint.

Contact

SpineCo: Chiropractic & Performance

1121 Warren Ave Suite 210, Downers Grove, IL 60515

(630) 442-0146