Patient Rights to Privacy

OMS is committed to protecting our patients’ personal health information. The following notice pertains to OMS patient records and how they may be used and/or disclosed. Please contact our directors with any questions.

Privacy Policy

We are legally required to protect out patients’ personal health information
            We are required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy of your protected health information
• Provide you with this Notice
• Comply with this Notice

Patient Rights
            Our patients reserve the right to:

• Request a copy of their personal health information
• Must be in writing and may be denied under certain circumstances. Patient will be notified of denial and reasoning in writing.
• Request limits on disclosure (OMS does not have to agree)
• Must be in writing and may be denied under certain circumstances. Patient will be notified of denial and reasoning in writing.
• Request a report of certain disclosures
• Must be in writing and may be denied under certain circumstances. Patient will be notified of denial and reasoning in writing.
•  Amend or update personal health information
• Request must be in writing and may be denied under certain circumstances. Patient will be notified of denial and reasoning in writing.

How private patient health information may be used and/or disclosed
            Under some instances, we are required by law to obtain patient authorization before disclosure. In other cases, we are allowed by law to disclose such information without patient permission. If we are given permission in a given circumstance, the patient still reserves the right to revoke authorization.

            Disclosures and uses not requiring patient authorization
By law, OMS can release patient information without patient authorization under the following conditions:

• When required by law
• To avert serious threat(s) to health/safety
• For health oversight agencies
• To report abuse, domestic abuse or neglect
• For public health risks
• For worker’s compensation
• For law suits and disputes
• For law enforcement under the following reasons/conditions
• In response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process
• To identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person
• To disclose information about the victim of a crime if, under certain limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain the person's agreement
• to disclose information about a death we believe may be due to criminal conduct;
• To report criminal conduct on our premises
• In emergency circumstances to report a crime, the location of the crime or victims, or the identity, description, or location of the person who committed the crime.
• For national Security and Intelligence
• To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors
• For medical research
• To organ and tissue procurement agencies
• For specialized government functions

Disclosures that the patient may object to

• Notification of family members or other authorized individual as to the patient’s whereabouts and/or condition
• Disclosure of information to family members, friends or others designated by the patient as privy to such information and healthcare decisions.

Additional Information
            Please visit www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa  for further information on patient privacy policies and complaint filing procedures.