Privacy Notice

Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used, disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Your protected health care information is used or disclosed for purposes of treatment, payment and operations to:

• Other health care professionals or providers for the purpose of providing you with quality health care.
   
• Your insurance provider for the purpose of receiving payment for providing you needed health care services.
   
• Health care professionals for the purposes of ensuring we are providing quality health care services.
   
• Business associates with which we contract to perform services such as billing, coding, consulting, transcription, and accounts receivable management.
   
• Training, certification, and licensing programs.
   
• Customer service activities, medical or legal reviews, and auditing functions.
   
• Public health or law enforcement in case cases of infectious disease, tumor registry, safety events, abuse, or domestic violence.
   
• State or federal agencies for purposes of health care cost containment, determining medical necessity, or appropriateness of services.
   
• Report a defective device or untoward event regarding a biological product.
   
• Send you appointment reminders, treatment alternatives, or information regarding other health related benefits and services.
   
• Direct visitors, callers, clergy, and deliveries to your room, if you agree to be on the directory and they ask for you by name.
   
• Organ and tissue donations, workers’ compensation, coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors.
   
• Certain state and federal privacy rules that we must comply with impose even stricter privacy requirements in the following areas:
  • Mental health records
  • AIDS/HIV
  • Drug/alcohol abuse treatment programs.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Receive a copy of this Privacy Notice.
   
• Request a restriction of the use of your health care information unless it is in conflict of providing you with the health care you need or in the event of an emergency situation. WGH will review each restriction request, but reserves the right to deny any restriction request received.
   
• Make reasonable requests to receive communications about your health care at an alternate address or by means other than by mail.
   
• Request in writing to review and/or photocopy your health care information.
   
• Request changes to your health care information. Such requests must be made in writing.
   
• Know who has received your health care information for purposes other than treatment, payment, and operations of the hospital, and for what purpose, with some exceptions as defined by law.

Normally, we will require your signed authorization before disclosing your medical information outside the hospital, unless it is required by law. You may revoke your permission to release confidential information at any time. The hospital abides by the terms of this notice and reserves the right to make changes to this notice and to make the new notice provisions effective for all the protected health information maintained by the hospital. Any revised notices will be available at the point of service.

If you believe your rights to privacy have been violated, you may file a complaint with our privacy officer or notify the US Department of Health & Human Services. All complaints will be investigated. No action will be taken against you for filing a complaint with the hospital.

Where to Mail a Complaint

Attn: Privacy Officer
Warren General Hospital
Two Crescent Park West
PO Box 68
Warren, PA 16368