Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective Date: 2.1.25
1. Information We Collect: We collect and maintain personal health information (PHI) to provide medical care and services. This includes:
- Personal Identification Information: Name, address, phone number, email, date of birth, and emergency contact details.
- Health Information: Medical history, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, test results, and other clinical information.
2. How We Use Your Information: We use your health information for various purposes, including but not limited to:
- Providing medical treatment and care.
- Coordinating care with other healthcare providers.
- Complying with federal and state laws, regulations, and industry standards.
- Conducting quality assurance activities and improving patient care.
- Notifying you of appointment reminders, lab results, and other health-related communications.
3. Disclosure of Your Information: We may disclose your health information to the following entities, as permitted by law:
- Healthcare Providers: For the purpose of coordinating care.
- Third-Party Service Providers: For services such as laboratory testing, medical equipment, and billing, under appropriate confidentiality agreements.
- Legal and Regulatory Authorities: To comply with federal and state regulations, including responding to subpoenas, court orders, or legal processes.
4. Massachusetts Data Privacy Laws: We comply with Massachusetts state laws related to data security and privacy:
- Data Security Requirements: We implement reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access or disclosure, in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93H.
- Notification of Data Breaches: In the event of a data breach involving your personal health information, we will notify you as required by Massachusetts law within 30 days of discovering the breach.
- Data Retention: We retain your health information in compliance with Massachusetts regulations.
- Data Disposal: When no longer needed, your personal health information will be securely destroyed to prevent unauthorized access.
5. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information: You have the right to:
- Access Your Health Information: You may request to review or obtain a copy of your health records. We may charge a fee for copying and sending your records.
- Request Corrections: If you believe that any information in your records is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment to your health records.
- Limit or Restrict Uses and Disclosures: You can request restrictions on how your information is used or disclosed, though we are not required to agree to all requests.
- Receive Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you about health matters in a certain way (e.g., by email or at a different address).
- Opt-Out of Marketing: You may opt out of receiving marketing materials or disclosures of your information for non-treatment purposes.
6. Third-Party Sharing: We will not share your personal health information with third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent. However, we may disclose your information to third-party vendors or service providers to assist in the operations of the clinic (e.g., billing, laboratory testing, etc.), as necessary and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.
7. Employee Training and Confidentiality: All employees and contractors at Clearway Clinic are trained on the importance of patient privacy and the proper handling of health information. They are required to adhere to strict confidentiality protocols. Violations of privacy policies or unauthorized access to patient information may result in disciplinary action, including termination.
8. Security of Your Information: We implement physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect your personal health information from unauthorized access, loss, or disclosure. This includes encryption of electronic health records and secure storage of paper records.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy: We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or the law. We will notify you of significant changes by posting a revised policy on our website or providing a notice to you directly.
10. Contact Us: If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact us at:
Clearway Clinic
508-438-0144
contact@clearwayclinic.com
