Heidi Smith Chiropractic Inc.

Life Chiropractic of the South Bay

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW CHIROPRACTIC AND MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

In the course of your care as a patient at Life Chiropractic, we may use or disclose personal and health related information about you in the following ways:
* Your protected health information, including your clinical records, may be disclosed to another health care provider or hospital if it is necessary to refer you for further diagnosis, assessment or treatment.

* Your health care records as well as your billing records may be disclosed to another party, such as an insurance carrier, an HMO, a PPO, or your employer, if they are or may be responsible for the payment of services provided to you.

* Your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and health records may be used to contact you regarding appointment reminders, information about alternatives to your present care, or other health related information that may be of interest to you.

If you are not home to receive an appointment reminder or other related information, a message may be left on your answering machine or with a person in your household. You have a right to request restrictions on, or use of, your protected health information for treatment, payment and operations purposes. Such requests are not automatic and require the agreement of this office. You have a right to confidential communications and to request restrictions relative to such contacts. You also have the right to be contacted by alternative means or at alternative locations.

We are permitted and may be required to use or disclose your health information without your authorization in these following circumstances:

* If we provide health care services to you in an emergency.

* If we are required by law to provide care to you and we are unable to obtain your consent after attempting to do so.

* If there are substantial barriers to communicating with you, but in our professional judgment we believe that you intend for us to provide care.

* If we are ordered by the courts or another appropriate agency.

You have a right to receive an accounting of any such disclosures made by this office.

Any use or disclosure of your protected health information, other than as outlined above, will only be made upon your written authorization. If you provide an authorization for release of information you have the right to revoke that authorization at a later date.

Information that we use or disclose based on this privacy notice may be subject to re-disclosure by the person to whom we provide the information and may no longer be protected by the federal privacy rules.

We normally provide information about your health to you in person at the time you receive chiropractic care from us. We may also mail information to you regarding your health care or about the status of your account. If you would like to receive this information at an address other than your home, or if you would like the information in a specific form please advise us in writing as to your preferences.

We are required by state and federal law to maintain the privacy of your patient file and the protected health information therein. We are also required to provide you with this notice of our privacy practices with respect to your health information. We are further required by law to abide by the terms of this notice while it is in effect.

We reserve the right to alter or amend the terms of this privacy notice. If changes are made to our privacy notice we will notify you in writing as soon as possible following the changes. Any change in our privacy notice will apply for all of your health information in our files.

If you have a complaint regarding our privacy notice, our privacy practices or any aspect of our privacy activities you should direct your complaint to: Dr. Heidi Smith

If you would like further information about our privacy policies and practices please contact: Dr. Heidi Smith

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. If you choose to lodge a complaint with this office or with the Secretary your care will continue and you will not be disadvantaged by this office or our staff in any manner whatsoever.

This office utilizes an “open-adjusting” environment for ongoing patient care. “Open adjusting” involves more than one patient being in the same adjusting room at the same time. Patients are within sight of one another and some ongoing routine details of care are discussed within earshot of other patients and staff. This environment is used for ongoing care and this is NOT the environment used for taking patient histories, providing examinations or presenting reports of findings. These procedures are completed in a private, confidential setting. The use of this format is intended to make your experience with our office more efficient and productive as well as to enhance your access to quality health care and health information. Any subjects that you prefer to discuss with one of the doctors in a private setting will be accommodated by making those arrangements with the front desk staff. If you choose not to be adjusted in an open-adjusting environment other arrangements will be made for you.

This notice is effective as of December 29, 2022. This notice, and any alterations or amendments made hereto will expire seven years after the date upon which the record was created. My signature acknowledges that I have received a copy of this notice.