HCHS STANDARDS FOR PRIVACY, PATIENT RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Standards for Privacy of Protected Health Information

According to the federal law named the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” (HIPAA), you have rights concerning the use of individually identifiable health information.

Only individuals with a legitimate “need to know” may access, use or disclose patient information. Protected health information may be released to other covered health care providers without patient authorization if used for treatment, payment, health care operations, or for public good purposes as permitted by state and federal laws.

Disclosures of protected health information for uses and disclosures outside treatment, payment and health care operations require patient authorization.

While receiving care in the hospital, you may ask for your name to not be included in the hospital directory, which means that people asking for you will be told “I have no information about this patient.”

If you want to receive deliveries of cards and flowers, then you want your name included in the hospital directory. If you would like assistance in contacting a member of the clergy to visit you during your inpatient stay, please ask your nurse for assistance. For a listing of other HIPAA privacy rights, please refer to the Notice of Privacy Practices (97 KB) that was given to you at registration time.

If You Have a Question or Concern

The medical staff and the employees of HCMH seek to treat our patients with fairness and concern, recognizing their needs and satisfying them to the extent possible. If you have any questions or problems that have not been answered to your satisfaction or if you have a special need, contact Administration at 641-843-5151.

Patient Rights

You are entitled to certain patient rights and protections that insure your comfort, your privacy, your need for information about your medical condition, and your participation in decisions that affect both your health and access to health services.  To explain these rights, you have a copy of “A Patient’s Bill of Rights,” your rights and responsibilities as a patient.  If you are an inpatient and Medicare eligible, you have received a copy of “Important Message from Medicare”.