Patient Privacy & Safety

Our office believes in the privacy and safety of our patients. Our entire staff makes every effort necessary to comply with HIPAA, The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, to ensure that our patients' information is kept personal and private. We also take all the precautions necessary in the clinical areas of the office to comply with and exceed the standards sterilization and cleanliness as mandated by WISHA, Washington's Industrial Safety and Health Act.

As required by law, we need you to sign a legal document that verifies your acknowledgment of our privacy policy. The full document is available in our office. Legal forms are usually difficult reading. The following summary accurately covers the main points of the document:

1. We will maintain the privacy of your health information.

2. We may use or disclose your health information to another doctor or healthcare provider who is taking care of you.

3. We may use or disclose your health information to obtain payment for the services we provide to you when third party payment is involved.

4. We may use or disclose your health information for assessing and improving our own performance and healthcare operations.

5. We will always disclose your health information to YOU.

6. We may disclose your health information to a family member, friend, or other person if it is necessary to help with your healthcare or with payment for your healthcare, but only if you agree that we may do so.

7. We will not use or disclose your health information for marketing communications without your written authorization.

8. We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with appointment reminders such as voicemail messages, postcards, or letters. You can request that we use other means of communication, but you must do so in writing.

9. You have the right to look at or get copies of your health information, with limited exceptions.

10. If you disagree with a decision we have made about access to your health information, you may complain to us, or you may file a complaint against us with the US Department of Health and Human Services without fear of retribution.