Notice of Privacy Practices

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

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Bellaire ER is committed to protecting your health information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI), provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and notify you in the event of a breach of your unsecured PHI.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Information

We may use and disclose your health information for the following purposes:

• Treatment: To provide, coordinate, and manage your health care, including consultations with other providers, referrals, and prescriptions.
• Payment: To bill and collect payment from you, your insurance company, or a third party for the services we provide.
• Health Care Operations: For quality assessment, staff training, business planning, credentialing, and other activities that support our care delivery.
• As Required by Law: When federal, state, or local law requires disclosure, including public health reporting, abuse/neglect reporting, and legal proceedings.
• Emergency Situations: To assist in disaster relief efforts and to notify family members or others responsible for your care.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights with respect to your protected health information:

• Right to Access: You may request copies of your medical records. We may charge a reasonable fee for copying.
• Right to Amend: You may request corrections to your health information if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Right to Restrict: You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your information for treatment, payment, or operations.
• Right to Accounting: You may request a list of disclosures we have made of your health information.
• Right to Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location.
• Right to a Paper Copy: You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time.

How We Protect Your Information

• Electronic health records are secured with encryption and access controls
• Staff undergo HIPAA training annually
• Physical records are stored in secure, limited-access areas
• We conduct regular security assessments

Breach Notification

In the event of a breach of your unsecured protected health information, we will notify you as required by federal and state law. Notification will be provided without unreasonable delay and no later than 60 days after discovery of the breach.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this notice and make the new provisions effective for all information we maintain. Current notices will be posted in our facility and on our website.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this notice or wish to exercise your rights, contact:

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.