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NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.

This notice describes how medical information about you or your child may be used and disclosed, how you can obtain access to this information, and the rights you have regarding protected health information. Please review it carefully. Franklin Pediatric Associates is committed to protecting the privacy and security of our patients' health information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information, provide this Notice of Privacy Practices, and follow the privacy practices described in this notice.

Your Rights

You have certain rights regarding your or your child's health information. These rights may be exercised by the patient or, when permitted by law, by a parent, legal guardian, or other authorized personal representative.

Get a Copy of Medical Records

You may request an electronic or paper copy of your or your child's medical record and other health information we maintain. We will provide access or a copy within the timeframe required by applicable law. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply where permitted.

Ask Us to Correct Medical Records

If you believe information in a medical record is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to correct it. We may deny a request in certain circumstances. If we do, we will explain our decision in writing as required by law.

Request Confidential Communications

You may ask us to contact you in a particular way or at a particular location. For example, you may request that we contact you at a specific telephone number or mailing address. We will accommodate reasonable requests as required by law.

Ask Us to Limit What We Use or Share

You may ask us not to use or disclose certain health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not always required to agree to these requests. If you pay for a healthcare service or item entirely out of pocket, you may ask us not to disclose information regarding that service to your health insurer for payment or healthcare operations. We will honor such requests when required by law.

Get a List of Certain Disclosures

You may request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made during the period permitted by law. The accounting does not include every type of disclosure, including many disclosures made for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

Get a Copy of This Notice

You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.

Choose Someone to Act for You

If another person is legally authorized to act on your behalf, such as through guardianship or medical power of attorney, that person may exercise your rights as permitted by law. We may verify that the person has appropriate authority before taking action.

File a Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Franklin Pediatric Associates. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Your Choices

For certain health information, you may tell us your preferences regarding how information is shared. Where permitted by law, you may tell us whether we may:

  • Share information with family members or others involved in your care.
  • Share information during a disaster-relief situation.
  • Contact you regarding certain fundraising activities, if applicable.

If you are unable to communicate your preferences, such as during an emergency, we may share information when permitted by law and when we believe doing so is in your best interest.

If we contact you for fundraising activities, you may tell us not to contact you again.

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Written Authorization

Certain uses and disclosures of protected health information require your written authorization. Except as otherwise permitted or required by law, uses and disclosures not described in this Notice will be made only with your written authorization.

  • Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, when applicable, require written authorization.
  • Uses and disclosures of protected health information for marketing purposes generally require written authorization, except where otherwise permitted by law.
  • Disclosures that constitute a sale of protected health information require written authorization, except where otherwise permitted by law.

If you provide written authorization, you may revoke it in writing at any time, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance on the authorization.

How We May Use and Share Your Information

Treatment

We may use and share health information to provide, coordinate, or manage medical care. For example, we may share information with physicians, specialists, pharmacies, laboratories, hospitals, or other healthcare professionals involved in a patient's treatment.

Payment

We may use and share health information to bill and obtain payment for healthcare services. For example, information may be provided to an insurance company to determine eligibility, benefits, or payment.

Healthcare Operations

We may use and share health information as necessary to operate our medical practice, including quality improvement, staff training, credentialing, compliance activities, auditing, business planning, and patient service activities.

Business Associates

We may share health information with companies or individuals that perform certain services on our behalf, such as billing, technology services, record storage, or administrative support. When required, these organizations must appropriately safeguard protected health information.

Public Health and Safety

We may disclose health information for certain public health and safety purposes permitted or required by law, including reporting certain diseases or conditions, reporting suspected abuse or neglect, preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety, reporting adverse reactions to medications or products, and complying with legally authorized public health investigations.

Required by Law

We may use or disclose health information when required by federal, state, or local law.

Health Oversight

We may disclose information to authorized government agencies for audits, inspections, licensing, investigations, or other legally authorized oversight activities.

Legal and Law Enforcement Purposes

We may disclose health information in response to certain court orders, subpoenas, administrative proceedings, or lawful law enforcement requests when permitted or required by law.

Coroners and Medical Examiners

We may disclose health information to coroners, medical examiners, or other authorized persons when permitted by law.

Other Permitted or Required Uses and Disclosures

When permitted or required by applicable law, we may also use or disclose health information for purposes including:

  • Research activities that meet applicable legal requirements.
  • Organ and tissue donation and transplantation activities.
  • Workers' compensation or similar programs authorized by law.
  • Certain specialized government functions, including military, national security, intelligence, and protective services, when authorized by law.

Special Considerations for Pediatric Patients

Because Franklin Pediatric Associates provides healthcare to children and adolescents, parents and legal guardians generally act as the patient's personal representative and may have access to the child's medical information.

However, federal or Pennsylvania law may provide minors with independent confidentiality rights in certain circumstances. When applicable law allows a minor to consent independently to certain healthcare services or otherwise restricts parental access, Franklin Pediatric Associates will handle those records in accordance with applicable law.

Substance Use Disorder Records

Certain substance use disorder treatment records may receive additional protections under federal law. When Franklin Pediatric Associates creates, receives, or maintains records subject to these protections, those records will be used and disclosed only as permitted by applicable law.

Our Responsibilities

  • Maintain the privacy and security of protected health information.
  • Notify affected individuals following certain breaches of unsecured protected health information as required by law.
  • Follow the privacy practices described in this notice.
  • Provide a copy of this notice upon request.
  • Use or disclose protected health information only as permitted or required by law.

 Changes to This Notice

We may change the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices. Changes may apply to information we already maintain as well as information received in the future. The most current version will be available at our office and on our website.

Questions or Complaints

For questions regarding this notice, requests concerning your privacy rights, or privacy complaints, please contact:

Practice Franklin Pediatric Associates
Owner Dr. Amaka Nnamani
Address: 110 N 13th St, Franklin, PA 16323
Phone: (814) 437-1541
Email: admin@franklinpedsfamilies.com

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. You will not be penalized or retaliated against for filing a privacy complaint.