Notice of Privacy Practices

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Warwick Community Ambulance Association

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

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how Warwick Community Ambulance Association may use and disclose your protected health information to provide treatment, obtain payment, conduct health care operations, and for other purposes permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights regarding your protected health information and our obligations to protect it.

Protected health information is information about you that may identify you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services.

Warwick Community Ambulance Association is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information and to follow the terms of this Notice. We reserve the right to change this Notice and make the revised Notice effective for all protected health information we maintain. Upon request, we will provide you with a current copy of this Notice. A copy is also available on our website.

1. USES AND DISCLOSURES OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

Treatment
We may use and disclose your protected health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your medical care. This includes information obtained verbally, in writing, or electronically regarding your condition and treatment. We may share information with physicians, nurses, hospitals, dispatch centers, and other health care providers involved in your care. This includes transmitting information by radio, telephone, or electronic means and providing hospitals with written or electronic records created during your treatment and transport.

Payment
We may use and disclose your protected health information as necessary to obtain payment for services provided. This includes billing insurance companies, working with third party billing services, determining medical necessity, utilization review, and collection of outstanding balances.

Health Care Operations
We may use or disclose your protected health information to support our operations. These activities include quality assurance, training, licensing, credentialing, employee evaluation, compliance, legal and financial services, business planning, complaint resolution, and data analysis. We may share information with business associates who perform services on our behalf. All business associates are required to protect your information through written agreements.

Fundraising
We may contact you for fundraising activities or to provide information about our subscription or membership programs. You may opt out of receiving fundraising communications by contacting our Privacy Officer.

Service and Transport Reminders
We may contact you to remind you of scheduled non emergency transports or to provide information about services or health related benefits we offer. You may request that these communications stop by contacting our Privacy Officer.

Uses and Disclosures Based on Written Authorization
Any other use or disclosure of your protected health information will be made only with your written authorization unless otherwise permitted or required by law. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that we have already relied on it.

2. OTHER PERMITTED AND REQUIRED USES AND DISCLOSURES

Individuals Involved in Your Care
Unless you object, we may disclose relevant information to a family member, friend, or other person you identify who is involved in your care. If you are unable to agree or object, we may disclose information if we determine it is in your best interest based on professional judgment.

Required by Law
We may disclose protected health information when required by federal, state, or local law.

Public Health and Safety
We may disclose information to public health authorities for disease control, injury prevention, or public safety purposes. This may include reporting communicable diseases, exposures, or adverse events.

Health Oversight Activities
We may disclose information to government agencies for audits, investigations, inspections, or other oversight activities authorized by law.

Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence
We may disclose information to appropriate authorities if we believe you are a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, as required or permitted by law.

Food and Drug Administration
We may disclose information to entities regulated by the Food and Drug Administration for product monitoring, recalls, repairs, or post marketing surveillance.

Legal Proceedings and Law Enforcement
We may disclose information in response to court orders, subpoenas, or other lawful processes. We may also disclose information to law enforcement as permitted by law to locate a suspect, report a crime, or prevent a serious threat to safety.

Research
We may disclose information for approved research purposes when appropriate safeguards are in place.

Serious Threats to Health or Safety
We may disclose information if necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to a person or the public.

Military and National Security
We may disclose information of members of the armed forces for authorized military or national security purposes as required by law.

Workers Compensation
We may disclose information as authorized by workers compensation or similar programs.

Organ Donation
If you are an organ donor, we may release information to organizations involved in organ, eye, or tissue donation and transplantation.

Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors
We may disclose information to assist with identification, determination of cause of death, or other duties authorized by law.

Required Disclosures
We must disclose protected health information to you upon request and to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for compliance investigations.

3. YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your protected health information. Reasonable fees may apply. In limited circumstances, access may be denied, and you may appeal certain denials.

You have the right to request restrictions on how we use or disclose your information. We are not required to agree to all requested restrictions, except where required by law.

You have the right to request confidential communications by alternative means or at an alternative location. Requests must be made in writing.

You have the right to request an amendment to your protected health information. We may deny the request in certain circumstances. You may submit a written statement of disagreement if your request is denied.

You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures of your protected health information, excluding disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations, or disclosures made to you.

You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice upon request.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with WCAA or the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Contact Information:

Warwick Community Ambulance Association (WCAA)

Attn: Compliance Officer

PO Box 42, Lititz, PA 17543

Phone: 717-626-1200