Langston University

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. The Langston University Health Clinic staff is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your protected health information (PHI). We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of health information that identifies you. By federal and state law, we must follow the terms of the notice of privacy practices that we have in effect at this time. These laws are complex, but we must provide you with the following important information:

How we may use and disclose your PHI
Your rights regarding PHI about you
Our obligations concerning the use and disclosure of your PHI
Uses and Disclosures

Treatment

Your health information may be used by staff members or disclosed to other healthcare professionals for the purpose of evaluating your health, diagnosing medical conditions and providing treatment. For example, results of laboratory tests and procedures will be available in your medical record to all health professionals who may provide treatment or who may be consulted by staff members. We may use and disclose PHI when you need a prescription, lab work, an X-ray, or other healthcare services. We may use and disclose PHI about you when referring you to another healthcare provider.

Healthcare Operations

Your health information may be used as necessary to support the daily activities and management of the Langston University Health Clinic. For example, information on the services you receive may be used to support budgeting and financial reporting and activities to evaluate and promote the quality of services. PHI may be used to ensure that you are in compliance with Langston University’s immunization and insurance requirements.

Appointment Reminders and Follow-up Calls

We may use and disclose your health information to contact you to remind you of an appointment or for follow-up after a visit to the Health Clinic.

Law Enforcement

Your health information may be disclosed to law enforcement agencies, without your permission, to support government audits and inspections, facilitate law enforcement investigations and comply with government-mandated reporting.

Public Health Reporting

Your health information may be disclosed to public health agencies as required by law. For example, we are required to report certain communicable diseases to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Serious Threats to Health or Safety

We may disclose your protected health information when necessary to reduce or prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of another individual or the public.

Worker’s Compensation

We may release your health information for worker’s compensation and similar programs.

Other uses and disclosures require your authorization

Disclosures of your health information or its use for any purpose other than those listed above require your specific written authorization. If you change your mind after authorizing use or disclosure of your information, you must submit a written revocation of the authorization. However, your decision to revoke the authorization will not affect or undo any use or disclosure of information that occurred before you notified us of your decision.

Individual Rights

You have certain rights under the federal privacy standards. These include:

The right to request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your protected health information
The right to receive confidential communications concerning your medical condition and treatment
The right to inspect and receive a copy your protected health information
The right to amend or submit corrections to your protected health information
The right to receive an accounting of how and to whom your protected health information has been disclosed
The right to receive a printed copy of this notice
Right to Revise Privacy Practices
As permitted by law, we reserve the right to amend or modify our privacy policies and practices. These changes in our policies and practices may be required by changes in federal and state laws and regulations. The revised policies and practices will be applied to all protected health information that we maintain.

Requests to Inspect Protected Health Information

As permitted by federal regulation, we require that requests to inspect or copy protected health information be submitted in writing. You may obtain a form to request access to your records by contacting one of the staff members. If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you should call the matter to our attention by sending a letter describing the cause of your concern to the same address on the form described above. You will not be penalized or otherwise retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Notification

Because medical services are confidential for students 18 years of age or older, parents are not notified of routine treatment given at the Health Clinic. In case of emergency requiring a student’s hospitalization, the physician or student will communicate with parents.

If you are having a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.