POLICY STATEMENT

It is the policy of Clem-Mar House, Inc. to inform individuals about Clem-Mar House, Inc. privacy practices as they relate to health information that may be stored in and Clem-Mar House, Inc. file, depository, or stored electronically or that exists in any recording device or in any clinical or research data base, hereafter collectively referred to as the "health record", to safeguard health information in Clem-Mar House, Inc.'s possession, and to the extent practicable, to protect the communication of health information, including oral information, from intentional or unintentional use or disclosure. It is further Clem-Mar House, Inc.'s policy to accommodate, to the extent practicable, the requests of individuals regarding the place, time, and method of communicating to them their own health information.

POLICY PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to assure that all individuals are provided with adequate notice of Clem-Mar House, Inc.'s, privacy practices and that Clem-Mar House, Inc. employees treat health information to which they have access and the communication of that health information, whether in oral, written or electronic form, confidentiality within Clem-Mar House, Inc. as well as when communicating health information to individuals outside Clem-Mar House, Inc., including to the individuals themselves.

POLICY STANDARDS

Clients, including those who are participants in treatment-oriented research and from who protected health information will be obtained will be provided the Notice of Privacy Practices and a good faith effort made to receive and acknowledgment of such receipt prior to the date of the first service delivery. Clem-Mar House, Inc. will not knowingly use or disclose health information in a manner inconsistent with its privacy practice, except to the extent that emergency patient care would be compromised. Clem-Mar House, Inc. reserves the right to amend the Notice of Privacy Practices as deemed necessary or advisable and, to the extent and in a manner practicable, will inform clients of material changes to the notice.

Health information that is communicated in any form is to be treated as confidential and in a manner that reasonably protects the communication from being intentionally or unintentionally overheard or intercepted by those who do not have a need or right to know the information.

Clem-Mar House, Inc. recognizes that in the treatment setting, communications must occur freely and quickly and there can be no assurance of absolute privacy. It is also recognized that the physical layout of the treatment area impacts the degree of confidentiality that may be achieved. However, it is the responsibility of each Provider to implement procedures to achieve a reasonable degree of confidentiality within their respective areas and to establish operating policies and procedures that reasonably protect the confidentiality of oral, written and electronic communications.

Written communications that include identifiable health information, medical charts, files, electronic storage devices, fax machines, and other electronic equipment over which protected health information may be received or transmitted are to be maintained in secure sites and/or away from public access. Computer screens containing protected health information are to be inaccessible to public view. Computers that store protected health information are to be secured before being left unattended.

Protected health information stored in computers is to be password protected. Passwords are individual specific and are not to be shared by or accessible to more than one individual.

To the extent practicable, Clem-Mar House, Inc. will accommodate the written request of an individual to have their health information communicated to them at a time, place, and in a manner of their choosing. If the request is impractical or impossible for Clem-Mar House, Inc. to accommodate, this will be clearly communicated to the individual requesting the accommodation.

Clem-Mar House, Inc. will recognize personal representatives authorized by our clients, by the courts, or by state law for purposes of communicating health information. Personal representatives may be parents or legal guardians of minor children or persons who are legally authorized or specifically identified by the client themselves, such as a close friend or family member, to act on behalf of the patient. Clem-Mar House, Inc. may, without prior authorization of the client, and where necessary due to emergency or other professionally sound reason, communicate health information with persons directly involved in the care of a client. Clem-Mar House, Inc. may also refuse to provide information to personal representatives, or to the client themselves, where it is determined that access to the information may be detrimental to or otherwise not in the best interest of the consumer, may endanger or breach the confidentiality of a third party or is precluded by statute.

YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

Under federal law, you will have the right to: (1) request that specific permissible restrictions be placed on release of your personal health information; (2) receive confidential communications regarding your personal health information; (3) inspect and copy your own medical records; (4) request an amendment to your medical records; (5) obtain an accounting of certain disclosures of your personal health information; and (6) receive upon request a paper copy of any notice regarding uses and disclosures of your personal health information you receive electronically.

SAFEGUARD REGARDING DISCLOSURE

We will restrict access to personal information about you to those who need to know that information to provided services to you. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulation to guard your personal information. Under the privacy standards, our employees are required:

• to safeguard and secure the confidential personal financial information and health information as required by law;
• to limit the collection and use of your information to the minimum necessary to render services;
• to permit only trained, authorized employees to have access to confidential information; and
• as a condition of employment, to sign a confidentiality agreement. Employees who violate this policy will be subject to our established disciplinary process.

PERMITTED DISCLOSURE TO THIRD PARTIES

Disclosure of protected health information, with or without written authorization, shall only be as permitted by law and applicable regulations.

Violation of this policy or negligence on behalf of any employee or intern or trainee resulting in or having the potential to result in the unauthorized release of identifiable health information may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or suspension or expulsion from an intern or trainee program.

For questions about this Privacy Notice please contact: