This notice discloses how we may use and disclose protected health information. Eastside Center for Family is required by the Washington State Department of Health to maintain the privacy of your protected health information. The Privacy Rule standard requires covered entities to ensure all protected health information (PHI), individually identifiable health information (IIHI), whether stored electronically or in any other form, is secure. PHI includes any information that describes an individual’s health status or demographic information that identifies an individual.
The Privacy Rule, according to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR – responsible for oversight) gives patients more control over their health information, set boundaries on the use and release of health records, establishes appropriate safeguards that health care providers and others must achieve to protect the privacy of health information and it strikes a balance when public responsibility requires disclosure of some forms of data- for example, to protect public health. Under the rule, patients will be able to make informed choices by enabling them to find out how their information may be used and what unauthorized disclosures of their information may have been made. It generally limits release of information to the minimum reasonably needed for the purpose of the disclosure and it gives patients the right to examine and obtain a copy of their own health records and request corrections.
How we collect information about you: ECFF and its employees collect data through means including but not necessarily limited to letters, phone calls, emails, voice mails and correspondences from insurance carriers.
What we do NOT do with your information: Information about your financial situation and medical conditions and care that you provide to us in writing, via email, on the phone (including information left in voicemails), contained in or attached to applications, or directly or indirectly given to us, is held in strictest confidence.
We do not give out, exchange, barter, rent, sell, lend, or disseminate any information about applicants or clients who apply for or actually receive our services that is considered patient confidential, is restricted by law, or has been specifically restricted by a patient/client in a signed HIPAA consent form.
How we DO use your information: Information is only used as is reasonably necessary to process your medical claim or to provide you with health or counseling services which may require communication between ECFF and other health care providers and insurance companies including, but not limited to; verify your medical information is accurate; determine the type of medical supplies or any health care services you need; or to obtain or purchase any type of medical supplies, devices, medications, insurance.
If you apply or attempt to apply to receive assistance through us and provide information with the intent or purpose of fraud or that results in either an actual crime of fraud for any reason including willful or un-willful acts of negligence whether intended or not, or in any way demonstrates or indicates attempted fraud, your non-medical information can be given to legal authorities including police, investigators, courts and/or attorneys or other legal professionals, as well as any other information as permitted by law.
Information we do NOT collect: We do not use cookies on our website to collect data from our site visitors. We do not collect information about site visitors.
Limited right to use non-identifying personal information from biographies, letters, notes and other sources: Any pictures, stories, letter, biographies, correspondence, or thank you notes sent to us become the exclusive property of ECFF. We reserve the right to use non-identifying information about our clients (those who receive services or goods from or through us) for promotional purposes that are directly related to our services.
Clients will not be compensated for use of this information and no identifying information (photos, addresses, phone numbers, contact information, last names or uniquely identifiable names) will be used without client’s express, advance permission.
You may specifically request that NO information be used whatsoever for promotional purposes, but you must identify any requested restrictions in writing. We respect your right to privacy and assure you no identifying information or photos that you send us will ever be publicly used without your direct or indirect consent.