Notice Of Privacy Practices

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Our practice is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your PHI. In conducting our business, we will create records regarding you and the treatment and services we provide to you. We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of health information that identifies you. We are also required by law to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and the privacy practices that we maintain concerning your PHI. By federal and state law, we must follow the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices that we have in effect at the time.

We realize that these laws are complicated, but we must provide you with the following important information:

• How we may use and disclose your PHI

• Your privacy rights in your PHI

• Our obligations concerning the use and disclosure of your PHI

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The terms of this notice apply to all records containing your PHI that are created or retained by our practice. We reserve the right to revise or amend this Notice of Privacy Practices. Any revision or amendment will be effective for all records we have created or maintained in the past and for any we may create or maintain in the future. A current copy of this Notice will always be available in our office and on our website, and you may request a copy at any time.

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If you have any questions about this Notice, please contact:
Office Manager
915 Gessner Road, Suite 850
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 461-1026

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How We May Use and Disclose Your PHI

1. Treatment

We may use your PHI to treat you. For example, we may order laboratory tests and use results to diagnose and treat you. We may share your PHI with pharmacies, physicians, nurses, and others involved in your care, including family members assisting in your care.

2. Payment

We may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment. This may include contacting your insurer, sharing treatment details, billing you directly, or working with other providers for payment activities.

3. Health Care Operations

We may use and disclose your PHI to operate our practice, including quality assessment, business planning, and administrative functions.

4. Appointment Reminders

We may use and disclose your PHI to contact you with appointment reminders. These may be provided via phone call, voicemail, SMS text message, or email.

5. Treatment Options

We may use your PHI to inform you of treatment options or alternatives.

6. Health-Related Benefits and Services

We may use your PHI to inform you about services or benefits that may interest you.

7. Release to Family/Friends

We may disclose your PHI to individuals involved in your care or payment for your care.

8. Disclosures Required by Law

We will disclose your PHI when required by federal, state, or local law.

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Special Circumstances for Disclosure

The following categories describe unique scenarios in which we may use or disclose your PHI:

1. Public Health Risks. Our practice may disclose your PHI to public health authorities that are authorized by law to collect information for the purpose of:

i. Maintaining vital records, such as births and deaths.

ii. Reporting child abuse or neglect.

iii. Preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability.

iv. Notifying a person regarding potential exposure to a communicable disease.

v. Reporting reactions to drugs or problems with products or devices.

vi. Notifying individuals if a product or device they may be using has been recalled.

vii. Notifying appropriate government agency (ies) and authority (ies) regarding the potential abuse or neglect of an adult patient (including domestic violence); however, we will only disclose this information if the patient agrees or we are required or authorized by law to disclose this information.

viii. Notifying your employer under limited circumstances related primarily to workplace injury or illness or medical surveillance.

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   2. Health Oversight Activities. Our practice may disclose your PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. Oversight activities can include, for example, investigations, inspections, audits, surveys, licensure and disciplinary actions; civil, administrative, and criminal procedures or actions; or other activities necessary for the government to monitor government programs, compliance with civil rights laws and the health care system in general.

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  3. Lawsuits and Similar Proceedings. Our practice may use and disclose your PHI in response to a court or administrative order, if you are involved in a lawsuit or similar proceeding. We also may disclose your PHI in response to a discovery request, subpoena, or other lawful process by another party involved in the dispute, but only if we have made an effort to inform you of the request or to obtain an order protecting the information the party has requested.

 

  4. Law Enforcement. We may release PHI if asked to do so by a law enforcement official:

i. Regarding a crime victim in certain situations, if we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement.

ii. Concerning a death we believe has resulted from criminal conduct.

iii. Regarding criminal conduct at our offices.

iv. In response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena or similar legal process.

v. To identify/locate a suspect, material witness, fugitive or missing person.

vi. In an emergency, to report a crime (including the location or victim(s) of the crime, or the description, identity or location of the perpetrator).

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  5. Deceased Patients. Our practice may release PHI to a medical examiner or coroner to identify a deceased individual or to identify the cause of death. If necessary, we also may release information in order for funeral directors to perform their jobs.

 

  6. Organ and Tissue Donation. Our practice may release your PHI to organizations that handle organ, eye or tissue procurement or transplantation, including organ donation banks, as necessary to facilitate organ or tissue donation and transplantation if you are an organ donor.

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  7. Research. Our practice may use and disclose your PHI for research purposes in certain limited circumstances. We will obtain your written authorization to use your PHI for research purposes except when an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board has determined that the waiver of your authorization satisfies the following;(i) the use or disclosure involves no more than a minimal risk to your privacy based on the following:(A) an adequate plan to protect the identifiers from improper use and disclosure; (B) an adequate plan to destroy the identifiers at the earliest opportunity consistent with the research (unless there is a health or research justification for retaining the identifiers or such retention is otherwise required by law); and (C) adequate written assurances that the PHI will not be reused or disclosed to any other person or entity (except as required by law) for authorized oversight of the research study, or for other research for which the use or disclosure would otherwise be permitted; (ii) the research could not practicably be conducted without the waiver; and (iii) the research could not practicably be conducted without access to and use of the PHI.

 

  8. Serious Threats to Health or Safety. Our practice may use and disclose your PHI 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. Under these circumstances, we will only make disclosures to a person or organization able to help prevent the threat.

 

  9. Military. Our practice may disclose your PHI if you are a member of U.S. or foreign military forces (including veterans) and if required by the appropriate authorities.

 

  10.  National Security. Our practice may disclose your PHI to federal officials for intelligence and national security activities authorized by law. We also may disclose your PHI to federal officials in order to protect the President, other officials or foreign heads of state, or to conduct investigations.

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  11. Inmates. Our practice may disclose your PHI to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials if you are an inmate or under the custody of a law enforcement official. Disclosure for these purposes would be necessary: (a) for the institution to provide health care services to you, (b) for the safety and security of the institution, and/or (c) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of the other individuals.

 

  12. Workers’ Compensation. Our practice may release your PHI for workers’ compensation and similar programs.

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Your Rights Regarding Your PHI

You have the following rights regarding the PHI that we maintain about you:

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Request confidential communications

You have the right to request that our practice communicate with you about your health and related issues in a particular manner or at a certain location. For instance, you may ask that we contact you at home, rather than work. In order to request a type of confidential communication, you must make a written request to Office Manager, 915 Gessner Road, Suite 850, Houston, TX 77024, specifying the requested method of contact, or the location where you wish to be contacted. Our practice will accommodate reasonable requests. You do not need to give a reason for your request.

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Request restrictions

You have the right to request a restriction in our use or disclosure of your PHI for treatment, payment or health care operations. Additionally, you have the right to request that we restrict our disclosure of your PHI to only certain individuals involved in your care or the payment for your care, such as family members and friends. We are not required to agree to your request; however, if we do agree, we are bound by our agreement except when otherwise required by law, in emergencies, or when the information is necessary to treat you. In order to request a restriction in our use or disclosure of your PHI, you must make your request in writing to

Office Manager, 915 Gessner Road, Suite 850, Houston, TX 77024.

 

Your request must describe in a clear and concise fashion:

a. the information you wish restricted; b. whether you are requesting to limit our practice’s use, disclosure or both; and c. to whom you want the limits to apply.

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Inspect and obtain copies of your PHI

You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the PHI that may be used to make decisions about you, including patient medical records and billing records, but not including psychotherapy notes. You must submit your request in writing to Office Manager, 915 Gessner Road, Suite 850, Houston, TX 77024, (713) 461-1026 in order to inspect and/or obtain a copy of your PHI. Our practice may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, labor and supplies associated with your request. Our practice may deny your request to inspect and/or copy in certain limited circumstances; however, you may request a review of our denial. Another licensed health care professional chosen by us will conduct reviews.

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Request amendments

You may ask us to amend your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete, and you may request an amendment for as long as information is kept by or for our practice. To request an amendment, your request must be made in writing and submitted to Office Manager, 915 Gessner Road, Suite 850, Houston, TX 77024. You must provide us with a reason that supports your request for amendment. Our practice will deny your request if you fail to submit your request (and the reason supporting your request) in writing. Also, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that is in our opinion: a. accurate and complete; b. not part of the PHI kept by or for the practice; c. not part of the PHI which you would be permitted to inspect and copy; or d. not created by our practice, unless the individual or entity that created the information is not available to amend the information.

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Accounting disclosures

All of our patients have the right to request an “accounting of disclosures.” An “accounting of disclosures” is a list of certain non-routine disclosures our practice has made of your PHI for non-treatment, non-payment or non-operations purposes. Use of your PHI as part of the routine patient care in our practice is not required to be documented. For example, the doctor shares information with the nurse; or the billing department using your information to file your insurance claim. In order to obtain an accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to Office Manager, 915 Gessner Road, Suite 850, Houston, TX 77024.

All requests for an “accounting of disclosures” must state a time period, which may not be longer than six (6) years from the date of disclosure and may not include dates before April 14, 2003. The first list you request within a 12-month period is free of charge, but our practice may charge you for additional lists within the same 12-month period. Our practice will notify you of the costs involved with additional requests, and you may withdraw your request before you incur any costs.

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Right to a Paper copy of this Notice

You are entitled to receive a paper copy of our notice of privacy practice. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. To obtain a paper copy of this notice, contact: Office Manager, 915 Gessner Road, Suite 850, Houston, TX 77024, (713) 461-1026.

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Right to File a Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our practice or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with our practice, contact Digestive & Liver Specialists, Office Manager, 915 Gessner Road, Suite 850, Houston, TX 77024, (713) 461-1026. All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

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Right to Provide an Authorization for Other Uses and Disclosures

Our practice will obtain your written authorization for uses and disclosures that are not identified by this notice or permitted by applicable law. Any authorization you provide to us regarding the use and disclosure of your PHI may be revoked at any time in writing. After you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose your PHI for the reasons described in the authorization. Please note we are required to retain records in your care.

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Email Communications

Use of Email
We may use email to communicate with you regarding appointments, treatment, billing, and other health-related matters.

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Security Risks
Email may not be a secure method of communication, and there is a risk that information could be accessed by unauthorized individuals.

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Consent
By providing your email address, you consent to receive communications from us via email.

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Opt-Out
You may opt out of email communications at any time by contacting us at (713) 461-1026.

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SMS Privacy Policy​

SMS Data Collection
We collect phone numbers and message content for SMS communications. Your phone number is used solely for delivering SMS messages related to your appointments and plans of care or treatment with our office.

 

Opt-Out Mechanism
You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any message or by contacting us at (713) 461-1026.

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Data Retention
SMS communications and associated data are retained for 36 months and then deleted, unless required by law.

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TCPA Compliance
We comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and maintain a list of numbers requesting not to receive marketing messages.

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SMS Terms of Service

SMS Consent
By providing your phone number, you agree to receive SMS messages from us. Standard messaging rates may apply as determined by your carrier.

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Message Frequency
We send approximately 3 messages per week. Message frequency may vary.

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Dispute Resolution
For issues or disputes regarding SMS communications, contact us at (713) 461-1026. We will respond within 2 business days.

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Withdrawal of Consent
You may withdraw consent to receive SMS messages at any time by replying STOP or contacting us at (713) 461-1026.

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Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this notice or our privacy practices, please contact:

Office Manager
915 Gessner Road, Suite 850
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 461-1026

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