Privacy Policy (HIPAA)

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

Your Rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

Your Choices

For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.

• In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:
  • Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
  • Share information in a disaster relief situation
  • Include your information in a hospital directory

If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example, if you are unconscious, we may go ahead, and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

Our Uses and Disclosures

How do we typically use or share your health information? We typically use or share your health information in the following ways:

How else can we use or share your health information?

We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information, see:

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html

Our Responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
• We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

For more information, see: www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html

Health Information Exchange

We participate in one or more health information exchanges (HIEs) such as the Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL) statewide exchange and may electronically share health information for treatment, payment and healthcare operations purposes with other participants in the HIE. An HIE allows health care providers to efficiently access a patient’s past medical history when the patient received care from other providers who participate in the HIE.

Vermonters have options for sharing information via the Vermont Health Information Exchange that include:

• Participating – no action is necessary.
• Learning more before deciding – more information is available at vthealthinfo.com and by calling the Vermont Health Information Exchange Hotline at 1.888.980.1243. The Health Care Advocate, a resource that is independent of the Health Information Exchange, is also available to answer questions through their helpline at 1.800.917.7787.
• Not participating – Vermonters can opt out of participating by filling out an online form at vthealthinfo.com, downloading a form from the same site to print, fill out, and mail in, or by calling the Vermont Health Information Exchange Hotline at 1.888.980.1243.

Vermont State Law

• The Vermont Bill of Rights, for hospital patients who have been admitted as inpatients, requires that only medical personnel, or individuals under the supervision of medical personnel, who are directly treating the patient, or monitoring the quality or researching the effectiveness of the treatment have access to the patient’s medical record. Others may have access to the records only with a patient’s written authorization.
• Vermont law requires any records associated with the civil commitment process for certain mental health patients be kept confidential.

OHCA (Organizational Health Care Arrangement)

Rutland Regional and the physician members of the Medical Staff act as an Organized Health Care Arrangement (OHCA) when a member of the Medical Staff provide services at a Rutland Regional facility and when they access, use or disclose information related to services provided at Rutland Regional.

In addition, Rutland Regional participates in the Rutland Community Care Coordination program with other healthcare providers in the Rutland Region. The Care Coordination participants work cooperatively to coordinate healthcare services across the spectrum of primary care, specialty, hospital, home health and hospice to improve the quality of care and contribute toward the shared mission of improving the health of the community. This joint arrangement and joint activities constitute an Organized Health Care Arrangement (“OHCA”), as defined in HIPAA regulations. The participants share limited healthcare information to the extent necessary to coordinate care and improve the quality of care.

Changes to the Terms of this Notice

Rutland Regional reserves the right to change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our website.

Notice of Privacy Practice Effective Dates:

April 2003, October 2006, April 2009, December 2009, June 2010, November 2010, April 2011, August 2011, October 2011, February 2012, June 2012, June 2016, June 2017, February 2020.

Note: This Notice is available in alternate formats.