Treatment: Your health information may be used by staff members or disclosed to other health care 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.
Payment: Your health information may be used to seek payment from your health plan, from other sources of coverage such as an automobile insurer, or from credit card companies that you may use to pay for services or from collection agencies. For example, your health plan may request and receive information on dates of service, the services provided, and the medical condition being treated.
Healthcare Operations: Your health information may be used as necessary to support the day-to-day activities and management of Hickory Surgical Clinic. For example, information on the services you received may be used to support budgeting and financial reporting, and activities to evaluate and promote quality.
Law Enforcement: Your health information may be disclosed to law enforcement agencies to support government audits and inspections, to facilitate law-enforcement investigations, and to 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 state’s public health department.
2. Other uses and disclosures require our authorization.
Disclosure of your health information or its use for any purpose other than those listed above requires your specific written authorization.