Home Patient & Visitor Resources HIPAA Privacy Notice

HIPAA Privacy Notice

Heritage Valley Health System Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information

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

Heritage Valley Health System (HVHS) CONTINUES TO BE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE PRIVACY OF YOUR MEDICAL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION. It has been our practice not to disclose your medical information for any purpose without your written authorization.  We are now required by law to provide you with this statement to inform you in writing how your medical information will be used and disclosed.

Protected Health Information, or PHI, is defined by the federal government as, individually identifiable health information that is or has been electronically maintained, electronically transmitted by a covered entity, or information when it takes any other form.  PHI is a part of health information, including demographic information, collected from the individual and is created or received by a healthcare provider, relates to past, present, or future health or condition of the individual or payment for the provision of care. PHI identifies the individual directly or affords that the individual can reasonably be identified.  Covered entity is defined as a healthcare provider who transmits any health information in electronic form.

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information and to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.  HVHS is required by law to follow the terms of this Notice.  HVHS reserves the right to change the terms of the Notice and to make any revision necessary to the protected health information we maintain. Once given, you may revoke your authorization in writing at any time.  Other uses and disclosures not described in the Notice will not be made without your authorization.

Following any revisions made to this Notice, HVHS will make these changes available through distribution of the revised Notice by posting the revised Notice in HVHS facilities and on the HVHS website.

How Your Medical Information May Be Used and Disclosed:

  • HVHS will use your medical information to provide patient care.  For example, your medical information will be used by the healthcare professionals caring for you, by the business office to bill for the services provided, and by selected care and quality employees who review medical information to assure quality and medical necessity of services provided.
  • HVHS may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatments, alternatives, or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
  • During inpatient treatment at a HVHS facility, the hospitals and consulting physicians are considered an Organized Health Care Arrangement (OHCA).  This means related health information can be shared for purposes of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations with all those involved in your care.
  • Unless you object, while an inpatient or outpatient of HVHS, and with the exception of behavioral health patients, HVHS:
    • will include general information, including your name, location in the hospital, your condition described in general terms, and your religious affiliation in a list or directory of individuals located in the facility where you are hospitalized.  This information, except for the religious affiliation, will be released to people who ask for you by name.  Your religious affiliation may be given to members of the clergy, even if they do not ask for you by name.
    • disclose to family members, other relatives or close personal friends who are responsible for your care the medical information directly relevant to that person’s involvement with your care.
    • use or disclose your medical information to notify a family member or personal representative of your location, general condition, or death.

HVHS may also:

  • disclose your medical information to a public or private entity for the purpose of coordinating with that entity to assist in disaster relief efforts.
  • use or disclose your medical information for public health activities, including the reporting of disease, injury, vital events, and the conduct of public health surveillance, investigation, and intervention.
  • disclose medical information when requested by a licensed state or federal agency for accreditation purposes.
  • disclose your medical information to a health oversight agency for oversight activities authorized by law, including audits, investigations, inspections, licensure or disciplinary actions, administrative and /or legal proceedings.
  • disclose your medical information in the course of certain judicial or administrative proceedings.
  • disclose your medical information for law enforcement purposes or other specialized government functions.
  • disclose your medical information to a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director.
  • if you are an organ donor, disclose your medical information to an organ donation and procurement organization.
  • use or disclose your medical information for certain research purposes.
  • use or disclose your medical information to prevent or lessen a serious threat to the health or safety of another person or the public.
  • disclose your medical information as authorized by laws relating to worker’s compensation or similar programs.
  • may contact you to raise funds for the hospital.
  • for additional details on how your information may be used see: www.hhs.gov

Your Rights Regarding Your Medical Information:

  • Your rights related to your medical information are as follows:
  • You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosure of your medical information.  HVHS is not required by law to agree to your requested restrictions except when disclosure is to a health plan for services paid exclusively by the patient.
  • You have the right to receive communications from HVHS in a confidential manner.
  • You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your medical information. This right is subject to certain specific exceptions.  You will be charged a fee for any copies of your medical information.
  • You have the right to request an amendment to your medical information.  HVHS may deny your request for certain specific reasons.  If HVHS denies your request a written explanation for the denial and information on further rights will be provided to you.
  • You have the right to receive a list (accounting) of the disclosures of your medical information made by HVHS for six years prior to your request, effective after April 14, 2003.  By law, disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations, and certain other specific disclosures are not included in the accounting.
  • If you do not wish to be contacted for fundraising efforts, you may notify us in one of three ways.
    In writing: Heritage Valley Health System Foundation, 420 Rouser Road, Suite 102, Moon Township, PA., 15108
    By calling: 412-749-7966
    Or e-mailing: foundation@hvhs.org
  • You have the right to receive a paper copy of HVHS’ Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information. You have a right to submit a complaint to HVHS and/or to the United States Department of Health and Human Services if you believe HVS has violated your privacy rights.  To complain to HVHS or to request additional information on your privacy rights, please contact HVHS’ Privacy Officer by calling (724) 773-3434 or by writing to HVHS Privacy Officer, Heritage Valley Beaver, 1000 Dutch Ridge Road, Beaver, PA, 15009.  If you choose to file a complaint you will not be retaliated against in any way.
  • Per the federal Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, Enforcement, and Breach Notification final rule published January 25, 2013, unless a specific exception as identified in 45 CFR 160 or 164 exists, you have a right to be notified of any unauthorized access, use or disclosure of your medical or business information which compromises the security or privacy of such information.

Your Medical Information and Health Information Exchanges (HIE):

  • A HIE may share your health information with other HIEs that HVHS participates in, both on a regional and national basis. If you choose not to participate in these exchanges, your health information will no longer be provided through the exchange. However, your decision does not affect the information that was exchanged prior to the time you chose not to participate.
  • You may Opt-Out of the HIE at any time  in one of two ways:
    • In writing:  Heritage Valley Health System, Medical Records – Release of Information, 1000 Dutch Ridge Road, Beaver, PA 15009
    • By emailing: roi@hvhs.org
    • Please allow (2) business days for the processing of your Opt-Out request.

This Notice is effective as of April 1, 2003.
Revisions: 8/2008; 6/2012, 9/2013, 12/2015; 1/2024