Appointment Reminders.

We may contact you to provide appointment reminders.

Treatment Alternatives.

We may use and disclose medical information to tell you about or recommend possible treatment options or alternatives that may be of interest to you.

Health-Related Benefits and Services.

We may use and disclose medical information to tell you about health-related benefits or services provided through ARH that may be of interest to you.

Fundraising Activities.

We may use medical information about you to contact you in an effort to raise money for ARH and its operations. We may disclose medical information to a foundation related to the hospital so that the foundation may contact you in raising money for the hospital. We would only release limited information such as contact information, including your name, address, phone number and the dates you received treatment or services at an ARH facility. Any such communication addressed to you would contain instructions describing how you may “opt out” of receiving these kinds of communications in the future. You do have the right to “opt out” of receiving these fundraising communications.

Facility Directories.

Unless you object, we will include your name, your location at the ARH facility where you are receiving treatment, your condition described in general terms, and your religious affiliation, in our directory of individuals. The directory information, except for your religious affiliation, will then be released to people who ask for you by name. Unless you object, religious affiliation may be given to members of the clergy, even if they do not ask for you by name. You may specifically request that we do not include you in the directory when you register.

Family and Friends.

Unless you object, we may disclose your medical information to family members, other relatives or close personal friends when the medical information is directly relevant to that person’s involvement with your care. We may release information about you to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care. We may also give information to someone who helps pay for your care.

Notification.

Unless you object, we may use or disclose your medical information to notify a family member, a personal representative or another person responsible for your care of your location, general condition or death.

Psychotherapy Notes.

Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes will only be made with your authorization. For example, without your authorization, these notes may only be used for treatment and training purposes, or for use in your treatment by the original writer of the notes.

Research.

We may use or disclose your medical information for certain research purposes, if an Institutional Review Board or privacy board has altered or waived individual authorization, the review is preparatory to research, or the research is limited to information about a decedent. Before we use or disclose medical information for research, the project will have been approved through this research approval process. We will always ask for your specific permission if the researcher will have access to your name, address, or other information that reveals who you are, or will be involved in your care.

Business Associates

We may disclose your health information to a business associate with whom we contract to provide services on our behalf. To protect your health information, we require our business associates to appropriately safeguard the health information of our patients.

Public Safety.

We may use or disclose your medical information to prevent or lessen a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of another person or to the public.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS: The following situations may result in additional uses and disclosure of health information by Appalachian Regional Healthcare.Workers’ Compensation.

We may disclose your medical information as authorized by laws relating to workers’ compensation or similar programs.

Organ and Tissue Donation.

If you are an organ donor, we may disclose your medical information to an organ donation and procurement organization, or as otherwise required by state or federal law.

Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors.

We may disclose your medical information to a coroner, medical examiner or a funeral director.

Health Oversight Activities

We may disclose medical information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections and licensure activity. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the healthcare system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.

Disclosure to the Department of Health and Human Services.

We may disclose medical information when required by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as part of an investigation or determination of our compliance with relevant laws.

Legal Proceedings.

We may disclose your medical information in the course of certain judicial or administrative proceedings such as in a suit or criminal action.

Law Enforcement.

• We may disclose your medical information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official:
• In response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process;
• To identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person;
• About the victim of a crime if we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement;
• About a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct;
• About criminal conduct at an Appalachian Regional Healthcare facility;
• In emergencies to report a crime, the location of the crime or victims; or the identity, description or location of the person who committed the crime
• To Children and Family Services

Public Health Risks.
We may disclose to authorize public health or government officials medical information about you for public health activities. These activities generally include the following:

• to a person subject to the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for purposes related to the quality, safety or effectiveness of an FDA-regulated product or service;
• to prevent or control disease, injury or disability;
• to report disease or injury;
• to report births and deaths;
• to report child abuse or neglect;
• to report reactions to medications and food or problems with products;
• to notify people of recalls or replacements of products they may be using;
• to notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition;
• to notify the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient has been the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. We will only make this disclosure if you agree or when required or authorized by law.

Disaster Relief.

• We may disclose your medical information to a public or private entity, such as the American Red Cross, for the purpose of coordinating with that entity to assist in disaster relief efforts.