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.
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
West Ascension Parish Hospital is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (“PHI”), provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.
PHI includes information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, the provision of healthcare to you, or payment for your healthcare.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Information
We may use and disclose your PHI, without your written authorization, for the following purposes:
- Treatment: To provide, coordinate, or manage your care and related healthcare services.
- Payment: To bill and collect payment for healthcare services and supplies.
- Healthcare Operations: For quality improvement, credentialing, auditing, compliance, training, and other operational activities.
Additional Uses and Disclosures Permitted by Law
- Public health activities
- Health oversight activities
- Judicial and administrative proceedings
- Law enforcement purposes
- Coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors
- Organ and tissue donation
- Approved research activities
- To avert a serious threat to health or safety
- Workers’ compensation and government functions
- Individuals involved in your care or payment for your care
When using or disclosing PHI, we will make reasonable efforts to limit the information to the minimum necessary for the intended purpose when required by law.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization
Other uses and disclosures not described in this notice will only be made with your written authorization unless otherwise permitted or required by law.
You may revoke your authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent action has already been taken based on your authorization.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
You have the right to:
- Inspect and obtain copies of your medical records and certain PHI.
- Request amendments to your PHI if you believe information is incorrect or incomplete.
- Request confidential communications in a specific way or location.
- Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your PHI.
- Receive an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI.
- Receive a paper copy of this notice upon request.
- Choose someone to act on your behalf when legally authorized.
- Be notified following a breach of unsecured PHI when required by law.
Requests to exercise these rights should be submitted in writing to our Privacy Officer.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with West Ascension Parish Hospital’s Privacy Officer or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Privacy Officer
West Ascension Parish Hospital
301 Memorial Drive
Donaldsonville, LA 70346
HIM Director: LaWanda Sanders
Email: lawanda.sanders@westaph.org
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change this notice and to make the revised notice effective for all PHI we maintain. The current notice will be available at the hospital and on our website.
Accessibility
Translated versions of this Notice of Privacy Practices are available upon request to support patient access and understanding.
