PRIVACY POLICY

Trusted Physical Therapy Privacy Policy and HIPAA Compliance

At Trusted Physical Therapy, we are committed to safeguarding the privacy and confidentiality of our patients’ personal health information. We understand the importance of maintaining your trust, and we adhere strictly to all privacy laws and regulations to protect your sensitive data. Our privacy practices are aligned with the requirements set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

1. HIPAA Compliance

HIPAA is a federal law that ensures the protection and confidential handling of health information. As a healthcare provider, we are required to:

Maintain confidentiality: We protect your personal health information (PHI) and ensure it is not disclosed to unauthorized individuals or organizations.
Limit the use and disclosure of PHI: We only use or disclose your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, unless you authorize us otherwise.
Ensure secure communication: We implement physical, administrative, and technical safeguards to protect your information against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

2. Collection and Use of Personal Health Information

We may collect the following types of information:

Personal Identifiers: Name, address, date of birth, phone number, and email address.
Medical Information: Health history, diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, and test results.
Billing Information: Insurance details, payment history, and billing information necessary for processing claims.

This information is used to:

Provide medical care and treatment.
Process insurance claims and payments.
Communicate with you about your appointments, treatment progress, and follow-up care.
Comply with legal requirements and industry regulations.

3. Patient Rights Under HIPAA

Under HIPAA, you have several important rights regarding your personal health information:

Right to Access: You may request a copy of your medical records or ask for them to be amended if you believe they are incorrect.
Right to Request Restrictions: You may request limitations on how your information is shared, though we are not always required to agree to these requests.
Right to Privacy: We will only disclose your health information to authorized individuals or entities, such as healthcare providers involved in your care or your insurance company for payment purposes, unless you provide written consent for other disclosures.
Right to Confidential Communications: You can request that we communicate with you through alternative methods (e.g., by phone or email) or at different locations to maintain privacy.
Right to File a Complaint: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with us or with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

4. Use of Technology and Data Security

We utilize secure systems and technologies to store and transmit your personal health information. Our practice is committed to preventing unauthorized access to your data through:

Encrypted communications: For online appointments, medical records, and other sensitive information.
Secure electronic health records (EHR): To ensure that all medical records are stored safely and are only accessible to authorized personnel.
Regular audits and updates: We regularly audit our systems to ensure compliance with HIPAA and implement necessary updates to maintain security.

5. Third-Party Disclosure

We may share your health information with third-party service providers that support our practice, such as billing companies or medical transcriptionists, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate your care. These third parties are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality of your information and comply with HIPAA standards.

In certain situations, we may also disclose information without your consent if required by law, such as in cases of medical emergencies, legal investigations, or compliance with government regulations.

6. Data Retention and Disposal

We retain your health information only for as long as necessary to provide care, comply with legal requirements, and protect our legal interests. Once your information is no longer needed, we follow strict procedures for secure disposal, ensuring that it cannot be accessed or retrieved.

7. Updates to the Privacy Policy

Our privacy policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in regulations or our practices. Any significant changes will be communicated to you, and the most current version will always be available on our website or upon request.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy practices, or if you would like to exercise your rights under HIPAA, please contact us at:

Trusted Physical Therapy
Contact: Esraa Mousa
Phone:
Email:

This privacy policy outlines the protections in place to ensure your personal health information is handled in compliance with HIPAA standards. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy while providing you with the highest level of care.