KCH hospital policies

Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective March 14, 2003

This notice describes how medical information about a patient may be used and disclosed and how patients can get access to this information.

Privacy Promise

KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL understands that your medical and health information is important.  We follow strict federal and state laws that require us to maintain the confidentiality of your health information.

How We Use Your Health Information

When you receive care from KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL, we may use your health information for treating you, billing for services, and conducting our normal health care operations.  Examples of how we use your information include:

Treatment: We keep records of the care and services provided to you.  Health care providers use these records to deliver quality care to meet your needs.  For example, your doctor may share your health information with a specialist who will assist in your treatment.  Some health records, including confidential communications with a mental health professional, may have additional restrictions for use and disclosure under state and federal laws.

Payment: We keep billing records that include payment information and documentation of the services provided to you.  Your information may be used to obtain payment from you, your insurance company, or other third party.  We may also contact your insurance company.

Health Care Options: We use health information to improve the quality of care, train staff and students, provide customer service, manage costs, conduct required business duties, and make plans to better serve our communities.  For example, we may use your health information to evaluate the quality of treatment and services provided by our physicians, nurses, and other health care workers.

Other Services We Provide:

We may also use your health information to:

  • Recommend treatment alternatives
  • Tell you about health services and products that may benefit you
  • Share information with family or friends involved in your care or payment for your care
  • Share information with third parties who assist us with treatment, payment, and health care operations.  Our business associates must follow our privacy practices
  • Remind you of an appointment (optional, notify the scheduler if you do not wish to be reminded)

More Information:

For more information about the practices and rights described in this notice, contact our Chief Privacy Officer or Compliance Officer.

Sharing Your Health Information:

There are limited situations when we are permitted or required to disclose health information without your signed authorization.  These situations are:

  • For public health purposes such as reporting communicable diseases, work-related illnesses, or other diseases and injuries permitted by law; reporting births and deaths; reporting reactions to drugs and problems with medical devices.
  • To protect victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
  • For health oversight activities such as investigations, audits, and inspections
  • For lawsuits and similar proceedings
  • When otherwise required by law
  • When requested by law enforcement as required by law or court order
  • To coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors
  • For organ and tissue donation
  • For research approved by our review process under strict federal guidelines
  • To reduce or prevent a serious threat to public health and safety
  • For workers’ compensation or other similar programs if you are injured at work
  • For specialized government functions such as intelligence and national security
  • All other uses and disclosures, not described in this notice, require your signed authorization.  You may revoke your authorization at any time with a written statement.
  • Our Privacy Responsibilities

KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL is required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy of your health information
  • Provide this notice that describes the ways we may use and share your health information
  • Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect

We reserve the right to make changes to this notice at any time and make the new privacy practices effective for all information we maintain.  Current notices will be posted in KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL facilities.  You may also request a copy of any notice from the KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL Chief Privacy Officer.

Your Individual Rights

You have the right to:

  • Request restrictions on how we use and share your health information.  We will consider all requests for restrictions carefully but are not required to agree to any restriction.
  • Request that we use a specific telephone number or address to communicate with you.
  • Inspect and copy your health information, including medical and billing records.  Fees may apply.  Under limited circumstances, we may deny you access to a portion of your health information and you may request a review of the denial.*
  • Request corrections or additions to your health information.*
  • Request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made by us.  The accounting does not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, and health care operations and some disclosures required by law.  Your request must state the period of time desired for the accounting, which must be within the seven years prior to your request and exclude dates prior to April 14, 2003.  The first accounting is free, but a fee will apply if more than one request is made in a 12-month period.*
  • Requests marked with an asterisk (*) must be made in writing.  Contact the KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL Chief Privacy Officer for the appropriate form for your request.

Our Organization

This notice describes the privacy practices of KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL.  KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL includes The Kane County Clinic and Kane County Ambulance as well as the KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL employees and volunteers.  This notice also applies to the privacy practices of affiliated providers while they are performing services for KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL unless they provide you with a notice of their specific privacy practices.   Affiliated providers are not employed by KCH but are either authorized to provide services to patients at KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL or have a contractual relationship with KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL.    

KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL and affiliated providers may have different privacy practices from those described in this notice.  For more information about the privacy practices of KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL and affiliated providers, please contact them directly.

Contact Us

If you would like further information about your privacy rights, are concerned that your privacy rights have been violated, or disagree with a decision that we made about access to your health information:

Contact the KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL Privacy Officer, 355 North Main Street, Kanab, Utah  84741 or contact the KANE COUNTY HOSPITAL Compliance Officer, 355 North Main Street, Kanab, Utah  84741

We will investigate all complaints and will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.  You may also file a written complaint with the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.