HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Effective Date: 01/06/2025
Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.
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.
Your Rights
When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.
Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record
- You can request to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. Please contact our office to submit a request.
- We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply.
Ask us to correct your medical record
- You may request corrections to health information you believe is incorrect or incomplete.
- We may deny your request but will notify you in writing within 60 days.
Request confidential communications
- You may request that we contact you through specific means (e.g., home or office phone, alternative mailing address).
- We will accommodate all reasonable requests.
Limit what we use or share
- You may request limitations on the use or disclosure of certain health information for treatment, payment, or operations. We are not required to agree, but will consider your request.
- If you have paid for a service or healthcare item out-of-pocket in full, you may request that we not disclose that information to your health insurer, unless legally required to do so.
Get a copy of this privacy notice
- You may request a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
Choose someone to act for you
- If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person may exercise your rights.
File a complaint if you believe your rights are violated
- To file a complaint, please contact us at:
- Keystone Oral Surgery & Implant Center
- Phone: (570) 884-8321
- Email: hippa@keystoneomfs.com
- You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Your Choices
You may instruct us on sharing information in certain circumstances:
- Share information with family, close friends, or others involved in your care.
- Share information in a disaster relief situation.
We may share your information if you are unable to express your preferences and sharing is deemed to be in your best interest or necessary to lessen serious health or safety threats.
We will not share your information without written permission for:
- Marketing purposes
- Sale of your information
- Most uses of psychotherapy notes
We may contact you for fundraising purposes, but you may opt out.
Our Uses and Disclosures
We typically use or share your health information in the following ways:
Treat you
- We may use your health information and share it with other healthcare professionals involved in your care.
Run our organization
- We may use and share your information to operate our practice, improve care, and manage administrative functions.
Bill for your services
- We may use and share your health information to obtain payment from insurance companies and other payers.
Other Ways We May Use or Share Your Information
We are allowed or required to share your information for public good and legal reasons, including:
- Public health activities such as preventing disease, reporting adverse drug reactions, and reporting suspected abuse or neglect.
- Health research under federal guidelines.
- Compliance with federal or state law and regulatory agencies.
- Organ and tissue donation requests.
- Work with medical examiners or funeral directors.
- Workers' compensation claims.
- Law enforcement or government functions.
- Lawsuits and legal proceedings.
For more information, visit:
www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html
Electronic Communication: Texting and Email
Keystone Oral Surgery & Implant Center may use email, text messaging (SMS), or other electronic means to communicate with patients for appointment reminders, scheduling, billing, pre- and post-operative instructions, and other healthcare-related communications.
By providing your email address and/or mobile phone number, you are consenting to receive electronic communications from our practice.
Risks of Electronic Communication
While we make every effort to protect your information, please be aware that:
- Email and text messaging are not fully secure methods of communication.
- There is a risk that messages may be intercepted, misdirected, or read by unintended recipients.
- Electronic communications may not always be encrypted or fully HIPAA-secure depending on the device, platform, or network used.
Patient Responsibilities
- You are responsible for providing accurate and current contact information.
- You may revoke your consent to receive electronic communications at any time by notifying our office in writing.
Use of Electronic Communication is Limited
- We will not use email or text to discuss sensitive clinical information unless explicitly requested and consented to by the patient.
- Emergency or urgent matters should not be communicated via email or text. In case of emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency facility.
Opt-Out
You may opt out of electronic communication at any time by contacting our office:
- Phone: (570) 884-8321
- Email: hippa@keystoneomfs.com
We will honor your opt-out request and continue to communicate with you using alternative methods if requested.
Our Responsibilities
- We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
- We will notify you promptly if a breach occurs.
- We will only use or share your information as outlined unless you authorize otherwise.
- You may revoke consent in writing at any time.
For full details, visit:
www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to amend this notice. Updated versions will be available at our office and on our website.
Website & Site Privacy Policy
Notice of Privacy Practices: This Notice of Privacy Practices applies to all the organizations on this site. Please see the appropriate page for contact information.
Site Privacy Policy
This website is provided for information and education purposes only. No doctor/patient relationship is established by your use of this site/app. No diagnosis or treatment is being provided. The information contained here should be used in consultation with a dentist or doctor of your choice. No guarantees or warranties are made regarding any of the information contained within this website. This website is not intended to offer specific medical, dental, or surgical advice to anyone.
Thank you for visiting our website. This privacy policy tells you how we use personal information collected at this site. Please read this privacy policy before using the site or submitting any personal information. By using the site, you are accepting the practices described in this privacy policy. These practices may be changed, but any changes will be posted and will only apply prospectively, not retroactively. You are encouraged to review the privacy policy whenever you visit the site to make sure that you understand how any personal information you provide will be used.
Note: the privacy practices set forth in this privacy policy are for this web site only. If you link to other websites, please review the privacy policies posted at those sites.
Collection of Information
We collect personally identifiable information, like names, postal addresses, email addresses, etc., when voluntarily submitted by our visitors. The information you provide is used to fulfill your specific request. This information is only used to fulfill your specific request, unless you give us permission to use it in another manner, for example, to add you to one of our mailing lists.
Cookie/Tracking Technology
The Site may use cookie and tracking technology depending on the features offered. Cookie and tracking technology are useful for gathering information such as browser type and operating system, tracking the number of visitors to the Site, and understanding how visitors use the Site. Cookies can also help customize the Site for visitors. Personal information cannot be collected via cookies and other tracking technology, however, if you previously provided personally identifiable information, cookies may be tied to such information. Aggregate cookie and tracking information may be shared with third parties.
This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser; however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.
Distribution of Information
We may share information with governmental agencies or other companies assisting us in fraud prevention or investigation. We may do so when: (1) permitted or required by law; or, (2) trying to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud or unauthorized transactions; or, (3) investigating fraud which has already taken place. The information is not provided to these companies for marketing purposes. Consumer information is not shared with third parties for marketing purposes.
Commitment to Data Security
Your personally identifiable information is kept secure. Only authorized employees, agents and contractors (who have agreed to keep information secure and confidential) have access to this information. All emails and newsletters from this site allow you to opt out of further mailings.
Accessibility Statement
We are working to improve the accessibility of the content on our website. Below, you’ll find some recommendations to help make your browsing experience more accessible:
- Make use of the accessibility features of a modern smartphone or tablet
- Make use of the accessibility features of a modern computer or laptop
- Use your computer to read web pages out loud
- Use the keyboard to navigate screens
- Increase text size
- Magnify your screen
- Change background and text colors
- Make your mouse pointer more visible (Windows only)
If you are looking for mouse and keyboard alternatives, speech recognition software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking or other accessibility software may help you navigate web pages and online services. The Dragon Naturally Speaking software allows the user to move focus around a web page or application screen through voice controls.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, there are several accessibility features available to you:
- Closed Captioning: Closed captioning provides a transcript for the audio track of a video presentation that is synchronized with the video and audio tracks. Captions are generally visually displayed over the video, which benefits people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and anyone who cannot hear the audio due to noisy environments. Written descriptions of our services are available for those who are unable to hear our videos and/or for videos that do not have closed captioning.
- Volume Controls: Your computer, tablet, or mobile device has volume control features. Each video and audio service has its own additional volume controls. Try adjusting both your device’s volume controls and your media players’ volume controls to optimize your listening experience.
If the recommendations above do not meet your needs, we invite you to contact us via phone, e-mail, or by visiting the office during our business hours for assistance.