This page describes the confidentiality of your medical records, how the information is used, your rights, and how you may obtain this information.
Our Legal Duties
Federal and state laws require that HOPE In Home Counseling, LLC (HOPE) keeps your medical records private. These laws require that HOPE provides you with this notice informing you of our privacy of information policies, your rights, and our duties. HOPE is required to abide by these policies. HOPE has the right to revise current privacy policies for all medical records, including records maintained before any policy changes were made. Any changes in this notice will be made available upon request before changes take place.
The contents of material disclosed to HOPE in an evaluation, intake, or counseling session
are covered by these laws and considered as private information. HOPE respects the privacy of the information you provide and HOPE abides by ethical and legal requirements of confidentiality and privacy of records.
Use of Information
Information about you may be used by HOPE for diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment, and continuity of care. HOPE may disclose information to health care providers who provide you with treatment, such as doctors, nurses, other mental health and medical professionals.
Both verbal information and written records about a client cannot be shared with another party without the written consent of the client or the client’s legal guardian or personal representative. HOPE's policy is not to release any information about a client without a signed release of information except in certain emergency situations or exceptions in which client information can be disclosed to others without written consent. Some of these situations are noted below, and there may be other provisions provided by legal requirements.
Duty to Warn and Protect
When a client discloses intentions or a plan to harm themselves, another person or persons, the HOPE health care professional is required to warn the intended victim and report this information to legal authorities. In cases in which the client discloses or implies a plan for suicide, the HOPE health care professional is required to notify legal authorities and make reasonable attempts to notify the family of the client.
Public Safety
HOPE may release health records for the public interest and safety for public health activities, judicial and administrative proceedings, law enforcement purposes, serious threats to public safety, essential government functions, military, and when complying with worker’s compensation laws.
Abuse
If a client states or suggests that he or she is abusing a child or vulnerable adult, or has recently abused a child or vulnerable adult, or a child (or vulnerable adult) is in danger of abuse, the HOPE health care professional is required to report this information to the appropriate social service and/or legal authorities. If a client is the victim of abuse, neglect, violence, or a crime victim, and his or her safety appears to be at risk, HOPE may share this information with law enforcement officials to help prevent future occurrences and capture the perpetrator.
Prenatal Exposure to Controlled Substances
Health care professionals are required to report admitted prenatal exposure to controlled substances that are potentially harmful.
In the Event of a Client’s Death
In the event of a client’s death, the spouse or parents of a deceased client have a right to access their child’s or spouse’s records.
Professional Misconduct
Professional misconduct by a HOPE health care professional must be reported by other health care professionals. In cases in which a professional or legal disciplinary meeting is being held regarding the health care professional’s actions, related records may be released in order to substantiate disciplinary concerns.
Judicial or Administrative Proceedings
Health care professionals are required to release records of clients when a court order has been placed.
Minors/Guardianship
Parents or legal guardians of non-emancipated minor clients have the right to access the client's records.
Other Provisions
HOPE may disclose Information about clients in consultations with other professionals in order to provide the best possible treatment for the client. In such cases the name of the client, or any identifying information, is not disclosed. In these cases only clinical information about the client are discussed.
In the event the HOPE mental health professional must telephone the client for purposes such as appointment cancellations or reminders, or to give/receive other information, efforts are made to preserve confidentiality. Please notify HOPE in writing where you may be reached by phone and how you would like the HOPE mental health professional to identify herself. For example, you might request that when we phone you at home or work, we do not say HOPE In Home Counseling or the nature of the call but rather the HOPE mental health professional’s first name only. Every effort to protect the client's confidentiality will be made by HOPE.
Your Rights
You have the right to request to review or receive your medical files. The procedures for obtaining a copy of your medical information are as follows. You may request a copy of your records in writing with an original (not photocopied) signature. Records for non-emancipated minors must be requested by their custodial parents or legal guardians.
You have the right to cancel a release of information by providing HOPE with a written notice. If you desire to have your information sent to a location different than our address on file, you must provide this information in writing.
You have the right to restrict what information might be disclosed to others. However, if we do not agree with these restrictions, we are not bound to abide by them.
You have the right to request that information about you be communicated by other means or to another location. This request must be made to us in writing.
You have the right to disagree with the medical records in our files. You may request that this information be changed. Although we might refuse to change the record, you have the right to make a statement of disagreement, which will be placed in your file.
You have the right to know what information in your record has been provided to whom. Request this in writing.
If you desire a written copy of this notice you may obtain it by requesting it from me.
Complaints
If you have any complaints or questions regarding these procedures, please contact me by phone, text, or email. I will respond to your requests in a timely manner. You may also submit a complaint to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and/or the Board of Social Work Examiners. If you file a complaint, we will not retaliate in any way. Direct all correspondence to:
Department of Health’s Inspector General
4052 Bald Cypress Way
BIN A03/ Tallahassee, FL 32399-1704
HOPE for Tomorrow Begins Today
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
HOPE In Home Counseling, LLC
727-612-3343