Notice of Privacy Practices

How we use and share your health information

For your treatment. We use your information to care for you and may share it with others involved in your care, such as pharmacies, labs, imaging centers, and specialists we refer you to.

For payment. We use your information to process payment for your care and to give you receipts you can submit for reimbursement.

For our operations. We use your information to run our practice, improve care, train staff, and contact you about appointments.

With our business associates. We work with companies that help us provide care, such as our scheduling, intake, video visit, and records services. They must sign agreements to protect your information.

Other ways we may share your information

We may share your information without your written permission when the law allows or requires it, including:

• when required by federal, state, or local law
• for public health activities, such as reporting certain diseases or medication side effects
• to report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence to the proper authorities
• for health oversight activities, such as audits and licensing reviews
• in response to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful process
• for certain law enforcement purposes
• to prevent a serious threat to someone's health or safety
• to coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors
• for organ and tissue donation
• for workers' compensation claims
• for certain government functions, such as military or national security purposes
• for research that meets privacy law requirements

When we need your written permission

We will ask for your written permission before we:

• use your information for marketing
• sell your information
• share psychotherapy notes, in most cases

Your rights

You have the right to:

• Get a copy of your records. Ask for a paper or electronic copy of your health information. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
• Ask us to correct your records. If you think something is wrong or missing, ask us in writing. We may say no, but we'll explain why in writing within 60 days.
• Ask for confidential communications. Ask us to contact you in a certain way, such as by a specific phone number or email. We'll say yes to reasonable requests.
• Ask us to limit what we share. You can ask us not to use or share certain information. We don't have to agree, except in one case: if you paid in full out of pocket for a service, you can ask us not to share that information with your health insurer, and we'll agree unless the law requires us to share it.
• Get a list of disclosures. Ask for a list of times we shared your information in the past six years, other than for treatment, payment, operations, and a few other cases. One list a year is free.
• Get a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you agreed to get it electronically.
• Choose someone to act for you. If someone has your medical power of attorney or is your legal guardian, they can use your rights.
• Be notified of a breach. We'll tell you if a breach occurs that may have compromised your information.

File a complaint

If you think your privacy rights were violated, contact us at abby@tropicaltelemedicine.com or 941-376-8630. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, at hhs.gov/ocr/complaints or 1-877-696-6775. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Changes to this notice

We can change this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The current notice will be on our website and available on request.

Privacy contact

Abby Guirguis, APRN-CNP, Privacy Officer
Abby Guirguis, APRN-CNP, LLC
Sarasota, FL
941-376-8630 · abby@tropicaltelemedicine.com