Notice of Information Practices and Privacy

Notice of Information Practices and Privacy. KEEP FOR YOUR RECORDS.

The privacy or your medical information is important to the Kern County Children’s Dental Health Network(KCCDHN). We are required by applicable federal and state laws to maintain the privacy of your health information. We are also required to give you this Notice about our privacy practices, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your health information. We follow the privacy practices that are described in this Notice while it is in effect. We will notify you if your medical information is breached. You may request a copy of our Notice at any time. For more information about our privacy practices, or for additional copies of this Notice, please contact us using the information listed at the end of this Notice.

We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law. We reserve the right to make the changes in our privacy practices and the new terms of our Notice effective for al health information that we maintain, including health information we created or received before we made the changes. Before we make a significate change in our policy practices, we will change this Notice and make the new Notice available upon request.

How We Collect Information About You: The Kern County Children’s Dental Health Network. (KCCDHN) and its employees and volunteers collect data through a variety of means including but not necessarily limited to letters, phone calls, emails, voicemails, and from the submission of applications that are either required bylaw or necessary to process applications or other requests for assistance through our organization.

How We Do Use Your Information: Information is only used as is reasonably necessary to process your application or to provide you with health or counseling services which may require communication between KCCDHN and health care providers, service providers or health care services you need. Limited Right to Use Non-Identifying Personal Information from Biographies, Letters, Notes, and Other Sources:Any pictures, stories, letters, biographies, correspondence, or thank you notes sent to us become the exclusive property of KCCDHN. We reserve the right to use non-identifying information about our clients (those who receive services or goods from or through us) for promotional purposes that are directly related to our mission. Clients will not be compensated for use of this information and no identifying information (photos addresses, phone numbers, contact information, last names or uniquely identifiable names) will be used without client’s express written consent. You may specifically request that NO information be used whatsoever for promotional purposes, but you must identify any requested restrictions in writing. We respect your right to privacy and assure you no identifying information or photos that you send to us will ever be publicly used without your consent.

Uses and Disclosures of Health Information: We use and disclose health information about you for treatment and health care operations only.

For example:
Treatment: We may use or disclose your health information to a physician, school nurse, school staff or other health care providers treating you.

To Your Family and Friends and Persons Involved in Your Care/Appointment Reminders: We may disclose your health information to a family member or other person involved in your care to the extent necessary to help with your healthcare. We may use or disclose your personal information to provide you with appointment reminders (such as voicemail messages, postcards, letters, emails or text messages). If you do not want us to disclose your information to a family members or others in these circumstances, please notify our HIPAA Officer at 661-546-8901.

Patient Rights: You have the right to look at or get copies of your health information, with limited exceptions. You must make a request in writing to obtain access to your health information and fax your request to the number at the end of this Notice.

Restrictions: You have the right to request that we restrict our use or disclosure of your health information. We are not required to agree to your request except when disclosure is required by law. If we agree to the restrictions, however, we will abide by that agreement (except in case of emergency).

Required by Law: We may use or disclose your health information when we are required to do so by law.

Abuse or Neglect: We may disclose your health information to appropriate authorities if we suspect that you are a possible victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence or the possible victim of other crimes. We may disclose your health information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety to others.

Questions or Complaints: If you want more information about our privacy practices or have questions or concerns, please contact us. If you are concerned that we may have violated your privacy rights, you may complain to us using the contact information listed at the end of this Notice. You also may submit a written compliant to the U.S. Department of health and Human Services. We will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint with us or the U.S. Department of

Phone: 661-546-8901
Fax: 661-377-0329
email: psalcido@kern.org