Notice of Privacy Practices
Our commitment to your privacy
Lowcountry Vitality (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is required by law to protect the privacy of your protected health information (“PHI”), to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices regarding your PHI, to notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI, and to follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect. PHI is information that may identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health, the health care you receive from us, or payment for that care.
How we may use and disclose your health information
The following describes the ways we may use and disclose your PHI. Not every use or disclosure will be listed, but all permitted uses fall within one of these categories.
For treatment
We use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, and manage your care. For example, our founding Physician Assistant performs a good-faith examination and reviews your intake to determine whether IV therapy or our weight-management program is appropriate; our registered nurses use your information to safely administer services; and we may share information with our supervising physician, your pharmacy, a laboratory, or other providers involved in your care.
For payment
We use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for the services we provide. For example, we may use your information to process card or HSA/FSA payments through our payment processor and to maintain billing records. We are a cash-pay service and do not bill health insurance; see your right to restrict disclosures to a health plan below.
For health care operations
We use and disclose your PHI to run our practice and improve care. Examples include quality assessment, training and competency review of our clinical staff, care coordination, business management, and contacting you about services or appointments.
Appointment reminders and communications
We may contact you by phone, text message, email, or our secure messaging platform to confirm requests, provide appointment reminders, deliver intake or aftercare instructions, or share information about treatment alternatives or health-related services that may interest you.
Individuals involved in your care
Unless you object, we may share relevant PHI with a family member, friend, or other person you identify as involved in your care or payment for your care.
Business associates
We may disclose your PHI to third parties that perform services on our behalf — such as our scheduling/records platform, secure-messaging/telehealth platform, laboratory, billing or payment vendor, and IT providers. Each business associate is required by written agreement to safeguard your PHI.
Uses and disclosures we may make without your authorization
We may use or disclose your PHI without your authorization in the following circumstances, as permitted or required by law:
- As required by law — when federal, state, or local law requires it.
- Public health activities — to public health authorities to prevent or control disease, injury, or disability, or to report adverse events related to products or medications.
- Victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence — to appropriate authorities as permitted or required by law.
- Health oversight activities — to agencies for audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure.
- Judicial and administrative proceedings — in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, or discovery request as permitted by law.
- Law enforcement — for limited law-enforcement purposes as permitted by law.
- Coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors — as necessary for them to carry out their duties.
- Organ and tissue donation — to organizations that handle procurement or transplantation, if applicable.
- To avert a serious threat — to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of you or the public.
- Workers’ compensation — as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws.
- Specialized government functions — for military, national security, or protective services as permitted by law.
- Research — only as permitted by law and with appropriate approvals; we do not currently use your PHI for research without your authorization.
Uses and disclosures that require your written authorization
Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization, including:
- Most uses and disclosures for marketing purposes;
- Disclosures that constitute a sale of your PHI;
- Psychotherapy notes, if any were ever created (we do not provide psychotherapy services); and
- Any other use or disclosure not described in this Notice.
You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it.
Your rights regarding your health information
Right to request restrictions
You may ask us to restrict how we use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not generally required to agree, except as noted below.
Right to restrict disclosures to a health plan (out-of-pocket)
If you pay for a service in full, out of pocket, you have the right to request that we not disclose PHI about that service to a health plan for payment or operations, and we will honor that request as required by law. (As a cash-pay practice, this is generally the default.)
Right to confidential communications
You may request that we communicate with you in a certain way or at a certain location — for example, by a specific phone number or email address. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Right to inspect and copy
You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI in our designated record set, including an electronic copy of electronically maintained records. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee. We may deny access in limited circumstances, some of which are reviewable.
Right to amend
If you believe PHI we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that we amend it. We may deny your request in certain cases and will explain any denial in writing.
Right to an accounting of disclosures
You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI, other than disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations, and certain other exceptions.
Right to a paper copy of this Notice
You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
Right to be notified of a breach
You have the right to be notified if there is a breach of your unsecured PHI.
To exercise any of these rights, contact our Privacy Officer using the information below. Some requests must be made in writing.
Our responsibilities
- We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
- We will notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your PHI.
- We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this Notice and give you a copy of it.
- We will not use or share your PHI other than as described here unless you tell us we may in writing.
Changes to this Notice
We reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the revised Notice effective for PHI we already have as well as any information we receive in the future. The current Notice will be posted on this website and available at our point of care, with its effective date shown. You may request a copy of the current Notice at any time.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us by contacting our Privacy Officer, or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
Online: ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/cp
Phone: 1-800-368-1019 · TDD: 1-800-537-7697 · Email: OCRComplaint@hhs.gov
Regional office serving South Carolina: Office for Civil Rights, Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, Suite 16T70, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303-8909
Contact / Privacy Officer
Lowcountry Vitality — Privacy Officer
[Privacy Officer name and title]
Email: hello@lowcountryvitality.com
Greater Charleston, South Carolina
[Add registered business name, mailing address, and phone before publishing.]