Privacy Policy
Effective 08/23/2009
Privacy Policy
Your privacy is important to us. To better protect your privacy we provide this notice explaining our online information practices and the choices you can make about the way your information is collected and used. To make this notice easy to find, we make it available on our homepage and at every point where personally identifiable information may be requested.
This notice applies to all information collected or submitted on the Terescription website. On some pages, make requests and register to receive materials. The types of personal information collected at these pages are:
- Name
- Address
- Email address
- Phone number
- Social Security Number
We use the information you provide about yourself to set up Independent Contractor agreements and communicate with perspective transcribers. We do not share this information with any outside parties except as required by law.
To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.
You can access all your personally identifiable information that we collect online and maintain by signing into your Terescription.com account and editing your contact information.
Should you have other questions or concerns about these privacy policies, please call us at (888) 652-0092 or send us an email at info@terescription.com.
Effective 03/01/2012
HIPAA Privacy Policy
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW YOUR MEDICAL INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.
PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
Terescription is required by law to provide you with this Notice so that you will understand how we may use or share your information from your Designated Record Set. The Designated Record Set includes financial and health information referred to in this Notice as “Protected Health Information” (“PHI”) or simply “health information.” We are required to adhere to the terms outlined in this Notice. If you have any questions about this Notice, please contact ____________________________________.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR HEALTH RECORD AND INFORMATION
Medical transcriptions and the associated audio and/or video files contain PHI. We may use and/or disclose this information to:
- obtain payment for the transcriptions we provide
Understanding what is in your customer’s records and how that health information is used helps you to:
- ensure it is accurate
- better understand who may access you customer’s health information
- make more informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS
The following categories describe the ways that we use and disclose health information. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall into one of the categories.
- For Payment. We may use and disclose health information about your customer so that the transcription work you requested may be billed to you..
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OTHER ALLOWABLE USES OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION
- As Required By Law. We will disclose health information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law.
- To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety. We may use and disclose health information about your customers to prevent a serious threat to their health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. We would do this only to help prevent the threat..
- Military and Veterans. If your customer is a member of the armed forces, we may disclose health information about them as required by military authorities. We may also disclose health information about foreign military personnel to the appropriate foreign military authority. .
- Workers' Compensation. We may disclose health information about your customer’s for workers' compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.
- Reporting Federal and state laws may require or permit Terescription to disclose certain health information related to the following:
- Public Health Risks. We may disclose health information about your customer for public health purposes, including:
- Prevention or control of disease, injury or disability
- Reporting births and deaths;
- Reporting child abuse or neglect;
- Reporting reactions to medications or problems with products;
- Notifying people of recalls of products;
- Notifying a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease;
- Notifying the appropriate government authority if we believe a customer has been the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. We will only make this disclosure if you agree or when required or authorized by law.
- Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities may include audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.
- Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: If your customer is involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose health information about you in response to a court or administrative order. We may also disclose health information about your customer in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you and your customer about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.
- Reporting Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence: Notifying the appropriate government agency if we believe a customer has been the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
- Law Enforcement. We may disclose health information when requested by a law enforcement official:
- In response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process;
- To identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person;
- About the customer, the victim of a crime if, under certain limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain customer agreement;
- About a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct;
- About criminal conduct at Terescription; and
- In emergency circumstances to report a crime; the location of the crime or victims; or the identity, description or location of the person who committed the crime.
- Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors. We may disclose medical information to a coroner or medical examiner. This may be necessary to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death. We may also disclose medical information to funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.
- National Security and Intelligence Activities. We may disclose health information about your customer to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities authorized by law.
- Correctional Institution: Should your customer be an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or its agents health information necessary for your customer’s health and the health and safety of others.
OTHER USES OF HEALTH INFORMATION
Other uses and disclosures of health information not covered by this Notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written permission. If you provide us permission to use or disclose health information about your customers, you may revoke that permission, in writing, at any time. If you revoke your permission, we will no longer use or disclose health information about your customers for the reasons covered by your written authorization. You understand that we are unable to take back any disclosures we have already made with your permission, and that we are required to retain our records.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS
Although your customer’s health record is the property of Terescription, the information belongs to you. You have the following rights regarding your customer’s health information:
- Right to Inspect and Copy. With some exceptions, you have the right to review and copy your customer’s health information.
You must submit your request in writing to Terescription. We may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request.
- Right to Amend. If you feel that health information in your customer’s record is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have this right for as long as the information is kept by or for Terescription.
You must submit your request in writing to Terescription. In addition, you must provide a reason for your request.
We may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does not include a reason to support the request. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that:
- Was not created by us, unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make the amendment;
- Is not part of the health information kept by or for Terescription; or
- Is accurate and complete.
- Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request an "accounting of disclosures". This is a list of certain disclosures we made of your custsomer’s health information, other than those made for purposes such as treatment, payment, or health care operations.
You must submit your request in writing to Terescription. Your request must state a time period which may not be longer than six years from the date the request is submitted and may not include dates before April 14, 2003. Your request should indicate in what form you want the list (for example, on paper or electronically). The first list you request within a twelve month period will be free. For additional lists, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list. We will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any costs are incurred.
- Right to Request Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the health information we use or disclose about your customers. For example, you may request that we limit the health information we disclose to someone who is involved in your customer’s care or the payment for your customer’s care. You could ask that we not use or disclose information about a surgery your customer had to a family member or friend.
We are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide your customer emergency treatment.
You must submit your request in writing to Terescription. In your request, you must tell us (1) what information you want to limit; (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure or both; and (3) to whom you want the limits to apply, for example, disclosures to your customer’s spouse.
- Right to Request Alternate Communications. You have the right to request that we communicate with your customer about medical matters in a confidential manner or at a specific location. For example, you may ask that we only contact your customer via mail to a post office box.
You must submit your request in writing to Terescription. We will not ask you the reason for your request. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted. We will accommodate all reasonable requests.
- Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices even if you have agreed to receive the Notice electronically. You may ask us to give you a copy of this Notice at any time.
- You may obtain a copy of this Notice at our website, www.terescription.com.
To obtain a paper copy of this Notice, contact Terescription.
CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE
We reserve the right to change this Notice. We reserve the right to make the revised or changed Notice effective for health information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of the current Notice on the website. The Notice will specify the effective date on the first page, in the top right-hand corner. In addition, if material changes are made to this Notice, the Notice will contain an effective date for the revisions and copies can be obtained by contacting Terescription.
COMPLAINTS
If you believe your customer’s privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Terescription or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with Terescription, contact Terescription. All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.