At Florida Sports, Orthopaedic & Spine Medicine (FSOSM), the confidentiality of our patients' data is a fundamental concern, and thus we have taken a number of technological and administrative steps in order to protect such data. In addition, FSOSM has a policy requiring all employees to read and sign a confidentiality agreement. This agreement states that the employee understands that we process confidential data, and that the employee agrees not to directly or indirectly disclose any information in an inappropriate manner. FSOSM aggressively enforces this and other agreements applicable to confidential data.

FSOSM's corporate policy is to:

  1. Observe all existing state and federal laws and regulations relating to the transmission, storage, and access to records and other health care data.
  2. Maintain the security and confidentiality of patient-specific information.

Therefore, FSOSM is taking steps to comply with the relevant HIPAA regulations in advance of the mandatory compliance dates contained therein.


Florida Sports, Orthopaedic & Spine Medicine (FSOSM)
HIPAA Requirements for Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please read it carefully.

We understand that the privacy of your personal information is important to you. As your physicians, we believe your right to privacy is a fundamental part of your treatment; as such, we want you to understand our privacy practices and procedures. Should you have any questions regarding these policies, please do not hesitate to ask our privacy officer, Nancy Mikres who can be reached at 727-787-5577 x223.

Information We Collect About You

We collect personal information about you and your family as part of our registration process, during the course of your care, and from other health care entities you utilize such as hospitals, laboratories, other physicians, imaging facilities and your insurance company. This personal information includes items such as your name, address, phone number, birth date, social security number, employer, health history, insurance policy and coverage information and any information you provide via our website. During the course of your treatment, we will collect health information regarding diagnosis, treatment plans, progress and any test results or films.

How Your Information is Used in our Office

The personal and health information gathered may be used and disclosed with your general consent for purposes of treatment, payment, or routine healthcare operations. This means we may send your information to other physicians or facilities involved in your treatment as well as to your insurance company or a collection agency to obtain payment. Any other uses of your information require a signed authorization by you, the patient or guardian. FSOSM does not sell patient information to marketing or pharmaceutical companies. In certain cases of pubic health interest, we may be required to disclose certain information to local, state or national health organizations or governmental agencies.

Safeguarding Your Personal and Health Information

We are required by law to (1) make sure that medical information that identifies you is kept private, (2) provide you with our privacy policy, (3) follow the terms laid out in the privacy policy. As a means of protecting your privacy, we restrict access to your personal and health information to only those employees who require the information to complete their jobs and provide quality service to you. FSOSM maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to comply with state and federal regulations that guard your personal and health information. If you feel your privacy has been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services. The complaint in no way influences your course of treatment with FSOSM.

Changes to Our Privacy Policy

All new patients will receive a copy of our privacy policy. FSOSM occasionally reviews its privacy policy and reserves the right to amend it. Notification of changes will be posted on our website and copies available at the front desk prior to the effective date of any changes.

Your Right to Restrict Use of Information

You have the right to request restrictions to our uses or disclosures of your personal or health information although we are not required to agree to those restrictions. Once your request has been processed, it will remain in effect until your request a change. hipaaprocedures/11-10-05

NOTE HIPAA DISCLAIMER BELOW:

Please Note: The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential, protected from disclosure, and/or intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.