The University of Houston and the University Eye Institute care about the privacy and confidentiality of your information. We have developed certain policies and taken steps to help keep your information confidential. This Notice gives a summary of those steps, explains your privacy rights, and gives you phone numbers and addresses you can use to ask questions or to make requests. We encourage you to read this Notice of Privacy Practices.
The University Eye Institute uses health information about you for treatment, to obtain payment for treatment, for administrative purposes, and to evaluate the quality of care that you receive. Your health information is contained in a medical record that is the physical property of The University Eye Institute.
For Treatment. The University Eye Institute may use your health information to provide you with medical treatment or services. For example, information obtained by a health care provider, such as an optometrist, physician, nurse, or other person providing health services to you, will record information in your record that is related to your treatment. This information is necessary for health care providers to determine what treatment you should receive. Health care providers will also record actions taken by them in the course of your treatment and note how you respond to the actions. If you have been referred into our facility from a healthcare provider outside of the University Eye Institute, that referring doctor may have sent information about you in advance to help in our treatment of you. We will provide your referring healthcare provider with copies of your record or reports that will assist him/her in your treatment and health care after you have completed your management from our facility.
For Payment. The University Eye Institute may use and disclose your health information to others for purposes of receiving payment for treatment and services that you receive. For example, a bill may be sent to you or a third-party payor, such as an insurance company or health plan. The information on the bill may contain information that identifies you, your diagnosis, and treatment or supplies used in the course of treatment.
For Health Care Operations. The University Eye Institute may use and disclose health information about you for operational purposes. For example, your health information may be disclosed to members of the medical staff, risk or quality improvement personnel, and others to:
Appointments. The University Eye Institute may use your information to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you. You or a family member may be contacted by postcard and/or by an automated telephone voice system at the number you have provided for contact to remind you of an upcoming appointment.
Notification. The University Eye Institute may use or disclose information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for your care of your general condition. You have the right to restrict who we may disclose information to.
Marketing. The University Eye Institute in compliance with both Federal and State restrictions cannot disclose your health information to 3rd parties for marketing purposes unless an authorization to do so is obtained from you in advance. However, the University Eye Institute may directly market to you by face-to-face or by mail for research opportunities, services, procedures or materials offered by the University Eye Institute that may be of benefit to you. If you do not wish to receive this information, you have the right to be removed from our mailing list.
As required by law. The University Eye Institute may use and disclose information about you as required by law. For example, The University Eye Institute may disclose information for the following purposes:
Public Health/Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose your medical information for public health activities, including for the reporting of disease, injury, vital events, and for the conducting of public health surveillance, investigation and/or intervention. We may disclose your medical information to a health oversight agency for oversight activities authorized by law, including for audits, investigations, inspections, licensure or disciplinary actions, administrative and/or legal proceedings or actions.
Disaster Relief. We may use or disclose your medical information to a public or private entity, such as the American Red Cross, for the purpose of coordinating with that entity to assist in disaster relief efforts.
Decedents. Health information may be disclosed to funeral directors or coroners to enable them to carry out their lawful duties.
Research. The University Eye Institute may use your health information for research purposes when an institutional review board or privacy board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information has approved the research. You may be contacted by telephone or by mail asking to participate in specific studies here at the University Eye Institute or receive general information about research opportunities. You will not be enrolled in a research project that is not reviewed and approved by an IRB
Health and Safety. Your health information may be disclosed to avert a serious threat to the health or safety of you or any other person pursuant to applicable law.
Government Functions. Your health information may be disclosed for specialized government functions such as protection of public officials or reporting to various branches of the armed services.
Workers' Compensation. Your health information may be used or disclosed in order to comply with laws and regulations related to Workers' Compensation.
Other uses. Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization and you may revoke the authorization except to the extent The University Eye Institute has taken action in reliance on such.
You may complain to The University Eye Institute and to the Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Civil Rights) if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
The University Eye Institute reserves the right to change its information practices and to make the new provisions effective for all protected health information it maintains. Revised notices will be made available to you by upon your next visit. You may always view and download any updated version by accessing our website at: http://uei.uh.edu and follow the link to this site.
If you have any questions or complaints, please contact:
Chief Privacy and Security Officer
Director; HIPAA Compliance and Oversight
University of Houston - University Eye Institute
505 J. Davis Armistead Building
Houston, Texas 77204-2020
UEI Clinical Business Office: 713-743-1837
Office of the Privacy and Security Officer: 713-743-1934
The University Eye Institute's Notice was originally issued on April 14, 2003. Since that time, the Notice has been revised periodically. The latest update was created on May 10, 2008.
