THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION
ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU
CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT
CAREFULLY.

THIS NOTICE IS EFFECTIVE 12/28/02 UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE.

Right to Notice
As a patient, you have the right to adequate notice of the
uses and disclosures of your protected health information.
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act
(HIPAA), Bay Hills Eye Care Center can use your protected
health information for treatment, payment and health care
operations.
a) Treatment - We may use or disclose your health
information to a physician or other healthcare provider
providing treatment to you.
b) Payment - We may use and disclose your health
information to obtain payment for services we provide you.
c) Health care operations - We may use and disclose your
health information in connection with our healthcare
operations. Healthcare operations include quality
assessment and improvement activities, reviewing the
competency or qualifications of healthcare professionals,
evaluating provider performance, conducting training
programs, accreditation, certification, licensing or
credentialing activities.

Your Authorization
Most uses and disclosures that do not fall under treatment,
payment, health care operations will require your written
authorization. Upon signing, you may revoke your
authorization (in writing) through our practice at any time.

Emergency Situations
In the event of your incapacity or an emergency situation,
we will disclose health information to a family member, or
another person responsible for your care, using our
professional judgment. We will only disclose health
information that is directly relevant to the person's
involvement in your healthcare.

Marketing
We will not use your health information for marketing
communications without your written authorization.

Required by Law
We may also 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 reasonably believe that you are a possible
victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence or the victim
of other crimes. We may disclose your health information
to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your or
other people's health or safety.

National Security
We may disclose the health information of Armed Forces
personnel to military authorities under certain
circumstances. We may disclose health information to
authorized federal officials required for lawful intelligence,
counterintelligence and other national security activities.
We may disclose health information of inmates or patients
to the appropriate authorities under certain circumstances.

Appointment Reminders
We may use or disclose your health information to provide
you with appointment reminders via phone, e-mail or
letter.

Your Rights as a Patient
You have the right to restrict the disclosure of your
protected health information (in writing). The request for
restriction may be denied if the information is required for
treatment, payment or health care operations.
-You have the right to receive confidential communications
regarding your protected health information.
-You have the right to inspect and copy your protected
health information.
-You have the right to amend your protected health
information.
-You have the right to receive an account of disclosures of
your protected health information.
-You have the right to a paper copy of this notice of
privacy practices.

Legal Requirements
Bay Hills Eye Care Center is required by law to maintain the
privacy of your protected health information. We are
required to abide by the terms of this notice as it is
currently stated, and reserve the right to change this
notice. The policies in any new notice will not be in effect
until they are posted to this site, or are available within our
office.

Complaints
If you have complaints regarding the way your protected
health information was handled, you may submit a
complaint in writing to our office. You will not be retaliated
against in any manner for a complaint.

Contact Information
For further information about Bay Hills Eye Care Center's
privacy policies, please contact Dr. Ray M. Atcherson at the
following address or phone number:
Bay Hills Eye Care Center
1294 Bay Dale Drive
Arnold, Maryland 21012
410-757-1350