NOTICE OF INFORMATION PRACTICES

APRIL 14, 2003

The Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio believes strongly in protecting your privacy.

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.

Your Protected Health Information will/may be used for the following reasons by the Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio.

?       Treatment by a physician in our clinic,

?       Health care operations, such as blood work, x-rays,  hospitals and other testing done by physicians or facilities other than the Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio,

?       Obtaining Payment from your insurance or other carrier.                    

Any other uses or disclosures of your Protected Health Information will be made only with your written authorization and may be revoked by you at any time.

The Clinic may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or health related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

The Clinic conducts research and may notify you of programs that you, as a patient, may participate in.

 The following is a description of the rights you, as a patient, have and how you can exercise these rights:

?       You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your Protected Health Information. ( The Cardiology Clinic is not required to agree to a requested restriction.)

?       You have the right to inspect and copy your Protected Health Information.

?       You have the right to request changes to your Protected Health Information.

?       You have the right to receive a copy of who we have sent your Protected Health Information to.

?       You have the right to obtain a copy of this Notice from the Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio.

The Clinic is required by law to keep the privacy of Protected Health Information and to provide the patient with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to Protected Health Information.

The Clinic is required to abide by the rules in this notice and has the right to change the rules of this notice and make the new notice changes effective for all Protected Health Information that we maintain.

Complaints

?       You have the right to complain to the Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio if you believe your privacy rights have been violated by notifying the Privacy Officer at: (210)-582-5180.

?       You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at:  1-800-368-1019.