THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS HEALTH INFORMATION. PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY.

North County Health Services (NCHS) will use your personal health information for treatment, coordination and management of your medical condition. This includes consultation between healthcare providers relating to specialty care referral. Only necessary health information will be provided.

NCHS will use and disclose your health information for obtaining payment for services provided to you. Included in the payment process are determination of program and insurance eligibility, billing and collection for services rendered and medical necessity reviews.

Lastly, NCHS will use and disclose your health information for health care operations. Your health information may be use to determine health care professional competency and qualifications, performance, quality of care, improvement activities, training, accreditation, certification and licensing, business planning or development.

You have the right to ask that the use and disclosure of your personal health information be restricted and only with your prior authorization. You have the right to know that your authorization will be required for non-routine uses and disclosures.

You have the right to request restrictions on how your health information is used and disclosed.

You have a right to know that under certain circumstances your consent and authorization is not required for us to disclose your personal health information:

1. Emergency situations
2. Public Health issues
3. Victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence
4. Law Enforcement: required by law, for the purpose of identifying suspect, fugitive, material witness, death of an individual if resulted by criminal conduct.
5. For identification of deceased person.
6. Workman's compensation for work related injury.
7. Organ Procurement.
8. Activity of National Defense and Security.
9. Research approved by institutional review board.

If you have a complaint or want more detailed information contact the Health Center Medical Records Department, Practice Manager or the NCHS Compliance Officer, Pamela Simpson at 760-736-6724. You may contact the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-824- 0613