Privacy Policy

Relationships are built on trust. One of the most important elements of trust is respect for an individual’s privacy. We at Westminster Village value our relationship with you and take your personal privacy seriously.

This Notice of Privacy Practices explains how we manage the Protected Health Information (PHI) we have about you, how this information may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

This notice applies to all information and records, received from others or created by us, related to your care. It informs you about the possible uses and disclosures of your PHI. It also describes your rights and our obligations regarding your PHI.

Westminster Village is a “covered entity” and, as such, is required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy of your PHI
  • Provide to you this detailed notice of our legal duties and privacy practices relating to your PHI
  • Abide by the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices that is currently in effect

I. WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION FOR TREATMENT, PAYMENT AND HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS

For Treatment: We will use and disclose your protected health information in providing you with treatment and services. We may disclose your protected health information to facility and non-facility personnel who may be involved in your care, such as physicians, nurses, nurse aides, and physical therapists. We may share your protected health information with affiliates and third-party “business associates” that perform various activities for us or on our behalf. Whenever such an arrangement involves the use or disclosure of your protected health information, we will have a written contract that contains terms designed to protect the privacy of your protected health information.

II. WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE PHI ABOUT YOU FOR OTHER SPECIFIC PURPOSES

Facility Directory: Unless you sign the “Release of Information Authorization,” we will not include certain limited information about you in our community directory such as your name, apartment number and telephone number. Your religious affiliation will be given to any member of the clergy. Your birthday (not year) will be included in a listing of birthdays each month on the Activity Calendar. With written authorization, we will also give information about your health location, both inside and outside of the facility, your “general” condition – good, fair, poor (not specific medical information), and upon your death, we will post notice of planned memorial services on in-house TV and on other in-house notices.

Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care: With written authorization, we may disclose your PHI to a family member or close personal friend, including clergy, who is involved in your care.

Disaster Relief: We may disclose your PHI to an organization assisting in a disaster relief effort.

Public Health Activities: We may disclose your PHI for public health activities. These activities may include, for example:

  • Reporting to a public health or government authority for preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability
  • Reporting abuse or neglect
  • Reporting to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning adverse events or problems with products
  • Tracking products, enabling product recalls, or complying with FDA requirements
  • Notifying a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease

Reporting Victims of Abuse, Neglect or Domestic Violence: If we believe that you have been a victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence, we may use and disclose your PHI to notify a government authority as required or authorized by law.

Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose your PHI to a health oversight agency for oversight activities authorized by law. These may include audits, investigations, inspections, licensure actions or other legal proceedings necessary for oversight of the health care system, government payment or regulatory programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.

As Required by Law: We may disclose your PHI when required to do so by law or in response to a court or administrative order. We may also disclose information in response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process. Efforts must be made to contact you about the request or to obtain an order or agreement protecting the information.

Law Enforcement: We may disclose your PHI for certain law enforcement purposes, including:

  • To comply with legal reporting requirements
  • To comply with a court order, warrant, subpoena, or similar legal process
  • To identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person
  • To report information about the victim of a crime under certain circumstances
  • To report a suspicious death
  • To provide information about criminal conduct occurring at a facility
  • To report information in emergency circumstances about a crime
  • To identify or apprehend an individual involved in a violent crime or escape

Research: We may allow PHI of residents to be used or disclosed for research purposes if certain privacy protections are in place and properly approved. This may include research preparations, research after death, or research authorized by you.

Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Directors, Organ Procurement Organizations: We may release your PHI to these entities as necessary to carry out their duties.

To Avoid a Serious Threat to Health or Safety: We may use and disclose your PHI when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Disclosure is limited to individuals able to help prevent the threat.

Military and Veterans: If you are a member of the armed forces, we may use and disclose your PHI as requested by military command authorities.

Workers’ Compensation: We may use or disclose your PHI to comply with laws relating to workers’ compensation or similar programs.

National Security and Intelligence Activities; Protective Services: We may disclose your PHI to authorized federal officials conducting national security and intelligence activities or providing protective services.

Fundraising Activities: With written authorization, we may use certain PHI to contact you for fundraising efforts.

Appointment Reminders, Treatment Alternatives & Health-Related Benefits: We may use PHI to remind you about appointments or inform you about treatment alternatives or services that may benefit you.

III. YOUR AUTHORIZATION IS REQUIRED FOR OTHER USES OF PHI

We will use and disclose PHI (other than as described in this Notice or as required by law) only with your written authorization. You may revoke your authorization in writing at any time. Revocation will not affect uses or disclosures already made in reliance on your authorization.

IV. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

You have the following rights regarding your PHI at Westminster Village:

Right to Request Restrictions: You may request restrictions on the use or disclosure of your PHI. We are not required to agree to all requests, but if we do, we will comply except in emergencies.

Right of Access to PHI: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of certain medical or billing records. We may charge a reasonable fee for copying and mailing. In limited situations, access may be denied, but you may request review of the denial.

Right to Request Amendment: You may request an amendment to your PHI if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete. Requests must be in writing and state the reason for the amendment. We may deny certain requests based on applicable criteria.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made by Westminster Village within a six-year period, excluding disclosures for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You may request a printed copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

Right to Request Confidential Communications: You may request communication in a certain manner or at a specific location, and we will accommodate reasonable requests.

V. COMPLAINTS

If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a written complaint with the Facility Privacy Officer at:

Westminster Village
12000 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

You may also file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

VI. CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We may change this Notice and our privacy practices at any time, as permitted by law. If changes are significant, we will post the updated Notice in a prominent location at our facilities and on our Website.

VII. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

If you have questions about this Notice or would like more information regarding your privacy rights, please contact the Privacy Officer at Westminster Village at (480) 451-2063.