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. Should you have any questions, please ask for the Compliance Officer.

Under the guidelines set forth in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), this notice outlines Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. policies and procedures regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information (PHI). Your PHI includes all demographic, insurance, and medical information. Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. is required by law to safeguard your PHI and be bound by the terms of this notice unless amended in accordance with the law.

You PHI will be utilized for the purpose of treatment, payment from insurance companies and general health care operations. Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. must on occasion release medical information to an insurance company to process the claim. Your signature on the registration form allows Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. to disclose this information. Record release forms must be signed, dated by the patient, and then witnessed prior to any release of PHI. In the event that a patient has a history of substance abuse, mental health problems, sexual abuse or testing for HIV whether positive or negative a separate record release for disclosure of this sensitive PHI must be signed, otherwise the information will not be disclosed set forth at 45 P.S. §7601 et seq. Pennsylvania law prohibits all healthcare providers from disclosing this information unless reasonable disclosure is medically necessary.

As a courtesy to our patients, Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. telephones with reminder calls the day prior to your office visit. If, for any reason, you do not want to be called, our office personnel will note your request in your chart. Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. also sends out friendly reminder notices when appointments are to be made in three, six, and twelve-month intervals. If for any reason, you do not want these mailed to your home, you have the right to refuse this service. Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. sends out quarterly informative newsletters. We also notify you with lab results by telephone. You have the right to place restrictions on how we communicate with these procedures either by written or oral request.

The patients of Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. have the right to inspect, amend, and have a copy of their PHI. If for any reason, it becomes necessary for the patient to come into Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. to inspect their records, a private room will be provided to review the chart along with an employee of Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. The employee will act as witness and answer any questions. We reserve the right to 30 days notice of inspection.

If a patient of Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. has a complaint regarding the safeguarding of PHI, it may be filed with our Compliance Officer or with the Department of Health and Human Services, Philadelphia, PA. (215-596-0352)(DHHS). Please see the receptionist if you would like to speak to the Compliance Officer. An appointment will be arranged for you to speak to the Compliance Officer or one of the compliance Committee Members. There will be no retaliation to any complaints from our patients. Should you want to remain anonymous, please call the office and ask to speak to the Compliance Officer, a Compliance Committee Member or send in a letter. It will be handed over to the Compliance Officer for review and investigation.

The patients of Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. have the right to request a copy of the Notice. Please see the receptionist to request a copy of the Notice. We at Advanced Dermatology Associates, Ltd. reserve the right to revise the Notice at any time. If revisions are made to the Notice, a copy or amendment of the Notice will be presented to the patient on their next visit to the office.