Notice of Privacy Practices

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. If you have any questions, please contact our privacy office at the phone number at the bottom of this notice.

Who will follow this notice?

Yale New Haven Health System facilities provide health care to our patients in partnership with other professionals and health care organizations. The information privacy practices in this notice will be followed by:

• Any healthcare professional who treats you at any of our locations.
• All departments and units of Yale New Haven Health System, including Bridgeport Hospital, Greenwich Hospital and Yale-New Haven Hospital, as well their affiliates (including but not limited to Temple Surgical Center, Women's Surgical Center, Ahlbin Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, and Mill Hill Medical Consultants).
• Yale University School of Medicine and Yale School of Nursing, as well as their affiliates.
• All employees, medical staff, trainees, students, or volunteers of the entities listed above.

While each of these facilities and affiliates operates independently, they may share your health information for coordination of care, treatment, payment and healthcare operations purposes.

Our pledge to you:

We understand that medical information about you is personal. We are committed to protecting medical information about you. We create a record of the care and services you receive to provide quality care and to comply with legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by any of the separate facilities and providers described above. We are required by law to:

• Keep medical information about you private;
• Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to medical information about you; and
• Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

How we may use and disclose medical information about you:

• We may use and disclose medical information about you without your prior authorization for treatment (such as sending medical information about you to a specialist as part of a referral) (this includes psychiatric or HIV information if needed for purposes of your diagnosis and treatment); to obtain payment for treatment (such as sending billing information to your insurance company or Medicare); and to support our healthcare operations (such as comparing patient data to improve treatment methods or for professional education purposes) (Note: only limited psychiatric or HIV information may be disclosed for billing purposes without your authorization ). If you are treated in a specialized substance abuse program, your special authorization will be needed for most disclosures other than emergencies).
• Other examples of such uses and disclosures include contacting you for appointment reminders and telling you about or recommending possible treatment options, alternatives, health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you. We may also contact you to support our fundraising efforts .
• We may use or disclose medical information about you without your prior authorization for several other reasons. Subject to certain requirements, we may give our medical information about you, without prior authorization for public health purposes, abuse or neglect reporting, health oversight audits or inspections, medical examiners, funeral arrangements and organ donation, workers' compensation purposes, emergencies, national security and other specialized government functions, and for members of the Armed Forces as required by Military Command authorities. We also disclose medical information when required by law, such as in response to a request from law enforcement in specific circumstances, or in response to valid judicial or administrative orders or other legal process .
• Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose health information about you for research purposes , subject to a special approval process. We may also allow potential researchers to review information that may help them prepare for research, so long as the health information they review does not leave our facility, and so long as they agree to specific privacy protections.
• If admitted as an inpatient, unless you tell us otherwise, we will list in the patient directory your name, location in the hospital, your general condition (good, fair, etc.) and your religious affiliation, and may release all but your religious affiliation to anyone who asks about you by name. Your religious affiliation may be disclosed only to clergy members, even if they do not ask for you by name.
• We may disclose medical information about you to a friend or family member whom you designate or in appropriate circumstances, unless you request a restriction. We may also disclose information to disaster relief authorities so that your family can be notified of your location and condition.

Other uses of Medical Information:

• In any other situation not covered by this notice, we will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing medical information about you. If you chose to authorize use or disclosure, you can later revoke that authorization by notifying us in writing or your decision.

Right to Access and or Amend Your Records:

• In most cases, you have the right to look at or get a copy of medical information that we use to make decisions about your care, when you submit a written request. If you request copies, we may charge a fee for the cost of copying, mailing, or other related supplies. If we deny your request to review or obtain a copy, you may submit a written request for a review of that decision.
• If you believe that information in your record is incorrect or that important information is missing, you have the right to request that we correct the records, by submitting a request in writing that provides your reason for requesting the amendment. We could deny your request to amend a record if the information is not maintained by us; or if we determine that your record is accurate. You may submit a written statement of disagreement with a decision by us not to amend a record.

Right to an Accounting:

• You have the right to request a list accounting for any disclosures of your health information we have made, except for uses and disclosures for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, circumstances in which you have specifically authorized such disclosure and certain other exceptions.
• To request this list of disclosures, indicate the relevant period which must be after April 14, 2003, but in no event for more than the last six years. You must submit your request in writing to the Medical Record or Billing Department as appropriate.

Right to Request Restrictions:

You may request, in writing, that we not use or disclose medical information about you for treatment, payment or healthcare operations or to persons involved in your care except when specifically authorized by you, when required by law, or in an emergency. We will consider your request and work to accommodate it when possible, but we are not legally required to accept it. We will inform you of our decision on your request.

All written requests or appeals should be submitted to our Privacy Office listed below.

Requests for Confidential Communications:

You have the right to request that medical information about you be communicated to you in a confidential manner, such as sending mail to an address other than your home, by notifying us in writing of the specific way or location for us to use to communicate with you.

Right to request a paper copy of this Notice:

You may receive a paper copy of this Notice from us upon request, even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically.

Changes to this Notice:

We may change our policies at any time. Changes will apply to medical information we already hold, as well as new information after the change occurs. Before we make a significant change in our policies, we will change our notice and post the new notice in waiting areas, exam rooms, and on our Web site at bridgeporthospital.com. You can receive a copy of the current notice at any time. The effective date is listed at the end. Copies of the current notice will be available each time you come to our facility for treatment. You will be asked to acknowledge in writing your receipt of this notice.

Complaints:

• If you are concerned that your privacy rights may have been violated, or you disagree with a decision we made about access to your records, you may contact our Privacy Office listed below.
• If you are not satisfied with our response, you may send a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights. Our Privacy Office can provide you the address. Under no circumstances will you be penalized or retaliated against for filing a complaint.

OFFICE OF PRIVACY AND COMPLIANCE203-384-3971

Note: Use and disclosure of health information is regulated by a federal law known as HIPAA. You may find the HIPAA regulations at 45 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 160 and 164. This Notice attempts to summarize these regulations. The regulations will supersede any discrepancy between the information in this Notice and the regulations.

Terms of Use Agreement

PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY.

BY ACCESSING THE INFORMATION ON THIS SITE, YOU ARE ACCEPTING, AND AGREEING TO BE BOUND BY, THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.

IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, YOU MAY NOT ACCESS THIS WEB SITE OR THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.

The information provided on this web site or by any links to this site is for general knowledge purposes only. It should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific treatment plan, product, course of action, or medical care provider.

bridgeporthospital.com does not provide specific medical advice. It is not engaged in the practice of providing medical or professional services. It does not endorse any particular medical or professional services, including those referenced in this web site or to which this web site provides links.

The use of this web site should never replace medical consultations with a qualified health or medical professional. If you suspect that you may be ill, please check with a physician or a qualified healthcare professional.

Please review these Terms of Use before you use this web site. Because we may amend these Terms of Use from time to time, you should also periodically review the Terms of Use in the future. In this Agreement, the words "we", "us", and "our" refer to Bridgeport Hospital.

1. Copyright. The contents of this web site are protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. We hereby grant you the limited right to view and use this web site subject to the terms of this Agreement. You may download and/or print a copy of the information contained in this web site for your personal use only. You may NOT reprint or electronically reproduce any document or graphic in whole or in part for any other purpose whatsoever.

2. Trademarks and Service Marks. This website contains words, slogans, and logos that are proprietary trademarks and service marks. You may NOT make any use of any such trademark or service mark without the express written consent of the owner of the trademark or service mark. Nothing in this web site should be construed as a grant of a license or right to make use of any such trademark or service mark.

3. Images. Nothing in this web site should be construed as a grant of any license or right to use or reproduce any of the images displayed herein, including images of persons, whether living or dead.

4. Links. bridgeporthospital.com may contain links to or advertisements for web sites operated by other parties. The links or advertisements are provided solely for your convenience. Bridgeport Hospital does not control such web sites and it is not responsible for the content and performance of these sites or for your transactions with them. Our use of links to such web sites does not imply any endorsement of the material on such web sites or any association with the operators of such web sites. Bridgeport Hospital does not in any way control or endorse any information, products, or services provided by third parties through the Internet. It is possible that these web sites may collect and share with others information on those who visit such web sites.

5. Disclaimer of Warranties. The information that appears on this web site is for general knowledge purposes only. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific treatment plan, product, or course of action.

   THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT OFFER MEDICAL ADVICE. NOTHING CONTAINED ON THIS WEB SITE IS INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FOR MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT OR TO ADVOCATE OR RECOMMEND THE PURCHASE OR SELECTION OF ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE OR TO ENDORSE OR GUARANTEE THE QUALIFICATIONS, CREDENTIALS OR APPROPRIATENESS OF ANY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER LINKED TO, OR ADVERTISED ON, THIS WEB SITE.

   Information received through this web site should not be relied upon for medical or health decisions. Consult with an appropriate professional for specific advice tailored to your situation. This web site does not endorse, and disclaims all responsibility for, the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health provider, including but not limited to physicians or other health providers referred to you through web sites or other services linked to this web site. Bridgeport Hospital assumes no responsibility for how you use the information provided through this web site. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before you begin any new treatment or if you have questions regarding a medical condition.

   YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. THIS SITE, AND THE INFORMATION AND MATERIALS ON THE SITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS." BRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL DOES NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OF ANY INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS WEB SITE.

   BRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR ENDORSEMENTS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY FOR ANY PURPOSE OF THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DISCUSSED ON THIS WEB SITE. BRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE TIMELINESS, VALIDITY, COMPLETENESS, OR ACCURACY OF INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU ON THIS WEB SITE FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. BRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT WITH REGARD TO THE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS WEB SITE. BRIDGEPORT HOSPITAL MAKES NO WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE WEB SITE OR THE LACK OF VIRUSES, WORMS, TROJAN HORSES, OR OTHER CODE THAT MANIFEST CONTAMINATING OR DESTRUCTIVE PROPERTIES, AND DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND THAT MAY RESULT FROM SUCH VIRUSES, WORMS, TROJAN HORSES, CODE OR OTHER MALWARE.

   We will seek to update this web site from time to time, but please be aware that medical information changes rapidly. Therefore, some of the information in this web site may be out of date. In addition, this web site may contain inaccuracies or typographical errors, for which we disclaim all liability.

6. Indemnification. By using this web site, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Bridgeport Hospital, its officers, directors, employees, agents, information providers, partners, advertisers, and suppliers from and against all losses, expenses, damages, and costs (including attorneys' fees) resulting from any violation of this Agreement or any activity related to your account (including the infringement of any third party's intellectual property rights in any jurisdiction of the world) by you or any person accessing this web site using your account.

7. Waiver, Release, and Limitation of Liability. You agree that neither Bridgeport Hospital nor its officers, directors, employees, agents, information providers, partners, advertisers, or suppliers shall have any liability to you under any theory of liability or indemnity in connection with your use of this web site. You hereby release and forever waive any and all claims you may have against Bridgeport Hospital, its officers, directors, employees, agents, information providers, or suppliers (including but not limited to claims based on the negligence of Bridgeport Hospital, its officers, directors, employees, agents, information providers, partners, advertisers, or suppliers) for losses or damages you sustain in connection with your use of this web site. Neither Bridgeport Hospital, nor any of its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, information providers, or suppliers will be liable or have any responsibility of any kind for any loss or damage that you incur in the event of any failure or interruption of this web site, or resulting from the act or omission of any other party involved in making this web site or the data contained herein available to you, or from any other cause relating to your access to, or your inability to, access the site or these materials, whether or not the circumstances giving rise to such cause may have been within the control of Bridgeport Hospital or of any vendor providing software or services support.

8. Third Party Rights. The provisions of Section 6 ("Indemnification") and 7 ("Waiver, Release, and Limitation of Liability") of this Agreement are for the benefit of Bridgeport Hospital and its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, suppliers, and information providers. Each of these individuals and entities shall have the right to assert and enforce those provisions directly against you on its own behalf.

9. User Representations. You represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years of age and that you possess the legal right and ability to enter into this Agreement.

10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to provisions relating to conflicts of law. You agree that any legal action or proceeding involving you concerning this Agreement or your use of this web site shall be brought exclusively in a state or federal court located in the State of Connecticut.

11. Limitations Period. Any cause of action or claim that you may have with respect to this web site or your use thereof must be commenced within one (1) year after the claim or cause of action arises.

12. No Implied Waiver or Modification. The failure by Bridgeport Hospital to insist upon or enforce strict performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any provision or right. Neither the course of conduct between the parties nor trade practice shall act to modify any provision of this Agreement.

13. Assignment. Bridgeport Hospital may assign its rights and delegate its duties under this Agreement to any party at any time without notice to you.

14. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable. In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not in any way affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions.

Bridgeport Hospital may terminate this agreement at any time without notice for any reason.