Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your health information.

• Provide you with this Notice explaining our legal duties and privacy practices.

• Notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

• Follow the terms of this Notice currently in effect.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

For Treatment

We may use or share your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services. This may include communication with other healthcare professionals involved in consultations, referrals, or follow-up care, as permitted by law.

For Payment

We may use and disclose your information as needed to receive payment for services, such as verifying benefits or billing for services you’ve received.

For Healthcare Operations

We may use your health information for internal operations—for example, to improve the quality of care, train staff, or conduct performance evaluations.

For Appointment Reminders and Communications

We may contact you by phone, text, or email to remind you of appointments, share scheduling updates, or provide information about services relevant to your care.

With Your Authorization

We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your health information for purposes that require authorization under applicable law. You may revoke your authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that we have already acted in reliance on it.

Other Permitted or Required Uses and Disclosures

We may also use or share your health information in certain situations permitted or required by law, including:

• Public health and safety activities, such as disease prevention, reporting adverse reactions, or reporting suspected abuse or neglect.

• Health oversight activities, such as audits, inspections, or compliance investigations.

• Research when permitted by applicable law.

• Organ and tissue donation requests.

• Working with a medical examiner, coroner, or funeral director.

• Workers’ compensation claims when applicable.

• Law enforcement and other government requests when permitted or required by law.

• Responding to lawsuits, court orders, subpoenas, or other legal proceedings as permitted or required by law.

• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety.

• Other uses or disclosures required by law.

We will follow applicable federal and state privacy laws when making these disclosures.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

Access to Records

You have the right to request a copy of your medical or billing records, either electronically or in paper form. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee as permitted by law for copies or mailing.

Request Corrections

If you believe that information in your record is incomplete or incorrect, you may request an amendment. We may deny your request in certain circumstances permitted by law, including when the information is accurate and complete or was not created by us.

Request Confidential Communications

You can request that we contact you in a specific way or at a specific location—for example, only at work or only by email. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Restrict Disclosures

You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are generally not required to agree to these requests.

If you pay for a healthcare item or service out of pocket in full, you may ask us not to share information about that item or service with your health plan for payment or healthcare operations. We will honor that request unless disclosure is required by law.

Get a List of Disclosures

You may request a list (“accounting”) of certain disclosures of your health information made in the past six years. This accounting generally does not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or certain other disclosures excluded by law.

Choose Someone to Act for You

If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or if someone is your legal guardian or otherwise legally authorized to act on your behalf, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. We will verify their authority before taking action.

File a Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Heal Thyself Institute or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Receive a Copy of This Notice

You can request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.

Telehealth and Electronic Communications

We use technology platforms selected and configured to support the privacy and security of health information. While we take reasonable precautions to protect your information, electronic communications, including email, telehealth platforms, and text messages, may carry inherent privacy and security risks.

By choosing to engage in telehealth or electronic communication, you acknowledge these potential risks.

Marketing and Fundraising

We will not use or disclose your health information for marketing purposes that require authorization under HIPAA without your written authorization.

We do not sell patient health information for commercial purposes.

Supplements and Product Purchases

Any supplement or product recommendations made through our clinic or website are for educational and wellness purposes only. Health or payment information collected in connection with these transactions is handled in accordance with applicable privacy and security requirements.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice and our privacy practices as permitted by law. Revised versions will be posted on our website and made available in our office.

Changes may apply to all health information we maintain, including information created or received before the change.

Questions and Complaints

If you have questions about this Notice or believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact us directly at:

Heal Thyself Institute
Attn: Privacy Officer
2590 Northbrooke Plaza Dr, Suite 301
Naples, FL 34119
(239) 955-1355
support@healthyselfswfl.com

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.