HIPAA Patient Privacy Practice

Notice Of Privacy Practices


We are required by applicable federal and state law to maintain the privacy of your health information. We are also required to give you this Notice about our privacy practices that are described in this Notice while it is in effect. This notice takes effect (04/01/03), and will remain in effect until we replace it.

We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law. We reserve the right to make the changes in our privacy practices and the new terms of our Notice effective for all health information that we maintain, including health information we created or received before we made the changes. Before we make a significant change in our privacy practices, we will change this Notice and make the new Notice available upon request.

You may request a copy of our Notice at any time. For more information about our privacy practices, or for additional copies of this Notice, please contact us using the information listed at the end of this Notice

USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION


We use and disclose health information about your for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. For example:

Treatment: We may use or disclose your health information to a physician or other healthcare provider providing treatment to you.

Payment: We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services we provide to you.

Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your health information in connection with our healthcare operations. Healthcare operations include quality assessment and improvement activities, reviewing the competence or qualifications of healthcare professionals, evaluating practitioner and provider performance, conducting training programs, accreditation, certification, licensing or credentialing activities.

Your Authorization: In addition to our use of your health information for treatment, payment or healthcare operations, you may give us written authorization to use your health information or to disclose it to anyone for any purpose. If you give us an authorization, you may revoke it in writing at any time. Your revocation will not affect any use or disclosures permitted by your authorization while it was in effect. Unless you give us a written authorization, we cannot use or disclose your health information for any reason except those described in this notice.

To Your Family and Friends: We must disclose your health information to you as described in the Patient Rights section of this Notice. We may disclose your health information to a family member, friend or other person to the extent necessary to help with your healthcare or with payment for your healthcare, but only if you agree that we may do so.

Persons Involved in Care: We may use or disclose health information to notify, or assist in the notification of (including identifying or locating) a family member, your personal representative or another person responsible for your care, of your location, your general condition, or death. If you are present, then prior to use or disclosure of your health information, we will provide you with an opportunity to object to such uses or disclosures. In the event of your incapacity or emergency circumstances, we will disclose health information based on a determination using our professional judgment disclosing only health information that is directly relevant to the person’s involvement in your health care. We will also use our professional judgment and our experience with common practice to make reasonable inferences of your best interest in allowing a person to pick up filled prescriptions, medical supplies, x-rays, or other similar forms of health information.

Marketing Health-Related Services: We will not use your health information for marketing communications without your written authorization.

Required by Law: We may use or disclose your health information when we are required to do so by law.

Abuse or Neglect: We may disclose your health information to appropriate authorities if we reasonably believe that you’re a possible victim of abuse, or domestic violence or the possible victim of other crimes. We may disclose your health information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of others.

National Security: We may disclose to military authorities the health information of Armed Forces personnel under certain circumstances. We may disclose to authorized federal officials health information required for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities. We may disclose to correctional institution or law enforcement official having lawful custody of protected health information of inmate or patient under certain circumstances.

Appointment Reminders: We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with appointment reminders (such as voicemail messages, postcards, or letters).

PATIENT RIGHTS


Access: You have the right to look at or get copies of your health information, with limited exceptions. You may request that we provide copies in a format other than photocopies. We will use the format you request unless we cannot practicably do so. (You must make a request in writing to obtain access to your health information. You may obtain a form to request access by using the contact information listed at the end of this Notice. We well charge you a reasonable cost-based fee for expenses such as copies and staff time. You may also request access by sending us a letter to the address at the end of this Notice. If you request copies, we will charge you 10 cents a copy for each page, postage if you want the copies mailed to you. If you request an alternative format, we will charge a cost-based fee for providing your health information in that format. If you prefer, we will prepare a summary or an explanation of your health information for a fee. Contact us using the information listed at the end of the Notice for a full explanation of our fee structure.)

Disclosure Accounting: You have the right to receive a list of instances in which we or our business associates disclosed your health information for purposes, other than treatment, payment, healthcare operations and certain other activities, for the last 6 years, but not before April 14, 2003. If you request this accounting more than once in a 12-month period, we may charge you a reasonable, cost-based fee for responding to these additional requests. Restriction: You have the right to request that we place additional restrictions on our use or disclosure of your health information. We are not required to agree to these additional restrictions, but if we do, we will abide by our agreement (except in an emergency).

Alternative Communication: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information by alternative means or to alternative locations. (You must make your request in writing). Your request must specify the alternative means or location, and provide satisfactory explanation how payments will be handled under the alternative means or location you request.

Amendment: You have the right to request that we amend your health information. (Your request must be in writing, and it must explain why the information should be amended.) We may deny your request under certain circumstances. Electronic Notice: If you receive this Notice on our Web site or by electronic main (e-mail), you are entitled to receive this Notice in written form.

Dr. Rai and his staff provide gentle and professional care every time I visit. I have been a patient at Santa Barbara Dental Spa for 3 years. The office is very clean and inviting. I love my hygenist, she is always extremely gentle and provides a pleasant atmosphere that takes the edge off of being at the dentist. Dr. Rai has filled a few cavities for me and has done excellent work everytime, and is always very polite and friendly. I have always felt safe and cared for during eacy and every one of my procedures here. Easy location and parking too, which is a plus in Santa Barbara!
Stephanie M. - Atascadero, CA

News

Sleep More Soundly Tonight

By BK Rai in Dental Education

Think you might be experiencing sleep apnea but aren’t sure? To help you start figuring out what may be going on with your sleep, you can take the Epworth Sleepiness Scale Sleep Apnea Assessment below.

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3 Dental Treatments That Can Transform Your Smile

3 Dental Treatments That Can Transform Your Smile
By BK Rai in Santa Barbara Dental News, Dental Education

Behind every dull, tired smirk is a smile waiting to beam. Your dentist loves helping patients unlock the smile of their dreams and offering them the latest and greatest in cosmetic dentistry.

Here are three of the best treatments to get if you’re looking to transform your smile.

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We Are Open And Taking Appointments!

By BK Rai in Important Announcements

Due to COVID 19 we have had to make changes in our schedule. Hygiene days are now Wednesdays and Thursdays. For the meantime, any appointment made for routine care will have to be kept and we will handle cancelations on a case by case basis. A fee will be applied to appointments canceled with less than 48 hours notice. Please contact our office about this policy if you have any questions.


  • All patients will be prescreened before appointment.

  • Call/Text upon arrival, we will meet you at the door when it is ok for you to come in.

  • Shoes will be sanitized at the door.

  • Wear a mask at all times unless advised otherwise.

  • Oxygen levels and/or temperature will be taken upon arrival. 

  • We have designated "Sanitation Stations" throughout the office to be used freely.

Read more...