Privacy Policy

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.

We understand that medical information about you and your health is personal, which is why we are committed to maintaining the privacy of your health information.

At Sherrill House we maintain a record of the care and services you receive. This notice applies to all of the records of your care and it will explain ways in which we may use or disclose information about you. This notice will also describe your rights and certain obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

The following categories describe ways Sherrill House may use and disclose health information; however, not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed.

Treatment – We may disclose information about you to doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, or other personnel who are involved in your care and treatment. For example, when a member of your health care team visits you, information regarding your condition and treatment will be documented. This information will be shared among your health care providers to make decisions about your plan of care. This information may also be used in after-care planning, as we may share your medical information with other providers who may be involved in your care, upon your discharge from Sherrill House.

Payment – We may use your health information so that the services you receive may be billed and payment collected from you, an insurance company or third party payor. For example, a claim form may be sent to Medicare for payment of medical services.

Health Care Operations – We may use and disclose your health information in an effort to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the care and services that we provide. For example, your health information may be used to provide data in the form of a case study for quality improvement reasons.
 

Other Uses of use and disclosure include:

Birthday Announcements, Photographs - At Sherrill House, our staff make an effort to make you feel at home and we work to create a warm and friendly environment. We may post a happy birthday card to you, hang pictures of you participating in various activities, or display some activity work that you created. Please let us know if you would rather not be included in these activities.

Communication with Family – Using their best judgment, Sherrill House staff members may disclose your health information to a family member or others who are involved in your care.

Continuity of Care – We may use health information to coordinate your care with health professionals other than Sherrill House.

Obtaining Authorization: Use or disclosure of your health information that does not  involve treatment, payment, or health care operations, will be made only with your written authorization or that of your legal representative. You may revoke the authorization at any time, in writing. If you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose information about you for the reason covered by your written revocation.

Your Rights RegardingYour Health Information

Although your health records are the physical property of Sherrill House, you have certain rights with regard to the information we maintain about you. You have the right to receive a copy of this notice and the right to:

• Request restrictions on uses and disclosures of your health information for treatment, payment and health care operations. We do not, however, have to agree to the restriction. Restrictions do not apply to disclosures that are made mandatory by health oversight activities or law.
   
• Receive confidential communications of your health information.
   
• Inspect and copy your health information upon request. This usually includes medical and billing records. This does not include psychotherapy notes.
   
• Request that we amend your Sherrill House created health information if you feel that the information we have is inaccurate or incomplete.
   
• Receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information. This would be a list of disclosures or use of your health information that did not pertain to treatment, payment or health care operations.

Sherrill House is required by law to: make sure that the privacy of your protected health information is maintained, provide you with this notice of our legal and privacy duties and abide by the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

Sherrill House reserves the right to change the terms of this notice and to make the new notice provisions effective for all protected health information that we maintain. We will post a copy of the current notice in our facility. In addition, should you be readmitted, we would provide you with a copy of the notice that is currently in effect.

Questions Regarding the Privacy of Your Health Information

If you have questions regarding information contained in this notice or if you wish to exercise your rights as listed in this notice, you may contact the Director of Nursing Services at 617-731-2400

How To File A Complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Sherrill House or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To file a complaint with Sherrill House, you may contact the Director of Nursing Services at 617-731-2400 or the Sherrill House Privacy/Corporate Compliance Officer at 781-925-5479. Residents and/or caregivers will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.