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.

THIS NOTICE TAKES EFFECTIVE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

The privacy of your medical information is important to us. We understand that your medical information is personal and we are committed to protecting it. This notice will tell you about the ways we may use and share medical information about you. We also describe your rights and certain duties we have regarding the use and disclosure of medical information.

The following section describes different ways that we use and disclose medical information. Not every use or disclosure will be listed. However, we have listed all of the different ways we are permitted to use and disclose medical information. We will not use or disclose your medical information for any purpose not listed below, without your specific written authorization. Any specific written authorization you provide may be revoked at any time by writing to us.

a. Treatment - We may use medical information about you to provide medical treatment or services. We may disclose medical information about you to doctors, nurses technicians, medical students, or to the other people who are taking care of you. We may also share medical information about you to your other health care providers to assist them in treating you.

be. Payment - We may use and disclose your medical information for payment purposes.

ca. Health Care operations - We may use and disclose your medical information for our health care operations. This might include measuring and improving quality, evaluating the performance of employees, conducting training programs, and getting the accreditation, certificates, licenses and credentials we need to serve you.

Your Authorization Most uses and disclosures that do not fall under treatment, payment, health care operations will require your written authorization. Upon signing, you may revoke your authorization (in writing) through our practice at any time.

Emergency Situations In the event of your incapacity or an emergency situation, we will disclose health information to a family member, or another person responsible for your care, using our professional judgment. We will only disclose health information that is directly relevant to the person's involvement in your healthcare.

Marketing We will not use your health information for marketing communications without your written authorization.

Required by Law We may also 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 are a possible victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence or the victim of other crimes. We may disclose your health information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your or other people's health or safety.

National Security We may disclose the health information of Armed Forces personnel to military authorities under certain circumstances. We may disclose health information to authorized federal officials required for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence and other national security activities. We may disclose health information of inmates or patients to the appropriate authorities under certain circumstances.

Appointment Reminders We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with appointment reminders via phone, ae-mail or letter.

Your Rights as a Patient You have the right to restrict the disclosure of your protected health information (in writing). The request for restriction may be denied if the information is required for treatment, payment or health care operations. -You have the right to receive confidential communications regarding your protected health information. -You have the right to inspect and copy your protected health information. -You have the right to amend your protected health information. -You have the right to receive an account of disclosures of your protected health information. -You have the right to a paper copy of this notice of privacy practices.

Legal Requirements [Practice Name here] is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information. We are required to abide by the terms of this notice as it is currently stated, and reserve the right to change this notice. The policies in any new notice will not be in effect until they are posted to this site, or are available within our office.

Complaints If you have complaints regarding the way your protected health information was handled, you may submit a complaint in writing to our office. You will not be retaliated against in any manner for a complaint.

Contact Information For further information about Raymund Gaza, OD., PC.'s privacy policies, please contact Raymund Garza at the following address or phone number: Raymund Garza, O.D., P.C. 777 N Texas Blvd Alice, Texas 78332 361-668-3937