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.
At the Auditory and Vestibular Institute of New England (AVI New England), we understand that your health information is personal. We are committed to protecting it, and we are required by law to keep it private.
This Notice of Privacy Practices explains how we may use and share your protected health information, our legal duties, and the rights you have over your information. It applies to the records of your care at all three of our Connecticut offices in Hamden, Norwalk and Branford.
If you have any questions about this notice, please call us at (475) 227-0842.
How We Use and Share Your Health Information
We use and share your health information mainly to care for you, to get paid for that care and to run our practice. Here are some examples.
Treatment. We use your health information to provide and coordinate your hearing and tinnitus care. For example, your audiologist may review your hearing test results to recommend hearing aids, or we may share information with your physician or another provider involved in your care.
Payment. We use and share your health information to bill and collect payment from you, your insurance plan or another party. For example, we may give your health plan information about a hearing evaluation so it can process your claim or confirm your benefits.
Health care operations. We may use your health information to run our practice, improve the quality of our care and train our staff. For example, we may review records to evaluate how well our team is serving patients.
Appointment reminders and health-related services. We may contact you to remind you of an upcoming appointment, or to tell you about treatment options and services that may interest you.
Business associates. Some services are provided for us by outside companies, such as billing or software vendors. We may share your information with them so they can do that work, and they are required to protect it.
Family and friends involved in your care. We may share relevant information with a family member, friend or other person you identify who is involved in your care or helps pay for it. You can tell us if you do not want us to do this. If you are unable to tell us your preference, such as in an emergency, we may share information if we believe it is in your best interest.
Other Uses Allowed or Required by Law
In certain situations, the law allows or requires us to share your health information without your written permission. These include:
- When federal, state or local law requires it
- For public health activities, such as reporting disease, injury, or problems with medical devices to the appropriate agencies
- To report suspected abuse, neglect or domestic violence to government authorities
- For health oversight activities, such as audits, inspections and licensure reviews
- In response to a court order, subpoena or other lawful process
- For certain law enforcement purposes
- To coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors
- For organ and tissue donation
- For approved research, under strict privacy protections
- To prevent a serious threat to the health or safety of you or others
- For specialized government functions, such as military and national security activities
- For workers' compensation claims
Uses That Require Your Written Permission
For any use or disclosure not described in this notice, we will ask for your written authorization. This includes most uses of your information for marketing purposes and any sale of your health information.
If you give us permission, you may take it back at any time by letting us know in writing. Taking back your permission will not undo any sharing we already did while it was in place.
Your Rights
You have the following rights regarding your health information. To use any of them, please contact our office at (475) 227-0842.
Get a copy of your records. You can ask to see or get a copy of your health and billing records, on paper or electronically. We will usually respond within 30 days and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
Ask us to correct your records. If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you can ask us to correct it. We may say no, but we will tell you why in writing within 60 days.
Request confidential communications. You can ask us to contact you in a specific way, such as by mail to a different address or at a certain phone number. We will agree to all reasonable requests.
Ask us to limit what we use or share. You can ask us not to use or share certain information for treatment, payment or operations. We are not required to agree in every case. If you pay for a service or item in full out of pocket, you can ask us not to share that information with your health plan, and we will agree unless the law requires us to share it.
Get a list of those we have shared information with. You can ask for a list of the times we shared your health information in the six years before your request, who we shared it with and why. This list does not include sharing for treatment, payment, operations or disclosures you authorized.
Get a copy of this notice. You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
Choose someone to act for you. If you have given someone medical power of attorney, or someone is your legal guardian, that person can use your rights and make choices about your health information.
Our Responsibilities
- We are required by law to keep your protected health information private and secure.
- We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
- We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
- We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing.
Changes to This Notice
We may change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all the information we have about you. The updated notice will be available on our website and at each of our offices, and we will provide a copy on request.
Questions and Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with us by calling (475) 227-0842 or writing to us at one of our offices.
You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by writing to 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints.
We will not retaliate against you in any way for filing a complaint.
Contact Us
Auditory and Vestibular Institute of New England (AVI New England)
Phone: (475) 227-0842 (main line for all three locations)
- Hamden: 3074 Whitney Ave, Building 1, Hamden, CT 06518
- Norwalk: 148 East Ave, Suite 3L, Norwalk, CT 06851
- Branford: 143 Cedar St, Branford, CT 06405