Legal Disclaimer & Privacy Notice
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 website is provided by Stonewall Institute, LLC (Stonewall Institute). Your use of this website is subject to the following terms and conditions. Please read the following terms and conditions carefully. Stonewall Institute and all associates value you as a patient and respects your right to privacy. We pledge our commitment to treating your information responsibly. We restrict access to your health information to those employees who need to know in order to provide appropriate treatment or services to you or to conduct Stonewall Institute business on your behalf. The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), requires all health care records and other individually identifiable health information (protected health information or PHI) used or disclosed to us in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally, be kept confidential. The federal law gives you, the patient, significant rights to understand and control how health information is used.
OUR LEGAL DUTY
Stonewall Institute and all associates are required by applicable federal HIPAA law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information, except where federal and state regulations apply regarding ongoing child and/or vulnerable adult abuse, and to notify you following a breach of unsecured protected health information. We are also required to give you this Statement about our privacy policy, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your health information. This statement is effective on 7/9/2015 and complies with the Omnibus HIPAA Final Rule published January 25, 2013. We are required to abide by the terms of the Privacy Policy Statement in effect.
WEBSITE DISCLAIMER
Stonewall Institute has endeavored to comply with all known health, legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements in publishing this website. The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only as a service to the public, and is not counseling/treatment/medical advice or a substitute for counseling/treatment/medical services, nor does it constitute advertising or a solicitation. The information contained in this website may or may not reflect the most current health/regulatory developments; accordingly, information on this website is not promised or guaranteed to be correct or complete, and should not be considered an indication of future results or as a substitute for professional advice. Stonewall Institute expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this website. THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE COUNSELING, TREATMENT, OR MEDICAL ADVICE As counseling/treatment/medical advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each person, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of a competent behavioral health provider based on one’s individual unique condition. The materials on this website do not constitute counseling/treatment/medical advice nor do they necessarily reflect the opinions of Stonewall Institute or any of its associates. This website is not intended to create, and does not create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Stonewall Institute, and you should not act or rely on any information in this website. Thus, your receipt or transmission of information to or from this website alone does not create a therapist-client relationship or ensure confidentiality. Because of the possibility of conflicts of interest, you agree to waive any claim of privacy or confidentiality for information submitted via this site. The content of the website includes but is not limited to text, graphics, images, audio and video files, and other material hereinafter referred to as (“Content”) is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional counseling/treatment/medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your behavioral health provider with questions you have regarding health conditions. Never disregard professional counseling/treatment/medical advice or delay in seeking health care because of something you have accessed on or through the Stonewall Institute website. If you think you may have a medical emergency contact your medical provider or dial 911 immediately. Stonewall Institute does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, interventions, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned, referenced, or linked on its website.
SECURITY
Because of limitations in the security features of the Internet, information sent to/from this site may be intercepted by third parties, and you agree not to hold Stonewall Institute responsible for any such interception. Transmission of information over the internet cannot be guaranteed 100% secure and is not a locked-down environment. While Stonewall Institute places a high premium on security and privacy, your submission of protected health information via the internet comes with risk. We encourage our patients to consider these risks when submitting identifying protected health information electronically through the internet, and whenever possible, to utilize a more secure means of communication such as telephone communication. The phone number to Stonewall Institute is listed on all of our company websites and is 602-535-6468. Your submission of your personal information and protected health information via the use of this website indicates your understanding of the aforementioned risks.
PASSWORDS
You are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure that unauthorized persons do not have access to your passwords obtained from Stonewall Institute. It is your sole responsibility to (1) control the dissemination and use of passwords; (2) authorize, monitor, and control access to and use of your Stonewall Institute passwords; (3) promptly inform Stonewall Institute of any need to deactivate a password. You grant Stonewall Institute and all other persons or entities involved in the operation of the Site the right to transmit, monitor, retrieve, store, and use your information in connection with the operation of the Site. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS Stonewall Institute reserves all rights not expressly granted to you in these terms and retains all title, interest and ownership of all intellectual property rights in and to the website and their respective content, including, but not limited to, all copyright and rights and interests of every kind and nature in and to all works based upon, incorporated in, derived from, incorporating or relating to the website or content, or from which the website or content are derived, as well as the right to exploit any of the foregoing in all media and by any manner and means now known or hereafter devised, throughout the universe, in perpetuity. Certain of the trademarks, logos, and service marks (collectively, the “Trademarks”) displayed on this website, including but not limited to, Stonewall Institute, are registered and unregistered trademarks of Stonewall Institute. Nothing contained on the website should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, latches, or otherwise, any license or right to use any Trademark displayed on this website without the written permission of Stonewall Institute. Your misuse of the Trademarks displayed on the website, or any other content on the website, except as provided herein, is strictly prohibited. SEE copyright.gov Reproduction, distribution, reorganization, republication and retransmission of material contained within the Stonewall Institute website is prohibited without the prior written permission of Stonewall Institute.
GENERAL
We are committed to serving our clients. We will endeavor to review feedback and seek to improve our services to meet your needs. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this website, or your experience with the website, or would like to provide comments, you can send an email to: info@stonewallinstitute.com It is Stonewall Institute’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion, national origin, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, political belief or activity, or status as a veteran. The policy applies to all areas of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, transfer, termination, layoff, compensation benefits and all other conditions and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Stonewall Institute does not wish to provide clinical services to anyone desiring behavioral health or other consumer transactions based upon viewing this website in a state where this website does not comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state. Stonewall Institute designates its office in Phoenix, Arizona, USA as its principal office. These terms and conditions will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Arizona and/or the United States District Court. By your use of this website and the content contained therein, you consent that the proper venue and forum will be the local, state or federal courts located in Phoenix, Arizona. These terms and conditions contain the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the use of this website and supersedes any prior written or oral agreement or understandings between the parties with respect to this website, and cannot be changed or terminated orally. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of these terms and conditions, or portion thereof, to be unenforceable, the remainder of these terms and conditions shall continue in full force and effect. Stonewall Institute may revise these terms and conditions from time to time by updating or revising this posting, with the revised terms and conditions taking effect as of the date of its posting. It is your responsibility to check these terms and conditions periodically for changes. Your continued use of the website following the posting of changes on the website will mean that you accept and agree to the changes.
PRIVACY NOTICE USES & DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION
The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose protected health information about you only under a signed release. For Treatment. We may use or disclose your protected health information for your treatment, such as to a doctor or other healthcare provider providing treatment to you. For Payment. We may use and disclose your protected health information to obtain payment for services we provide to you, such as to obtain reimbursement for services we provided. Your Authorization. You may give us a written authorization or release to use your protected health information for any purpose that you deem necessary. You may revoke an authorization or release at any time; the revocation must be in writing. Your revocation will not affect any use or disclosures permitted by your release while it was in effect. Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Care. With your signed release, your protected health information may be disclosed to a family member, friend or other person to help with your healthcare. Marketing. We may not use your protected health related information for marketing purposes. We may not sell your protected health information.
RESEARCH
We do not disclose protected health information for research purposes without your written consent. Information without patient identifiable data may be used for generic research.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND DISABILITY
With your signed release, protected health information about you may be disclosed for workers’ compensation, disability or similar programs. The following categories describe different ways that we may use and disclose protected health information about you without a signed release. Required by Law. Federal, state or local law may require us to use or disclose your protected health information.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
We may release protected health information if asked by a law enforcement official if the information is: (1) in response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process; (2) limited information to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person; (3) about the victim of a crime even if, under certain very limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement; (4) about a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct; (5) about criminal conduct on our premises; and (6) in an emergency to report a crime, the location of the crime or victims, or the identity, description or location of the person who committed the crime.
CORONERS, MEDICAL EXAMINERS, AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS
We may disclose protected health information to a coroner or medical examiner for the purpose of identifying a deceased person, determining a cause of death, or other duties as authorized by law. We may disclose protected health information to funeral directors, consistent with applicable law, as necessary to carry out their duties. Organ, Eye, Tissue Donation. We may disclose protected health information to organizations that procure, bank or transplant organs or tissues.
HEALTH OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
We may disclose protected health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. Public Health Activities. We may disclose protected health information about you for public health activities such as to prevent or control disease, injury or disability; to report reactions to medications, food, or problems with products; to authority authorized by law to receive reports of child abuse or neglect.
HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS
We may use and disclose your protected health information in connection with our health care operations. These uses and disclosures are necessary to run Stonewall Institute and to make sure all of our patients receive quality care. Health care operations may also include, but are not limited to, accreditation and licensing, and conducting training programs in which students, trainees, or practitioners in areas of health care learn under supervision to practice or improve their skills as health care providers. We may use your information to provide information on services that may be of interest to you.
MILITARY AND VETERANS
If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release protected health information as required by military command authorities. We also may release Protected Health Information to the appropriate foreign military authority if you are a member of a foreign military. National Security and Intelligence Activities. We may release protected health information to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counter-intelligence, and other national security activities authorized by law. To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety. We may use and disclose protected health information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Disclosures, however, will be made only to someone who may be able to help prevent the threat.
VICTIM OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
We may use or disclose your protected health information to an authorized government authority, including a social service or protective services agency if we reasonably believe you to be a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. Data Breach Notification Purposes. We may use or disclose your protected health information to provide legally required notices of unauthorized access to or disclosure of your health information.
JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
We may disclose your protected health information in response to a court or administrative tribunal order, a subpoena, a discovery request, or other lawful process but only when we have followed procedures required by law. Business Associates. We may disclose protected health information to our “business associates” who perform certain functions or activities that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information on behalf of, or provides services to us. All of our business associates are obligated to protect the privacy of protected health information and may use the information only for the purposes for which the business associate was engaged. Secretary of Health and Human Services. We are required to disclose your information to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when the Secretary is investigating or determining our compliance with the HIPAA Privacy Rules.
DISASTER RELIEF
We may disclose your Protected Health Information to disaster relief organizations that seek your protected health information to coordinate your care, or notify family and friends of your location or condition in a disaster. We will provide you with an opportunity to agree or object to such a disclosure whenever practical to do so.
OTHER CATEGORIES
Other uses and disclosures of protected health information not covered by this Notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written authorization. PATIENT RIGHTS Right to Access. You have the right to request to inspect and/or get copies of your protected health information for as long as we maintain it as required by law. You must submit your request in writing to our Privacy Official. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, staff time or other supplies associated with your request. We may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain circumstances. If you are denied access to protected health information, you may request that the denial be reviewed.
Right to an Electronic Copy of Electronic Medical Records
If your protected health information is maintained in an electronic format (known as an electronic medical record or an electronic health record), you have the right to request that an electronic copy of your record be given to you or transmitted to another individual or entity.
Notification of a BreacH
You have the right to be notified in the event that we (or one of our Business Associates) discovers a breach of any of your unsecured protected health information.
Right to Amend
You have the right to request that we amend your protected health information if you feel the information is incorrect or incomplete. To request an amendment, your request must be made in writing explaining why the information should be amended and submitted to our Privacy Official. We may deny your request under certain circumstances.
Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request that we place additional restrictions on our use or disclosure of your protected health information. We are not required to agree to any restriction that you may request. If we do agree to the restriction, we will comply with the restriction unless the information is needed to provide emergency treatment to you or unless the use or disclosure is otherwise permitted by law.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to receive a list of instances in which we disclosed your protected health information during 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. Out-of-Pocket Payments. If you paid out-of-pocket (or in other words, you have requested that we not bill your health plan) in full for a specific item or service, you have the right to request in writing that your protected health information with respect to that item or service not be disclosed to a health plan for purposes of payment or health care operations, and we will honor that request.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your protected health information by alternative means or alternative locations. Your request must be made in writing and must specify the alternative means or location, and provide satisfactory explanation of how payments will be handled under the alternative means or location you request.
Right to Paper Copy of Statement
If you requested or agreed to receive this notice electronically, you have the right to a paper copy of this Statement. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. You may obtain the Statement on our website at www.stonewallinstitute.com or from our Privacy Official.
COMPLAINTS & QUESTIONS
If you are concerned that we may have violated your privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision we made regarding your health information, you may express your written complaint to us or the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services at the address below.
Our Privacy Official
If you want more information about our privacy policy or have questions or concerns, please contact us. Our Privacy Official can be contacted at: Stonewall Institute Privacy Official 4020 N. 20th St. Suite 302 Phoenix, AZ 85016 Phone: 602-535-6468 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services If you would like to submit a complaint directly to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services please send it to the following address: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights 200 Independence Ave., SW Washington, D.C. 20201 Phone: 1 (877) 696-6775 We support your right to privacy of your protected health information. You will not be retaliated against in any way if you choose to file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HOLD HARMLESS STATEMENT
Stonewall Institute provides this site, the information, listings, and links contained herein only as a convenience to you. Transitory digital network communications and external web pages listed as hypertext links herein are not under the control of Stonewall Institute. Stonewall Institute does not incorporate any materials appearing in such linked sites by reference. Stonewall Institute can make no representation concerning the quality, safety or suitability of the content of these sites nor can the fact that Stonewall Institute has included any such link serve as an endorsement or approval by Stonewall Institute of any of those sites. The material in this website could include technical inaccuracies or other errors. Your use and browsing of the site is at your own risk. Stonewall Institute assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein.
This website is provided “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITH ANY AND ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. STONEWALL INSTITUTE DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE WEBSITE OR CONTENT THEREIN ARE ERROR-FREE OR WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, FREE FROM SPYWARE, MALWARE, ADWARE, VIRUSES, WORMS OR OTHER MALICIOUS CODE, OR WILL FUNCTION TO MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL STONEWALL INSTITUTE BE LIABLE FOR PERSONAL INJURY, OR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, DENIALS OF SERVICE (INCLUDING COMPUTER CRASHES), BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE WEBSITE, OR ANY DOWNLOADED CONTENT, HOWEVER CAUSED, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE), EVEN IF STONEWALL INSTITUTE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SEE http://www.copyright.gov The reader agrees to release and hold harmless Stonewall Institute and all of its subsidiaries, owners, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any and all liability relating to the use of any information contained herein. The reader acknowledges that Stonewall Institute has not verified the accuracy of all the information contained herein, and in some case, has relied on information from third parties. Stonewall Institute 2015