TO OUR PATIENTS AND THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY

Confidentiality and Privacy Statement

Within the last two years there have been major changes in how health care facilities protect your confidentiality, for example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules. This federal law requires health care providers to define and improve the methods used to safeguard private medical information. Indeed, if you have visited your private physician or used a local hospital or clinic, you may already have received specific information as to how the HIPAA privacy rules are to be applied.

The HIPAA rules and regulations do not apply to College of the Sequoias Student Health Center. Rather, other federal and state laws apply, particularly the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) that covers all educational records of the College.

Please be assured, however, that your privacy is our foremost concern. Unless specifically required by law or court order, private medical information is not released without the consent of the patient to whom the records pertain. Moreover, further efforts are being made to restrict access to your private medical information, whether in paper or electronic form, only to those who need such information to provide the most effective medical and psychological care to you.

Should you have further questions, please contact us at (559) 730-3880.

Records

An individual record is established when a student visits for health or psychological services, with the exception of anonymous HIV antibody testing. The record, or "chart", is designed to facilitate the medical or counseling care you receive.

Any information you provide is protected by state law as well as by College of the Sequoias Student Health Center policy. Medical and counseling records are confidential and entirely separate from academic records. Except for Health Center staff, no member of the College faculty, administration, or staff may see your medical or counseling record without your consent. Parents may not see your record or obtain any information about your medical or psychological condition without your consent (see exception, below).

No information is released without the specific written permission of the student to whom the record pertains, except in the following cases:

• Parents of a student who is less than 18 years of age (a legal minor) are notified when a student is seriously ill.
• Certain communicable diseases are reported to Public Health Official, as required by law.
• Court order.

Medical and counseling records are separate: your counselor will not see your medical record, and your health care provider will not see your counseling record unless you give permission for such access. Records are retained for seven years after your last visit.