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.

Dr. Suliman and the Staff are committed to safeguarding the confidential medical information of our Patients. As required by our profession's ethical and legal obligations, maintaining the confidentiality of your health information is one of our primary responsibilities.

The Personal Health Information we collect from a patient depends on the scope of the patient/physician relationship. It may include: information that we receive from you including name, address, telephone numbers, social security number, health insurance data and your medical history. Consistent with the ethical obligations of our profession, we hold all protected health information and other individually identifiable health information, provided to our office in the strictest confidence. We also limit access to your information to those staff members who have a professional reason for knowing the information, to other physicians assisting us in your treatment, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists and to other individuals to coordinate different aspects of the patient's care. This office may use or disclose Protected Health Information to receive payment for treatment. We may disclose Protected Health Information to others in connection with quality assurance reviews. This office may use or disclose Protected Health Information subject to a valid authorization in connection with a research study, journal article or educational program. We may contact you by telephone or mail to confirm appointments. We do not provide nonaffiliated persons, firms or companies with your personal information unless you have authorized such a disclosure.

Patients generally will be able to see and get copies of their medical records, and request amendments. In addition, a history of most non-routine disclosures will be made available to patients/guardians on request. Parents generally would have access to their children's medical records. Your Health Information may not be used for purposes not related to health care without explicit authorization from the individual. You have the right to request confidential communications in a certain manner. You will not receive any marketing materials unless we have obtained the individuals specific authorization. We will also ensure that our business associates protect the privacy of your health information.

You have the right to contact Dr. Suliman or Pat Rella if you feel that your privacy rights have been violated. Patients also have the right to file a formal complaint with a covered provider or Health and Human Services about any violations of the Privacy Rule.

As technology continues to advance, you can be sure that we will maintain the physical, electronic and procedural safeguards necessary to keep your personal protected health information confidential and secure.

Our policy is to retain your flies for ten years after the date of your last visit.

This policy is effective 1/1/2003