Patient Rights
As a patient, you have certain rights. Understanding them will help us provide the best possible care. It is our responsibility to protect and defend your rights.
Right to Request Access to Your Health Information
- You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of medical or health information that may be used to make decisions about your care.
- You have the right to request that we provide copies in a format other than photocopies. We will use the format that you request unless we cannot practicably do so.
Request access to your health information
- You must make a request in writing to obtain access to your health information. To submit a written request, complete the Consent/Authorization for Release of Information.
- We will charge you a reasonable cost for the expenses such as copying, mailing, and staff time.
- If we deny your request to review or obtain a copy of your health information, you may submit a written request to the UMKC Student Health and Wellness Privacy Officer for a review of that decision.
Right to Request an Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to request an “accounting of disclosures” made by UMKC Student Health and Wellness of your medical or health information that occurred in the past six years.
Disclosure inclusions
- The date of the disclosure.
- The name of the entity or person who received the information, and, if known, the address.
- A brief description of the medical information disclosed.
- A summary of the purpose of the disclosure.
Request an accounting of disclosures
- You must request this list in writing. Your request must state a time that may not be longer than six years prior to the date of the request. The time may be less than six years.
- Your request should state in what format you want the list, for example: via paper or electronical version.
- The first list you request within a twelve-month period will be provided to you free of charge. For additional lists during this same time, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list. We will notify you of the cost involved, and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request before any costs are incurred.
Right to Request an Amendment
If you feel that medical or health information that we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for the institution.
Request an amendment
- You must request this amendment in writing.
- You must provide a reason for your request.
We are not required to accept your request. We may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does not include a reason for the request.
Reasons for an information amendment request denial
- Information not created by us, unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make the amendment.
- Information is not part of the information kept by or for the institution.
- Information is not part of the information which you would be permitted to inspect and copy.
- Information is accurate and complete as it is.
If we deny your request to amend the information, we will notify you in writing.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you by telephone at work, or that we only contact you by mail at home. We will accommodate all reasonable requests and will not ask you the reason for your request.
To request communication in alternative methods or locations, you must make your request in writing on a designated form.
Right to Request Restrictions on Certain Disclosures
You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the medical information we use or disclose about you for treatment, payment, or health care operations.
Request a restriction
- You must make your request in writing.
- Tell us what information you want to limit.
- Tell us whether you want to limit our use or disclosure of the information (or both).
- Tell us to whom you want the limits to apply (for example, disclosures to your spouse).
We are not required to agree to these additional restrictions.
If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you with emergency treatment, or where disclosure is required by law.
Right to Complain
You have the right to complain if you are concerned that your privacy rights have been violated, or if you disagree with a decision we have made about access to your health information or in response to any request that you have made
To make a complaint
- We encourage you to first address the complaint with the Roo Wellness staff.
- You may also contact the Roo Wellness Privacy Officer.
- You may also submit a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, whose address we will provide upon your request.
- We support your right to the privacy of your health information. We will not retaliate against you in any way if you choose to file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.