Care in the Home assists seniors to remain independent in their own homes.

RespiteCare respects the privacy of our site visitors
We realize that visitors may be concerned about the information they provide to us by making inquiries, and how that information is treated. The only information that is collected is the information you choose to provide as a site visitor. We do not track visitors through the use of cookies and we do not sell or rent the information you provide to third parties. The optional information we collect from site visitors, through any form that is currently available on this site, is used for general statistical purposes only and is considered confidential.

The information you choose to provide will be added to an appropriate mailing list. Site visitors are given the option of declining to be on our mailing list. We may use your contact information to mail materials to you in the future.

Inquiry Form and Publications
If a user wishes to make an inquiry, is requesting information or one of our publications, we ask for basic contact information in order to fulfill or respond to these requests. All optional information is identified as such.

Tell-A-Friend
If site visitors elect to use our referral service for informing a friend about our site, we ask them for the friend's name and e-mail address. RespiteCare will automatically send the friend a one-time e-mail inviting them to visit our site. This information is stored for the sole purpose of sending this one-time e-mail. The friend may contact RespiteCare at info@careinthehome.com to request the removal of this information from our database.

Cookies
RespiteCare does not use cookies. A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user's hard drive containing information about the user. This information is sent to your browser when you visit sites that use cookies to track web site traffic and is then stored on your hard drive. The next time you visit the same site, the cookie, which is usually accessed by a server, is used to identify your computer. Many web sites use cookies as a way to remember passwords, personalize pages, and target the interests of users visiting the site.
Links
This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of the North Shore is not responsible for the privacy practices of other such sites. Although RespiteCare does not use cookies, some of the web sites that we link to might. We encourage users to check the privacy policies of those sites for more information.

All written requests or appeals should be submitted to our Privacy Officer listed at the end of this notice.

Who to Contact for Questions and Complaints
If you want more information about our privacy practices, wish to exercise any of your rights, or have any questions about the information in this notice, please use the contact information below. If you believe we may have violated your rights, or if you disagree with a decision that we made in connection with your health information, you may file a complaint using the contact information below. You may also submit a written complaint to the Office for Civil Rights, Region V, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 233 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 240, Chicago, IL, 60601. We fully support your right to the privacy of your health information, and will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint.
Effective date of this Notice: 20 May 2003
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will immediately post the policy changes on this page. Any information collected prior to the change will be protected by the policy that was in place at the time the information was submitted. By visiting our web site and choosing to voluntarily provide information using the forms currently available on the CareInTheHome.com web site, you consent to our collection, use and storage of your information in the manner described above.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding RespiteCare's Privacy Policy or Copyright information, or have concerns regarding the security of this site or the protection of your privacy while visiting our site, please contact us.

Thank you for visiting our web site. Terms of Use and Online Privacy
The information on this site and the Internet links provided are for general healthcare information and educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.

Site Disclaimer
Only your doctor can diagnose illness, prescribe medication, and treat or manage health problems. Please consult your physician for information specific to you or your family. For more information on RespiteCare please call (847) 256-1705. Your physician is also invited to call for further information.

The information on this site and the Internet links provided are for general healthcare information and educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for professional healthcare advice. Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of the North Shore makes no warranty, express or implied, about the information contained on this site and the Internet links provided, and there is no warranty that this information will fulfill any of your particular purposes or needs. This information is being provided with all faults, without warranty, and the entire risk as to satisfactory quality, performance, accuracy and effort is with the user.

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed; as well as how you can get access to this information. We welcome you to review it carefully, and call or info@careinthehome.com us with your questions.

Our Responsibilities
RespiteCare is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information. "Protected health information" (PHI) is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services. RespiteCare is also required to give you this notice about our privacy practices, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your PHI. We must follow the privacy practices that are described in this notice .

Uses and Disclosures of Health Information
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) allows us to use and disclose your protected health information for treatment, to obtain payment for your care and to conduct our health care operations without permission.

To Provide Treatment. RespiteCare may use your health information to coordinate care within RespiteCare and with others involved in your care, such as your attending physician, members of the RespiteCare interdisciplinary team and other health care professionals who have agreed to assist us in coordinating care. For example, physicians involved in your care will need information about your symptoms in order to prescribe appropriate medications. We also may disclose your health care information to individuals outside of RespiteCare involved in your care, including family members, pharmacists, and medical equipment suppliers.

To Obtain Payment. RespiteCare may include your health information in invoices to collect payment from third parties for the care you receive from us. For example, we may be required by your health insurer to provide information regarding your health care status so that the insurer will reimburse you or RespiteCare. We also may need to obtain prior approval from your insurer and may need to explain to the insurer your need for the services that will be provided to you.

To Conduct Health Care Operations. RespiteCare may use and disclose health information for our own operations in order to facilitate our functions and as necessary to provide quality care to all of our patients. For example, we may use your health information for quality assessment and improvement activities or contact you as part of general fundraising and community information mailings (unless you tell us you do not want to be contacted).

We provide some services through contracts with business associates. Examples include off-site storage of medical and billing records, billing services, and attorneys. To protect your health information, however, we require the business associate to appropriately safeguard your information.

Other examples of possible disclosures for health care operations include:

Protocol development, case management and care coordination.
Professional review and performance evaluation.
Training programs, including those in which students, trainees or practitioners in health care learn under supervision.
Accreditation, certification, licensing or credentialing activities.
Review and auditing, including compliance reviews, medical reviews, legal services and compliance programs.
Business planning and development, including cost management and formulary development.

For Patient Directories.
If you are admitted to our inpatient unit, RespiteCare will list your name, your location in the facility, your general condition (good, fair, etc.) and your religious affiliation in our patient directory. We will release all but your religious affiliation to anyone who asks about you by name. Your religious affiliation will be disclosed only to a clergy member. Please inform us if you do not want your information to be included in the directory.

For Appointment Reminders.
We may contact you to remind you that you have an appointment.

For Treatment Alternatives.
We may contact you to tell you about or recommend possible treatment options, alternatives, health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

We may disclose health information about you to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care. Our staff will use their professional judgment in determining what information they disclose, and to whom.

We may also make disclosures under the following circumstances without your prior authorization:

as required by law;
for public health purposes, including disease and vital statistic reporting;
to report abuse, neglect or domestic violence;
to conduct health oversight activities;
to authorities that monitor our compliance with these privacy requirements;
in response to court and administrative orders and other lawful processes;
to law enforcement officials pursuant to subpoenas and other lawful processes, concerning crime victims, suspicious deaths, crimes on our premises, reporting crimes in emergencies, and for purposes of identifying or locating a suspect or other persons;
to avert a serious threat to health or safety;
to the military and to federal officials for lawful intelligence and national security activities, and to correctional institutions;
as authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with state worker's compensation laws;
to coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors;
to organ procurement organizations; and
in connection with certain research activities.

In any other situation not covered by this notice, RespiteCare will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing medical information about you. If you choose to authorize use or disclosure, you can later revoke that authorization by notifying us in writing of your decision.

Your Individual Rights
You have the following rights with regard to your health information:

To restrict certain uses and disclosures. You have a right to request, in writing, that we not use or disclose health information about you for treatment, payment or health care operations except when specifically authorized by you, when required by law, or in an emergency. We will consider your request but we are not legally required to accept it. We will inform you of our decision on your request.
To confidential communications. You have the right to request that health information about you be communicated to you in a confidential manner by notifying us in writing of the specific means or location for us to use to communicate with you. For example, you can request that we send you mail somewhere other than your home address, or that we discuss your health care with you only when your family members are not present.
To access your records. In most cases, you have the right to review and/or request a copy of your medical information. These requests must be made in writing. If you request copies, RespiteCare may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other related supplies. If we deny your request, you may submit a written request for a review of that decision under certain limited circumstances.
To amend your records. If you believe that medical information contained in your medical record is incorrect, missing or incomplete, you have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for RespiteCare. Your request for an amendment of records must be made in writing and must explain why the amendment is necessary. We can deny your request if it is not in writing or if it does not include an explanation. We can also deny your request if we did not create the information you want amended and the originator remains available, or for certain other reasons. If we deny your request, we will provide a written explanation of our decision and explain your rights to have your request and our response included with all future disclosures of your information.
To an accounting of disclosures. You have a right to receive a listing from us of instances in which we or our business associates have disclosed your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, health care operations, or as authorized by you, and for certain other activities. Your request must be in writing, and must specify the time period covered. The list will include only those disclosures made since April 14, 2003 and will only go back six (6) years. There may be a charge for accounting disclosures if requested more than once a year.
To a copy of this notice. You may request a copy of this notice at any time by contacting our Privacy Officer or by visiting our web site at www.carecenter.org. If you obtain this notice electronically, you are also entitled to request a paper copy. RespiteCare reserves the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this notice at any time, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law. We also reserve the right to make the changes in our privacy practices and the new terms of our notice effective for all PHI that we maintain, including PHI we created or received before we made the changes. Before we make a significant change in our privacy practices, we will change this notice and post it on our web site, at our inpatient facility, and make it available to you upon request.

Respite Care
1200 Central Avenue, Suite 385
Wilmette, Illinois 60091
Phone (847) 256-1705
Fax (847) 256-1770
E-mail: info@careinthehome.com