Hanover Hospital Complies With New Federal Patient Privacy Protection Regulations

Hanover Hospital is complying with new federal regulations that further clarify how patients' health care information may be used and must be protected. Patients at Hanover Hospital will see several changes as a result of these new regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

First, beginning April 14, 2003, all patients at Hanover Hospital and Hanover HealthCare PLUS Network services will receive a copy of its new Notice of Privacy Practices. This notice explains how patient health information is used and protected, how patients can receive a copy of their medical information and a list of how their information has been used, and how patients can request restrictions on that use. This notice also identifies Hanover Hospital's Privacy Officer. The Privacy Officer is the person who has been designated to answer any questions and respond to any complaints about privacy issues. Patients will be asked to acknowledge, by signature, that they have received the Notice of Privacy Practices.

Under the new regulations, patients may choose not to be included in the hospital directory. Information in the hospital directory is used to direct visitors, and deliveries (of flowers and cards, for instance) to patient rooms. Information in the hospital directory also is used to provide callers, who ask for a patient by name, with the general condition of the patient. The patient's name, and location in the hospital, will be included in the hospital directory, unless the patient asks that this information not be included in the directory.

When a patient chooses to have his/her name appear in the hospital directory, he/she will also be given the choice of whether or not he/she prefers to be listed in another directory which is available to clergy only. Patients who opt out of the main directory, will not be able to be listed in the clergy directory.

No information will be available through our Switchboard or Information Desk about patients who have been discharged.

"Hanover Hospital and the Hanover HealthCare PLUS Network is committed to protecting the privacy of our patients," said Joanne Wantz, hospital spokesperson. "As much as possible we will limit both the amount of patient information that is shared and the number of people with whom it is shared as we care for patients, communicate with health plans and others for billing purposes, participate in internal and external quality assurance activities, and operate our facilities."