Privacy Policy
PRIVACY POLICY
Tree House Recovery has a legal and ethical responsibility to safeguard the privacy of all clients and to protect the confidentiality and security of all health information. This Privacy Policy explains how Tree House Recovery collects, utilizes and protects your personal information.
General Privacy
Protected Health Information ( PHI)
It is the responsibility of Tree House and all of its employees to protect against the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. THR is fully compliant with federal laws and regulations (HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2) and state regulations. Only staff who require access to client health information will be given access to client records through the Electronic Medical Record. All EMR users have unique, secure logins and access limited by the Compliance Department, based solely on what is needed for as staff member to perform their role. Except as permitted in State and Federal law governing confidentiality of client records, Tree House Recovery will only release client information with the express written, signed, and dated consent of a client. However, THR is permitted to disclose client information without client consent in the following circumstances:
- In cases of medical emergency
- In reporting crimes that occur on program premises or against staff
- In cases of suspected child abuse or neglect
- A valid court order
- When cause of death is being reported
- To entities having administrative control
- To qualified service organizations
- To outside auditors
- During a declared public health emergency to certain health officials
- For research purposes, if the research meets certain criteria subject to federal and state law
Confidentiality when answering phone calls
Tree House cannot confirm or deny if a participant is in our care or disclose any protected health information of any kind unless it has been verified that the participant has signed a release of information or acknowledgement of presence in treatment for the individual on the phone.
Patient / Client Rights
Confidentiality
Every program participant has the right to confidentiality and privacy, and is the only individual who can relinquish that right. No program participant information can be disclosed to any individual or agency without the consent of the program participant. In addition, the program participants’ enrollment and participation in the alcohol/drug treatment program i s confidential and protected under the Code of Federal Regulation Title-42. Therefore, no employee is permitted to release any information, including the fact that the program participant is participating in our program, without the express written consent of the program participant, clearly designating to whom any information can be released to.
Access to Counseling Files and Company Privacy Policy
Unless authorized i n writing by the program participant, no Tree-House Recovery representative will have access to any program participant files. Staff whose duties require access to the medical record, will only have access to the documents that are needed to perform their duties. Unauthorized access to these files are grounds for dismissal. Additionally, the program participant has the right to request this file with the approval of the Tree House Recovery Clinical Director and Compliance Director.
The program participant may also contact the Program Director, Matt Goldberg at [email protected], at anytime for additional information about
the company’s privacy policy.
Tree House Recovery maintains the right to deny such request in the event that:
- The file would constitute an immediate and grave detriment to the treatment of the program participant.
- The information relates to a program participant other than the participant seeking it.
- Disclosure of the information would constitute a danger to another individual. Any denial of a request by a program participant for his files will be recorded in the permanent record of the participant and the reasons for the denial must be included. The program participant has the right to request an amendment to his file, including withdrawing
consents. Additionally, clients have the following rights in regards to privacy and confidentiality (excerpt from Client Rights Policy):
Tree House – Compliance Department, Privacy Policy – V1.2, Effective 10.30.23
- You have the right to privacy and security in the treatment environment
- You have a right to access and amend your health information and obtain information on disclosures of this information.
- You have a right to confidentiality. Your presence in substance abuse treatment, and the records of your treatment is protected under 42CFR, Part 2, Code of Federal Regulations.
- You have the right to confidentiality and privacy of your protected healthcare information. Your protected healthcare information is protected under HIPAA legislation 45 CFR, Parts 160 & 164
- You have the right to give informed consent in writing prior to the start of services, except in a medical emergency or as otherwise permitted in law.
Website
What Information is Collected?
In general, you can visit this website without telling us who you are or revealing any personal information about yourself. When you visit, you anonymously disclose certain information, such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address and the time of your visit. This anonymous internet traffic data is automatically provided to us and may be archived and retained indefinitely. This website, like many other websites, records this basic information. Please note that we are not able to tie any of this data to specific individuals. Also, if you choose to contact us through the website, we may require some basic personal information about yourself. We ask for this information so that we are able to follow up on any questions or requests for information you may have. “Cookies” are pieces of information that are transferred to a computer from a web server. Most browsers are set up to accept cookies, but you may change your settings to notify you when a new cookie is requested or to refuse to accept cookies. A cookie allows us to recognize you when you are re-accessing our website and track and log usage on the website. The only PHI that the website could capture would be through the “chat” function. The chat function is through “Intercom”, a HIPAA compliant application. While records are stored indefinitely, they are stored securely. PHI would only be collected if it was disclosed. Most conversations occur over the phone, and the likelihood of PHI disclosure via chat is low. Our staff are trained in HIPAA and security, privacy, and confidentiality.
Utilization of Collected Information
The information we collect is utilized to assist us in improving our business and the performance and content of this website.
Any PHI that may be collected through the chat function will only be used for treatment eligibility purposes and may be used to inform treatment.
Tree House – Compliance Department, Privacy Policy – V1.2, Effective 10.30.23
Protection of Collected Information
The privacy and protection of your personal information is important to us. We will not make any personal information available to third parties without your permission. Security measures are in place to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of the information collected that is under our control. In addition, our business practices are reviewed periodically for compliance with policies and procedures governing the security and confidentiality of the information.
Links to Other Websites
Our website contains links, for your convenience, to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these other websites. If you connect to another site through our website, we cannot control what they do with your information. Inclusion of these links does not mean we endorse the information or content on a linked website. These linked websites may send their own cookies to your browser and may collect and utilize your data in a manner inconsistent with the terms of this Privacy Policy. We highly suggest you review the privacy policy that pertains to the organization of any site you link to from our website. Also, you may have the opportunity to share your information through social media or other
similar websites through a link on this website. Please note that we cannot control these other websites or your posts and sharing.
Changes to Privacy Policy
If this Privacy Policy or procedures change, we will immediately post the changes on the website. Any such changes will be effective immediately upon being posted, unless otherwise stated.
Consent
By visiting our website, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.