Privacy Policy

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) is a federal program that requires that all medical records and other individually identifiable health information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronically, on paper, or orally, are kept properly confidential. HIPAA provides you, the patient, significant rights to understand and control how your health information is used. Additionally, HIPAA provides penalties for covered entities that misuse personal health information.

As required by HIPAA, Westwood Ophthalmology Associates has prepared this explanation of how we are required to maintain the privacy of your health information and how we may disclose your health information.

Westwood Ophthalmology Associates may use and disclose your medical records only for each of the following purposes: treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.

• Treatment: Providing, coordinating, or managing health care or related services by one or more healthcare providers (e.g., a physical examination).
• Payment: Activities such as billing, insurance verification, reimbursement, and utilization review.
• Healthcare Operations: Business activities including quality assessment, audits, cost management, and customer service.

Westwood Ophthalmology Associates may create and distribute de-identified health information by removing references to individually identifiable information. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices and make the new notice effective for all protected health information we maintain. The notice will be posted, and you may request a written copy at any time.

You have the right to file a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. Complaints may be submitted to Westwood Ophthalmology Associates or to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Westwood Ophthalmology Associates
300 Fairview Ave #1
Westwood, NJ 07675
United States
Privacy Officer: Director of Quality, Safety, and Compliance
rabia.hamid@refocuseye.com

To File a HIPAA Complaint:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: (202) 619-0257 or Toll-Free: (877) 696-6775

Mobile SMS and Call Policy

Upon booking an appointment, patients consent to receive SMS messages and phone calls from Westwood Ophthalmology Associates, our affiliates, or our authorized vendors. Communications may include appointment reminders, confirmations, and billing notifications.

Patient mobile information is never shared or sold to third parties for marketing or promotional purposes, except for reminders related to overdue appointments or eye exams.

• Message and data rates may apply.
• To opt out of SMS messaging, reply STOP to any text message. You may need to repeat this process for different message categories.
• The number of messages may vary.
• Voicemails may be used for billing or appointment reminders and will not include patient-specific health information unless expressly authorized.

Weapons Policy

As a privately owned business, Westwood Ophthalmology Associates may prohibit staff and patients from bringing weapons onto its premises. Effective February 1, 2020, weapons of any kind, including firearms, are prohibited at all Westwood Ophthalmology Associates locations.