Notice of Privacy Practices

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

1. Purpose:
The Blood Center employees and volunteers follow the privacy practices described in this Notice. The Blood Center maintains your individually identifiable health information (i.e. health, donor and eligibility history, test results etc.) in records that will be maintained in a confidential manner, as required by law. However, The Blood Center must use and disclose your individually identifiable health information to the extent necessary to provide an adequate and safe blood supply to the community. Autologous and Therapeutic donors only: The Blood Center must share your individually identifiable health information as necessary for treatment, payment and health care operations.

2. What are Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations?
Treatment includes sharing information among health care providers involved in your care. For example, The Blood Center may share information about your test results with your physician. The Blood Center may use your individually identifiable health information as required by your insurer or HMO to obtain payment for your treatment. We also may use and disclose your individually identifiable health information to improve the quality of care, e.g., for review and training purposes.

3. How Will The Blood Center Use My Individually identifiable health Information?
Your individually identifiable health information may be used, unless you ask for restrictions on a specific use or disclosure, for the following purposes and in the following ways:

  • Appointment reminders.
  • Donor Chairperson for purposes of scheduling donations (i.e. name, blood type, phone number). You will have an opportunity to refuse this disclosure.
  • To schedule your next donation.
  • Fundraising activities by The Blood Center, but such information will be limited to your name, address, phone number. (You will have an opportunity to refuse to receive these communications.)
  • As required by law.
  • Public health activities, including disease prevention, injury or disability; reporting deaths; reporting reactions; product problems; notification of recalls; infectious disease control.
  • Health oversight activities, e.g., audits, inspections, investigations and licensure.
  • Lawsuits and disputes. (We will attempt to provide you advance notice of a subpoena before disclosing the information.)
  • Law enforcement (e.g., in response to a court order or other legal process)
  • National Bone Marrow organization (NMDP) (only if you have consented to participate in the NMDP.)
  • To prevent a serious threat to health or safety.
  • To military command authorities if you are a member of the armed forces or a member of a foreign military authority.
  • National security and intelligence activities.
  • Protection of the President or other authorized persons for foreign heads of state, or to conduct special investigations.
  • To carry out health care treatment, payment and operations functions through business associates, e.g., to install a new computer system.
  • Disaster relief agency if you are involved in a disaster relief effort.

4. Your Authorization Is Required for Other Disclosures.
Except as described above, we will not use or disclose your individually identifiable health information unless you authorize (permit) The Blood Center in writing to disclose your information. You may revoke your permission, which will be effective only after the date of your written revocation.

5. You Have Rights Regarding Your Individually identifiable health Information.
You have the following rights regarding your individually identifiable health information, provided that you make a written request to invoke the right on the form provided by The Blood Center.

  • Right to request restriction. You may request limitations on your individually identifiable health information we use or disclose for health care treatment, payment, or operations, but we may not agree to your request. If we agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you with emergency treatment.
  • Right to confidential communications. You may request communications in a certain way or at a certain location, but you must specify how or where you wish to be contacted.
  • Right to inspect and copy. You have the right to inspect and copy your individually identifiable health information regarding decisions about your care. We may charge a fee for copying, mailing and supplies.
  • Right to request amendment. If you believe that the individually identifiable health information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment in writing. The Blood Center is not required to accept the amendment.
  • Right to accounting of disclosures. You may request a list of the disclosures of your individually identifiable health information that have been made to persons or entities other than for health care treatment payment or operations in the past six (6) years, but not prior to April 14, 2003. After the first request, there may be a charge.
  • Right to a copy of this Notice. You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have been provided with an electronic copy.

6. Requirements Regarding This Notice.
The Blood Center is required by law to provide you with this Notice. We will be governed by this Notice for as long as it is in effect. The Blood Center may change this Notice and these changes will be effective for individually identifiable health information we have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. Each time you register at The Blood Center for a blood donation, you may receive a copy of the Notice in effect at the time.

7. Complaints.
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with The Blood Center or with the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services or our confidential compliance and privacy hotline at 1-877-874-8420. You will not be penalized or retaliated against in any way for making a complaint to The Blood Center or the Department of Health and Human Services or to the hotline.

Contact: Call Sharon Garcia (713) 791-6657 if:

  • you have a complaint
  • you have any questions about this Notice;
  • you wish to request restrictions on uses and disclosures for health care treatment, payment, or operations; or
  • you wish to exercise your individual rights described in paragraph 5.