Privacy Policy

Thank you for visiting the web site for Graceworks Lutheran Services. We take your privacy very seriously. This section includes four primary areas:

Privacy statements and disclaimers regarding use of this web site
Notice of Information Practices to all Residents at Bethany Village
Notice of Information Practices to all Residents/Service Recipients at Graceworks Enhanced Living

PRIVACY STATEMENTS AND DISCLAIMERS REGARDING USE OF THIS WEB SITE

In general, you can visit our web site without identifying yourself or revealing personal information. Once you choose to provide us personally identifiable information (i.e. any information by which you can be identified), you can be assured that it will only be used to support your relationship with Graceworks Lutheran Services. We don't sell, exchange or release your personal information to outside parties without your consent.

Any reference to a commercial or noncommercial product, process, service or company is not an endorsement or recommendation by Graceworks Lutheran Services. We don't endorse or recommend products, services or manufacturers. Graceworks Lutheran Services assumes no liability whatsoever for the use or contents of any product or service mentioned.

Our site may contain links to other web sites, including web sites directed toward children. We have no control over the privacy practices or the content of any of our business partners, sponsors or other sites to which we provide links from our site. We encourage you to check the applicable privacy policy of the web site sponsor when linking to other web sites.

The Graceworks Lutheran Services web site address (URL) is http://www.graceworks.org. When you visit our web site, our web servers automatically recognize the browsers's domain name, IP address, operating system, browser type and version as well as the referring URL. Our servers do not record e-mail addresses. We collect the domain names and IP addresses in order to aggregate information on what pages users access or visit. This information is collected solely for statistical purposes and is not used to identify individuals.

Graceworks Lutheran Services will only collect personal information that you knowingly and voluntarily provide by, for example, sending us e-mails. If you provide us with personal information, we will normally respond to your inquiry or request by postal service mail, e-mail or telephone - depending on your requests and our resources.

We may also contact your to provide information about Graceworks Lutheran Services activities, programs and development opportunities and special events that may interest you. We will never share your name or information outside Graceworks Lutheran Services unless you affirmatively authorize us to do so.

If you have other questions about this privacy policy, or have suggestions on how it may be improved, please feel free to e-mail us at information@graceworks.org or contact us at 937-436-6924.

We reserve the right to change this policy at any time and will post any changes to this policy as soon as they go into effect. If is your responsibility to refer to this privacy policy on accessing this site.

NOTICE OF INFORMATION PRACTICES
TO ALL RESIDENTS AT BETHANY LUTHERAN VILLAGE

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Understanding Your Health Record/Information:

Each time you visit a nursing facility, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment. This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, serves as a:

basis for planning your care and treatment
means of communication among the many health professionals who contribute to your care
legal document describing the care you received
means by which you or a third-party payer can verify that services billed were actually provided
a tool in educating heath professionals
a source of data for medical research if you choose to participate in such research
a source of information for public health officials who oversee the delivery of health care in the United States
a tool with which we can assess and continually work to improve the care we render and the outcomes we achieve

Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps you to: ensure its accuracy, better understand who, what, when, where, and why others may access your health information, and make more informed decisions when authorizing disclosure to others.

Our Responsibilities:

Bethany is required to:

maintain the privacy of your health information
provide you with a notice as to our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to information we collect and maintain about you
abide by the terms of this notice
notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction
accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations.

We reserve the right to change our practices and to make the new provisions effective for all protected health information we maintain. Should our information practices change, the revised “Notice of Information Practices” will be posted in the facility.

We will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this notice.

How Bethany Will Use or Disclose Your Health Information:

1) Treatment: We will use your health information for treatment. For example, information obtained by a nurse, physician, or other member of your healthcare team will be recorded in your record and used to determine the course of treatment that should work best for you. Your physician will document in your record his or her expectations of the members of your healthcare team. Members of your healthcare team will then record the actions they took and their observations. In that way, the physician will know how you are responding to treatment. We will also provide your physician or a subsequent healthcare provider with copies of various reports that should assist him or her in treating you once you’re discharged from our nursing facility.

2) Payment: We will use your health information for payment. For example, a bill may be sent to you or a third-party payer, including Medicare or Medicaid. The information on or accompanying the bill may include information that identifies you, as well as your diagnosis, procedures, and supplies used.

3) Health care operations: We will use your health information for regular health care operations. For example, members of the medical staff, the risk or quality improvement manager, or members of the quality improvement team may use information in your health record to assess the care and outcomes in your case and others like it. This information will then be used in an effort to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the health care and service we provide.

4) Business associates: There are some services provided in our organization through contracts with business associates. Examples include our accountants, consultants and attorneys. When these services are contracted, we may disclose your health information to our business associates so that they can perform the job we’ve asked them to do. To protect your health information, however, we require the business associates to appropriately safeguard your information.

5) Directory: Unless you notify us that you object, we may use your name, location in the facility, general condition, and religious affiliation for directory purposes. This information may be provided to members of the clergy and, except for religious affiliation, to other people who ask for you by name.

6) Notification: We may use or disclose information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for your care, of your location, and general condition. If we are unable to reach your family member or personal representative, then we may leave a message for them at the phone number that they have provided us, e.g., on an answering machine.

7) Communication with family: Health professionals, using their best judgment, may disclose to a family member, other relative, close personal friend or any other person you identify, health information relevant to that person’s involvement in your care or payment related to your care.

8) Research: We may disclose information to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information.

9) Funeral directors: We may disclose health information to funeral directors and coroners to carry out their duties consistent with applicable law.

10) Organ procurement organizations: Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose health information to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.

11) Marketing: We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

12) Fund raising: We may contact you as part of an Graceworks Lutheran Services fund-raising effort.

13) Food and Drug Administration (FDA): We may disclose to the FDA health information relative to adverse events with respect to food, supplements, product and product defects, or post marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs, or replacement.

14) Workers compensation: We may disclose health information to the extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to workers compensation or other similar programs established by law.

15) Public health: As required by law, we may disclose your health information to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.

16) Correctional institution: Should you be an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or agents thereof health information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals.

17) Law enforcement: We may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes as required by law or in response to a valid subpoena.

18) Reports: Federal law makes provision for your health information to be released to an appropriate health oversight agency, public health authority or attorney, provided that a work force member or business associate believes in good faith that we have engaged in unlawful conduct or have otherwise violated professional or clinical standards and are potentially endangering one or more patients, workers or the public.

Your Health Information Rights

Although your health record is the physical property of the nursing facility, the information in your health record belongs to you. You have the following rights:

You may request that we not use or disclose your health information for a particular reason related to treatment, payment, the Facility’s general health care operations, and/or to a particular family member, other relative or close personal friend. We ask that such requests be made in writing on a form provided by our facility. Although we will consider your request, please be aware that we are under no obligation to accept it or to abide by it. For more information about this right, see 45 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) § 164.522(a).
If you are dissatisfied with the manner in which or the location where you are receiving communications from us that are related to your health information, you may request that we provide you with such information by alternative means or at alternative locations. Such a request must be made in writing and submitted to your social worker. We will attempt to accommodate all reasonable requests. For more information about this right, see 45 C.F.R. § 164.522(b).
You may request to inspect and/or obtain copies of health information about you, which will be provided to you in the time frames established by law. If you request copies, we will charge you a reasonable fee. For more information about this right, see 45 C.F.R. § 164.524.
If you believe that any health information in your record is incorrect or if you believe that important information is missing, you may request that we correct the existing information or add the missing information. Such requests must be made in writing, and must provide a reason to support the amendment. We ask that you use the form provided by our facility to make such requests. For a request form, please contact the Director of Organizational Improvement. For more information about this right, see 45 C.F.R. § 164.526.
You may request that we provide you with a written accounting of applicable disclosures made by us during the time period for which you request (not to exceed 6 years). We ask that such requests be made in writing. Please note that an accounting will apply to disclosures such as: disclosures made for reasons of treatment, payment or health care operations; disclosures made to you or your legal representative, or any other individual involved with your care; disclosures to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials; disclosures for national security purposes and all authorizations excluding reports of abuse, neglect or violence unless the requestor is the abuser or if providing the information could endanger the resident. You will not be charged for your first accounting request in any 12-month period. However, for any requests that you make thereafter, you will be charged a reasonable, cost-based fee. For more information about this right, see 45 C.F.R. § 164.528.
You have the right to obtain a paper copy of our Notice of Information Practices upon request.
You may revoke an authorization to use or disclose health information, except to the extent that action has already been taken. Such a request must be made in writing.

For More Information or to Report a Problem

If you have questions and would like additional information, you may contact the Director of Organizational Improvement at 937-436-6924.

If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us. These complaints must be filed in writing on a form provided by our facility. The complaint form may be obtained from your social worker, and when completed should be returned to your social worker. You may also file a complaint with the secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint.

NOTICE OF INFORMATION PRACTICES
TO ALL RESIDENTS/SERVICE RECIPIENTS AT GRACEWORKS ENHANCED LIVING

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Understanding Your Health Record/Information:

Each time you visit a health facility, a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains your symptoms, examination and test results, diagnoses, treatment, and a plan for future care or treatment. This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, serves as a:

basis for planning your care and treatment
means of communication among the many health professionals who contribute to your care
legal document describing the care you received
means by which you or a third-party payer can verify that services billed were actually provided
a tool in educating heath professionals
a source of data for medical research if you choose to participate in such research
a source of information for public health officials who oversee the delivery of health care in the United States
a tool with which we can assess and continually work to improve the care we render and the outcomes we achieve

maintain the privacy of your health information,
provide you with a notice as to our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to information we collect and maintain about you,
abide by the terms of this notice,
notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction
accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations.

We reserve the right to change our practices and to make the new provisions effective for all protected health information we maintain. Should our information practices change, the revised “Notice of Information Practices” will be made available at each home.

We will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this notice.

How Graceworks Enhanced Living Will Use or Disclose Your Health Information:

1) Treatment: We will use your health information for treatment. For example, information obtained by a nurse, physician, or other member of your healthcare team will be recorded in your record and used to determine the course of treatment that should work best for you. Your physician will document in your record his or her expectations of the members of your healthcare team. Members of your healthcare team will then record the actions they took and their observations. In that way, the physician will know how you are responding to treatment. We will also provide your physician or a subsequent healthcare provider with copies of various reports that should assist him or her in treating you once you’re discharged from our facility.

2) Payment: We will use your health information for payment. For example, a bill may be sent to you or a third-party payer, including Medicare or Medicaid. The information on or accompanying the bill may include information that identifies you, as well as your diagnosis, procedures, and supplies used.

3) Health care operations: We will use your health information for regular health care operations. For example, members of the medical staff, the risk or quality improvement manager, or members of the quality improvement team may use information in your health record to assess the care and outcomes in your case and others like it. This information will then be used in an effort to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the health care and service we provide.

4) Business associates: There are some services provided in our organization through contracts with business associates. Examples include our accountants, consultants and attorneys. When these services are contracted, we may disclose your health information to our business associates so that they can perform the job we’ve asked them to do. To protect your health information, however, we require the business associates to appropriately safeguard your information.

5) Directory: Unless you notify us that you object, we may use your name, location in the facility, general condition, and religious affiliation for directory purposes. This information may be provided to members of the clergy and, except for religious affiliation, to other people who ask for you by name.

6) Notification: We may use or disclose information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for your care, of your location, and general condition. If we are unable to reach your family member or personal representative, then we may leave a message for them at the phone number that they have provided us, e.g., on an answering machine.

7) Communication with family: Health professionals, using their best judgment, may disclose to a family member, other relative, close personal friend or any other person you identify, health information relevant to that person’s involvement in your care or payment related to your care.

8) Research: We may disclose information to researchers when their research has been approved by an institutional review board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your health information.

9) Funeral directors: We may disclose health information to funeral directors and coroners to carry out their duties consistent with applicable law.

10) Organ procurement organizations: Consistent with applicable law, we may disclose health information to organ procurement organizations or other entities engaged in the procurement, banking, or transplantation of organs for the purpose of tissue donation and transplant.

11) Marketing: We may contact you to provide appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

12) Fund raising: We may contact you as part of an Graceworks Lutheran Services fund-raising effort.

13) Food and Drug Administration (FDA): We may disclose to the FDA health information relative to adverse events with respect to food, supplements, product and product defects, or post marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs, or replacement.

14) Workers compensation: We may disclose health information to the extent authorized by and to the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to workers compensation or other similar programs established by law.

15) Public health: As required by law, we may disclose your health information to public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability.

16) Correctional institution: Should you be an inmate of a correctional institution, we may disclose to the institution or agents thereof health information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals.

17) Law enforcement: We may disclose health information for law enforcement purposes as required by law or in response to a valid subpoena.

18) Reports: Federal law makes provision for your health information to be released to an appropriate health oversight agency, public health authority or attorney, provided that a work force member or business associate believes in good faith that we have engaged in unlawful conduct or have otherwise violated professional or clinical standards and are potentially endangering one or more patients, workers or the public.

Your Health Information Rights

Although your health record is the physical property of the facility, the information in your health record belongs to you. You have the following rights:

You may request that we not use or disclose your health information for a particular reason related to treatment, payment, the Facility’s general health care operations, and/or to a particular family member, other relative or close personal friend. We ask that such requests be made in writing on a form provided by our facility. Although we will consider your request, please be aware that we are under no obligation to accept it or to abide by it. For more information about this right, see 45 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) § 164.522(a).
If you are dissatisfied with the manner in which or the location where you are receiving communications from us that are related to your health information, you may request that we provide you with such information by alternative means or at alternative locations. Such a request must be made in writing and submitted to your social worker. We will attempt to accommodate all reasonable requests. For more information about this right, see 45 C.F.R. § 164.522(b).
You may request to inspect and/or obtain copies of health information about you, which will be provided to you in the time frames established by law. If you request copies, we will charge you a reasonable fee. For more information about this right, see 45 C.F.R. § 164.524.
If you believe that any health information in your record is incorrect or if you believe that important information is missing, you may request that we correct the existing information or add the missing information. Such requests must be made in writing, and must provide a reason to support the amendment. We ask that you use the form provided by our facility to make such requests. For a request form, please contact the Director of Organizational Improvement. For more information about this right, see 45 C.F.R. § 164.526.
You may request that we provide you with a written accounting of applicable disclosures made by us during the time period for which you request (not to exceed 6 years). We ask that such requests be made in writing. Please note that an accounting will apply to disclosures such as: disclosures made for reasons of treatment, payment or health care operations; disclosures made to you or your legal representative, or any other individual involved with your care; disclosures to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials; and disclosures for national security purposes and all authorizations excluding reports of abuse, neglect or violence unless the requestor is the abuser or if providing the information could endanger the resident/service recipient. You will not be charged for your first accounting request in any 12-month period. However, for any requests that you make thereafter, you will be charged a reasonable, cost-based fee. For more information about this right, see 45 C.F.R. § 164.528.
You have the right to obtain a paper copy of our “Notice of Information Practices” upon request.
You may revoke an authorization to use or disclose health information, except to the extent that action has already been taken. Such a request must be made in writing.