Full Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective Date: July 2026

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

Elite Foot & Ankle Associates is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. We are required by federal law to maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information (PHI), provide you with this Notice, and follow the terms described in this Notice.

Our Uses and Disclosures

We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information without your written authorization for the following purposes:

Treatment

We may use your medical information to diagnose, treat, coordinate, and manage your healthcare. This includes sharing information with physicians, specialists, hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, imaging facilities, home health agencies, and other healthcare providers involved in your care.

Payment

We may use or disclose your information to bill and collect payment from Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance companies, workers’ compensation carriers, or other responsible parties.

Healthcare Operations

We may use your information for quality improvement, credentialing, peer review, auditing, staff training, licensing, accreditation, compliance activities, risk management, and general business operations.

Individuals Involved in Your Care

Unless you object, we may share relevant information with family members, caregivers, or others involved in your care or payment for your care.

Appointment Reminders

We may contact you by telephone, voicemail, text message, email, or mail regarding appointments, treatment recommendations, or follow-up care.

Required by Law

We may disclose information when required by federal, state, or local law.

Public Health Activities

We may disclose information for public health reporting, communicable disease reporting, FDA activities, or other legally authorized public health purposes.

Health Oversight

We may disclose information to governmental agencies responsible for healthcare oversight, licensing, audits, inspections, investigations, or accreditation.

Judicial and Administrative Proceedings

We may disclose information pursuant to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful legal process.

Law Enforcement

We may disclose information to law enforcement officials when authorized or required by law.

Workers' Compensation

We may disclose information as authorized by workers’ compensation laws.

Research

Certain limited disclosures may occur for research purposes when permitted by law.

Organ and Tissue Donation

We may disclose information to organizations involved in organ or tissue donation when permitted by law.

Serious Threats to Health or Safety

We may disclose information to help prevent or lessen a serious threat to health or safety when permitted by law.

Uses Requiring Your Authorization

We will obtain your written authorization before:

Using or disclosing psychotherapy notes (when applicable).
Using your information for most marketing purposes as required by law.
Selling your Protected Health Information.
Any use or disclosure not otherwise described in this Notice.

You may revoke your authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent we have already relied upon it.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

Inspect and obtain a copy of your medical records, subject to certain legal exceptions.
Request that incorrect or incomplete information be amended.
Receive an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information.
Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your information. While we are not required to agree to every request, we will comply when required by law.
Request confidential communications by alternative means or at alternative locations.
Receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

Our Responsibilities

We are required to:

Maintain the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information.
Notify you if a breach of unsecured Protected Health Information occurs when required by law.
Abide by the terms of this Notice.
Obtain authorization when required by law before using or disclosing your information for purposes not otherwise permitted.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice at any time. Any revised Notice will apply to all Protected Health Information maintained by our practice. The current Notice will be available in our office and on our website.

Questions or Complaints

If you have questions about this Notice or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact:

Privacy Officer
Elite Foot & Ankle Associates, LLC
Phone: (503) 668-5210

You may also file a complaint with:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights

You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Acknowledgment

Patients may be asked to sign an acknowledgment confirming receipt of this Notice. Refusal to sign does not affect your right to receive treatment.