Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols - Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center

NAAC COVID-19 Safety Protocols

August 9, 2023

Masking Policy Update for Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center

Effective Monday, August 14^th, 2023, universal masking will no longer be required at all Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center locations, with limited exceptions.

Based on current levels of COVID-19 related hospitalizations and death in the community, mandatory masking will no longer be required at Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center. Limited exceptions may apply and are summarized below. Please note, the masking policy is subject to change if there are signs of increased COVID-19 or other respiratory illness in the community.

Masking is required in the following situations:

When close contact and interaction may increase the risk of disease transmission.
When individuals are present in a room during an aerosol generating procedure.
For 10 days after COVID-19 illness or known COVID-19 exposure.
For anyone with signs or symptoms of illness, which includes, but is not limited to the following:
Cough
Fever or chills
Sore throat
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Body aches
Any situation that may expose members to blood or bodily fluids in accordance with standard infectious disease policies and transmission-based precautions.
Healthcare workers are required to wear a mask when requested to by a patient, or when a patient is wearing one.

Ongoing infection prevention strategies will continue and may include the following:

Voluntary use of masks for providers, patients and visitors in common public spaces, conference rooms and break rooms.
Infectious disease screening and symptom monitoring.
Signage advising visitors of current policies and recommendations for self-screening.
Recommendations that providers, patients and visitors remain home if ill. Individuals may be asked to return home if ill and concerns are present.
Continued requirements for use of standard precautions and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as important strategies to protect staff and patients.

As a courtesy for all, if you are asked to mask, please do so.

By naac|2023-08-13T19:16:18+00:00January 15th, 2022|COVID-19|

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Privacy Policy

Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center (NAAC) respects your privacy. We understand that your personal health information is very sensitive. The law protects the privacy of the health information we create and obtain in providing care and services to you. Your protected information includes your symptoms, test results, diagnoses, treatment plan, health information from other providers, and billing and payment information relating to health care services. Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities. 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. Your Rights You have the right to:  Get a copy of your paper or electronic medical record  Correct your paper or electronic medical record  Request confidential communication  Ask us to limit the information we share  Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information  Get a copy of this privacy notice  Choose someone to act for you  File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated Your Choices You have some choices in the way that we use and share information as we:  Tell family and friends about your condition  Provide disaster relief  Provide mental health care  Market our services and sell your information  Raise funds Our Uses and Disclosures We may use and share your information as we:  Treat you  Run our organization  Bill for your services  Help with public health and safety issues  Do research  Comply with the law  Respond to organ and tissue donation requests  Work with a medical examiner or funeral director  Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests  Respond to lawsuits and legal actions Your Rights When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you. Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record  You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this.  We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee. Ask us to correct your medical record  You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this.  We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days. Request confidential communications  You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address.  We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests. Ask us to limit what we use or share  You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.  If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer.  We will say “yes” unless a law requires us to share that information. Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information  You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.  We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, or disclosures you have authorized.  We will provide one accounting per year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months. Get a copy of this privacy notice  You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly. Choose someone to act for you  If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.  We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action. File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated  If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may discuss your concerns with any staff member. You may also deliver a written complaint to the Compliance Officer at Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center.  You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.  We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint. Your Choices For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions. In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:  Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care  Share information in a disaster relief situation If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety. In these cases we never share your information unless you give us written permission:  Marketing purposes  Sale of your information  Most sharing of psychotherapy notes In the case of fundraising:  We may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can tell us not to contact you again. Our Uses and Disclosures How do we typically use or share your health information? We typically use or share your health information in the following ways. Treat you We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you. Example: A doctor treating you for an injury asks another doctor about your overall health condition. Run our organization We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary. Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services. Bill for your services We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities. Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services. Research We can use and share your health information to discuss an opportunity to participate in clinical research studies/clinical trials. All physicians at NAAC are involved with ASTHMA, Inc. Clinical Research Center (AI) which is a non-profit company involved with clinical research trials for new asthma and allergy treatments. You may opt-out of notification by signing the Clinical Research Opt-Out Request Form. Pharmacy Benefit Manager We can download your prescription history if available from your pharmacy benefit manager through the electronic health record to provide continuity of care in your medication prescriptions. Health Information Exchange In an effort to improve quality, safety and efficiency of your heath care, NW Asthma & Allergy Center may participate in Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). HIEs involve coordinated and secure information sharing among HIE members, who may include your health providers with other health care organizations. If you do not wish to allow authorized providers, nurses, and other clinicians involved in your care outside of NW Asthma & Allergy Center to use or disclose your medical information with one another through electronic means, you may opt-out by signing the HIE Opt-Out Request Form. If you optout of electronically sharing your medical information, your medical information will continue to be used in accordance with this Notice and applicable law; we will use reasonable efforts to limit sharing of PHI to health care providers outside of NW Asthma & Allergy Center. How else can we use or share your health information? We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html. Help with public health and safety issues We can share health information about you for certain situations such as:  Preventing disease  Helping with product recalls  Reporting adverse reactions to medications  Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence  Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety Do research We can use or share your information for health research. Comply with the law We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law. Respond to organ and tissue donation requests We can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations. Work with a medical examiner or funeral director We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies. Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests We can use or share health information about you:  For workers’ compensation claims  For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official  With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law  For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services Respond to lawsuits and legal actions We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena. Our Responsibilities  We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.  We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.  We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.  We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html. Changes to the Terms of this Notice We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our web site. If you have questions, need more information, or want to report a problem about the handling of your protected health information, you may contact: NAAC Compliance Officer at 206.527.1200 Effective 12/1/2017