Date:	August 17, 2004
	Contact:	Chrissy Lockhart
	Phone:	(330) 315-2625

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Community Health Center’s HIPAA Compliance continues to improve

In July, Paula Warren, Privacy Officer for the Community Health Center, reported that we are continuing to improve our operations, in compliance with HIPAA standards. Through the HIPAA Team, we are able to track, record and improve privacy practices among our employees and keep confidential information truly on a “need to know” basis for our patients and patients.

Nationally, the top five "topics" of privacy complaints regarding HIPAA include:

• Use or disclosure of protected health information (PHI), without permission
• Lack of adequate safeguards to prevent such use or disclosure
• Failure to provide access to PHI
• Disclosure of PHI that exceeds the "minimum necessary" standard
• Failure to provide notice of privacy practices

What is the Community Health Center doing to prevent these complaints?

• Our HIPAA Team evaluates the Community Health Center and makes suggestions for improvement. This team is compiled of representatives from all major departments within the agency.
• Conducts monthly HIPAA Orientation for all new staff members
• Provides departmental HIPAA in-service programs
• Monitors HIPAA Resource Line to report complaints, questions or comments at (330) 315-3752
• Submits continuing updates in our office newsletter for staff

The Community Health Center is committed to maintaining the privacy of our patients. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) the Community Health Center is required to maintain the privacy of health information and to provide all patients with notice of its legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.

Click here to read our Notice of Privacy