Baylor Health Care System Protecting the Privacy of Patient Health Information
Contact: Wendy Walker, (214) 820-4581, pager (214) 825-0555Email: wendyw@baylorhealth.edu
(DALLAS, Jan. 26, 2007) - Baylor Health Care System respects and protects the privacy of the health information of our patients equally, and complies with all local, state and federal laws. Baylor Health Care System hospitals treat all patient medical records and information as confidential.
Patient health information is released only as permitted by law. Patient health information is shared with those health care professionals directly involved in the medical consultation or care of the patient, as necessary to process claims and obtain payment for medical care, as necessary for essential health care operations such as quality improvement and care coordination, or as otherwise permitted or required by law.
Regarding public inquiries about a hospitalized patient, Baylor Health Care System's policy is to follow state and federal law allowing the confirmation of most registered patients and disclosure of the general condition of the patient, unless otherwise restricted by the patient or patient's representative.