HIPAA is a federal law that gives you rights over your health information and sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information.
HIPAA Rights
- Ask to see and get a copy of your health records.
- Have corrections added to your health information.
- Receive a notice that tells you how your health information may be used and shared.
- Decide if you want to give your permission before your health information can be used or shared for certain purposes, such as marketing.
- Get a report on when and why your health information was shared for certain purposes.
- If you believe your rights are being denied or your health information isn't being protected, you can:
- File a complaint with your provider or health insurer, or
- File a complaint with the U.S. Government.
If you would like the full HIPAA explanation, please ask Dr. Cress or ARC Staff for a copy.
Informed Consent
Informed consent for your chiropractic care is a process and dialogue with your chiropractic physician about the risks and benefits of proposed treatment, and other available treatment options, to allow you participate in and make knowledgeable decisions about your chiropractic care. It is very important that you, the patient, read this document in its entirety. As a patient, it is essential that you knowledgeably participate in decisions concerning the nature and course of your chiropractic treatment. It is essential that you ask questions and receive sufficient information from your chiropractic physician about the potential risks, proposed benefits and alternatives to your proposed chiropractic treatment plan. Please DO NOT SIGN this document until you've had the opportunity to ask questions about your care and fully understand the care to be rendered, and have read this document in its entirety,
Availability and Nature of Other Treatment Options
Other treatment options for your condition may include:
- Self-administered, over-the counter analgesics and rest
- Medical care and prescription drugs such as anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants and pain killers
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
If you choose to use any of the other treatment options noted above, you should be aware that there are risks and benefits of such options and you may wish to discuss these with your primary medical physician.
Risks and Dangers of Remaining Untreated
Remaining untreated may result in persistent or increasing pain or other symptomatology, increased loss of function, formation of adhesions contributing to a pain reaction further reducing mobility, or worsening of your condition. Over time, if you choose to remain untreated, this may complicate future treatment, and make future treatment more difficult and less effective the longer treatment is postponed. If you would like the full Informed consent explanation, please ask Dr. Cress or ARC Staff for a copy.
By signing below I state that I am aware of my rights provided by HIPAA, and I have weighed the risks involved in undergoing treatment and have decided that it is in my best interest to undergo the treatment recommended. Having been informed of the risks, I hereby give my consent to that treatment.