Notice of Privacy PracticesEffective Date: 1/1/2026
This notice describes how medical and dental information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
Our Legal Duty
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI), to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and to notify you if a breach occurs that may compromise the privacy or security of your information.
How We May Use and Disclose Health Information
We may use and disclose your health information for the following purposes:
For Treatment: We may use or share your information with other healthcare providers involved in your care, such as specialists, laboratories, or pharmacies.
For Payment: We may use and disclose your information to obtain payment for services rendered, such as submitting claims to insurance companies.
For Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your information for our operations to improve the quality of care, conduct training, and manage business activities.
Special Categories of Protected Information
Certain types of information receive extra protection under federal and state laws. We will only disclose the following information as permitted or required by law and with your written authorization in most cases:
Reproductive Health Information: Information related to reproductive or sexual health services, such as pregnancy, contraception, fertility, or abortion care, will not be shared without your explicit consent, unless required by law.
Substance Use Disorder Records: Information related to substance use treatment is protected under federal law (42 CFR Part 2) and cannot be disclosed without your written consent, except in limited circumstances (e.g., medical emergencies or court orders).
Mental Health Information: Records related to mental or behavioral health will only be shared as permitted by applicable state and federal laws.
Other Uses and Disclosures
We may also disclose your health information for purposes such as:
Public Health and Safety: Reporting diseases, injuries, or vital statistics; preventing or controlling disease; reporting adverse events to the FDA.
Law Enforcement and Legal Requirements: Complying with subpoenas, court orders, or legal investigations.
Health Oversight Activities: For audits, inspections, or investigations by health agencies.
Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Organ Donation Programs: To identify a deceased person or assist with organ donations.
To Prevent Serious Threats to Health or Safety: When necessary to protect you or others from harm.
Marketing and Fundraising
We will not use or disclose your health information for marketing purposes without your written authorization. This includes communications that encourage you to buy a product or service.We may contact you about appointment reminders or services related to your treatment.We do not sell patient information under any circumstances.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
Access: Request to review or receive copies of your health information.
Amend: Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information.
Restrict Disclosures: Ask us to limit how we use or share your information for treatment, payment, or operations.
Confidential Communications: Request that we contact you in a specific way (e.g., only by phone or mail).
Accounting of Disclosures: Request a list of disclosures we have made other than those for treatment, payment, or operations.
Paper Copy: Request a paper copy of this notice at any time.
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change this notice at any time. Updated versions will be available in our office and on our website, if applicable.
Questions or Complaints
If you have questions about this notice or believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact:
Privacy Officer: Christopher Seese D.M.D
Address: Willow Tree Dental, 5000 Hampton Center Suite 2, Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: 304-598-0400
Email: smile@willowtreedentalwv.com
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.