Your Privacy & Information

Privacy & Your Health Information

You have privacy rights under a federal law that protect your health information. These rights are important for you to know. Federal law sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information. 

Who must follow this law?

• most doctors, nurses, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and many other health care providers and their vendors
  
• health insurance companies and most employer group health plans
• certain government programs that pay for health care, such as Medicare and Medicaid
  

What information is protected?

You have rights over your health information. 

Providers and health insurers who are required to follow this law must comply with your right to:

• ask to see and get a copy of your medical records
• request an amendment 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 for marketing
• get a report on when and why your health information was shared for certain purposes
• request that those who must follow this law restrict how they use or share your health information
• file a complaint

To make sure that your health information is protected in a way that doesn’t interfere with your health care, your information can be used and shared:

• for your treatment and care coordination
• to pay doctors and hospitals for your health care and help run their businesses
• with your family, relatives, friends or others you identify who are involved with your health care or your health care bills, unless you object
• to make sure doctors give good care and nursing homes are clean and safe
• to protect the public’s health, such as by reporting when the flu is in your area
• to make required reports to the police, such as reporting gunshot wounds

Without your written permission, your provider cannot:

• give your health information to your employer
• share private notes about your mental health counseling sessions

Adapted from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights

Requesting your medical records is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3! Complete a request from your smart phone, tablet or computer, and your records will be delivered to you electronically or by mail—no need to go and pick them up.

Patient Access Request

1. Go to BeaufortMemorial.org/RequestMedicalRecords.
2. Complete the online request. You’ll be guided through every step of the process.
3. Review, sign and submit the request.

You’re done!

Electronic Delivery

You’ll get an email with instructions for retrieving your records. To keep them secure, you’ll need a PIN that will be sent in a separate email.

Mail Delivery

Records will be mailed to the address you entered in the request.

In Person

You may also request your medical records in person at the Beaufort Memorial Medical and Administrative Center.

990 Ribaut Road, 3rd Floor

Beaufort, SC 29902

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Questions?

Phone: 843-522-5993

Fax: 843-522-5688