‍

Verus Surgical Consultants, Inc.
‍

Our Commitment to Your PHI

Your health information belongs to you, and at Verus, we treat it with the utmost respect and confidentiality. We create and maintain records related to the surgical consultations and educational services we provide.

Protecting your privacy is both our professional commitment and legal obligation. This Notice explains how Verus handles your private health information and covers all health data that identifies you in connection with our consultation services. Your protected health information includes written records, digital files, electronic data, photographs, videos, and any other electronic communications or recordings created as part of our consultation process.

Federal and state laws mandate that Verus safeguard your health information, and we are required to inform you about our privacy practices. When federal and state privacy laws conflict, we follow whichever law provides you with stronger privacy protection or greater access to your information.

Please read carefully before engaging in a second-opinion consultation.

1. Our Duties

We are committed to:

• Protecting your Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Providing you with this Notice of our privacy practices
• Following the policies outlined in this Notice
• Informing you promptly if any security incident compromises the privacy or security of your PHI

2. How We May Use and Disclose PHI Without Authorization

We may use or share your PHI without written authorization for:

• Treatment: to consult with you and your providers
• Payment: to collect payment for services
• Health Care Operations: quality assurance, auditing, training, and de-identification
• Public Health and Safety: disease reporting, adverse events, abuse or neglect, and to avert serious threats
• Health Oversight: inspections, investigations, and licensure
• Judicial or Administrative Proceedings: court orders or subpoenas (with safeguards)
• Law Enforcement and Specialized Government Functions: as permitted by law
• Workers’ Compensation: as authorized by law
• Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation: as permitted by law
• Research: with an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board waiver, or your authorization, with de-identification where possible
• Limited Data Sets and De-Identification: as allowed under HIPAA for research or public health purposes

3. Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization

We need your written permission to use or share your PHI for:

• Marketing communications using PHI
• Sale of PHI
• Most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes

You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted on it.

4. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: receive paper or electronic copies of your PHI and designated record set
• Amend: request corrections to your PHI
• Accounting: receive a list of certain disclosures
• Restrictions: request limits on certain uses or disclosures (honored when legally required)
• Confidential Communications: request alternate means or locations for contact
• Paper Copy: request a copy of this Notice at any time
• Breach Notice: receive notifications if a breach compromises your PHI
• Out-of-Pocket Payments: request that information about self-paid services not be shared with your health plan

You may submit requests to the Verus Privacy Officer by email or by calling (702) 553-0340.

5. If You Have Concerns

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can:

• Contact our Privacy Officer
• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights

We will never retaliate against you for raising a concern or filing a complaint.

6. Breach Notification

If a breach occurs that compromises the privacy or security of your PHI:

• We will notify you within 60 days as required by HIPAA
• The notification will explain what happened, what information was involved, and steps you can take to protect yourself
• We will notify the Department of Health and Human Services and, if required, the media
• We maintain detailed breach logs and conduct risk assessments as required by law

7. Changes to This Notice

We may update this Notice to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updates apply to all health information we maintain.

When we make material changes:

• We will update the “Last Updated” date
• We will inform you by email
• We will provide the updated Notice at your next service appointment or upon request

You can always find the current version of this Notice at verusheart.com/hipaa-notice or request a copy directly.

8. Contact Us

We’re here to help.

Verus Surgical Consultants, Inc.

2831 St. Rose Blvd, Suite 200
Henderson, NV 89052
Phone: (702) 553-0340

For privacy-specific requests, email privacy@verusheart.com.
For complaints, email legal@verusheart.com.

‍