Notice of Privacy Practices
North Sound Psychiatry PLLC
Effective Date: July 13, 2026
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BEUSED AND DISCLOSED, AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEWIT CAREFULLY.
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
North Sound Psychiatry is required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) toprotect the privacy of your protected health information (PHI), provide you with this Notice describing our legal duties and privacy practices, and notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI when required by law.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Information
We may use or disclose your PHI in the following ways:
Treatment: We may use or disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your psychiatric care and related services, including communicating with other health care providers involved in your care when appropriate.
Payment: We may use or disclose your PHI as necessary to obtain payment for services, including billing you or your health plan, verifying coverage, or obtaining prior authorization when applicable.
Health Care Operations: We may use or disclose your PHI as needed to operate, maintain, and improve our practice. Examples include reviewing records to improve the quality and safety of care, managing practice administration, maintaining the security of our information systems, and complying with applicable legal and professional requirements.
Business Associates: We may disclose your PHI to business associates who perform services or functions on our behalf when the information is necessary for those services or functions. Examples may include billing, electronic health record, information technology, telehealth, or other services that support the operation of our practice. Our business associates are required by law and by their agreements with us to appropriately safeguard your PHI and may use or disclose it only as permitted by law and as specified in their agreement with us.
As Required by Law: We may use or disclose your PHI when required to do so by federal or Washington state law, including mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect and vulnerable adult abuse, abandonment, or neglect when required by law.
To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety: We may use or disclose your PHI when necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public, including disclosures permitted or required under Washington law concerning threats to others.
Public Health and Health Oversight: We may disclose your PHI for public health activities and health oversight activities when authorized or required by law.
Legal Proceedings: We may disclose your PHI in response to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful legal process when permitted or required by applicable law.
Special Protections for Certain Records
Certain types of health information receive additional protection under federal or Washington law.
Substance Use Disorder Records: Records relating to substance use disorder treatment may be subjectto additional protections under 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and applicable law. These records generally may not bedisclosed without the patient's specific written consent except as permitted by law, including certainlimited circumstances such as a medical emergency.
HIV/AIDS-Related Information: HIV/AIDS-related information may receive additional protections underWashington law, including Chapter 70.24 RCW.
Psychotherapy Notes: Psychotherapy notes that are maintained separately from the medical recordreceive additional protection under HIPAA and generally require a patient's specific authorization fordisclosure, except as otherwise permitted by law.
Your Rights
You have the following rights regarding your PHI:
- Request restrictions: You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your PHI. Weare not required to agree to every requested restriction, except where required by law.
- Request confidential communications: You may request that we communicate with you aboutyour health information by an alternative means or at an alternative location.
- Inspect and obtain a copy: You may request to inspect or obtain a copy of your medical and health information, subject to certain exceptions and limitations provided by law.
- Request an amendment: You may request that we amend information you believe is incorrect orincomplete, subject to applicable legal requirements.
- Request an accounting: You may request an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI.
- Receive a paper copy: You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you haveagreed to receive it electronically.
- Receive notice of a breach: You have the right to receive notification of a breach of your unsecured PHI when notification is required by law.
Our Responsibilities
North Sound Psychiatry is required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI, provide you with this Noticedescribing our legal duties and privacy practices, and comply with the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
We reserve the right to change this Notice. Any revised Notice will apply to the PHI we maintain aspermitted by law. The current Notice will be available upon request and will be posted at the practiceand/or on the practice website, as applicable.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with North Sound Psychiatryusing the contact information below or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints
Contact Information
Privacy Contact: Dorothy Hale
Address: 1019 21st Street, Anacortes, WA 98221
Phone: (360) 777-5435Fax: (360) 317-2945
Email: info@northsoundpsych.com