Privacy & Confidentiality
We take your privacy seriously. This page explains how we protect your health information and how it may be used or shared under federal law (HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2).
Privacy Officer: Korin Dayton, PMHNP-BC Phone: 781‑205‑0605
What Information We Keep
We keep records about your:
- Contact information
- Medical and mental health history
- Diagnoses, medications, and treatment plans
- Session notes and billing/insurance information
If your care involves substance use (alcohol or drugs), those records receive extra protection under a federal law called 42 CFR Part 2.
How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide and coordinate your treatment
- Run and manage the practice
- Bill your insurance or you directly
We may also share information when the law requires it, for example:
- Reporting suspected abuse or neglect
- Responding to certain public health and safety issues
- Responding to a valid court order or other legal requirement
We only share the minimum necessary information and only when allowed by law.
Special Protections for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Records
If we evaluate or treat you for alcohol or drug use, those records are protected by 42 CFR Part 2, which adds extra safeguards:
- Your SUD records cannot be used to investigate or prosecute you without your written consent or a special court order.
- We generally need your written consent before sharing SUD information for treatment, billing, or care coordination outside this practice.
- Some SUD counseling notes kept separately from your main chart have additional protections and require specific, separate consent to share.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- See or get a copy of your records
- Ask us to correct information you think is wrong
- Ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, at a certain phone number)
- Ask us not to share certain information (we may say no if it affects your care or is not allowed by law)
- Ask for a list of certain times we shared your information
- Choose someone to act for you (for example, a legal guardian or medical power of attorney)
- File a complaint if you think your privacy rights have been violated
There is no punishment or retaliation for filing a complaint.
To request records, corrections, or to file a privacy concern, contact us.
We Do NOT Sell Your Information
- We do not sell your health information to anyone, for any reason.
- We do not use your information for marketing without your written permission.
HIPAA requires us to tell you that most uses of psychotherapy notes and any disclosures that would count as a “sale” of your health information would require your written authorization—and we do not do those things in this practice.
Data Security and Breach Notification
We use reasonable safeguards (technical, physical, and administrative) to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.
If there is ever a breach that may have compromised your information, we will notify you as required by law.
Questions?
If you have questions about this privacy notice, your rights, or how your information is used, please contact:
Privacy Officer: Korin Dayton, PMHNP-BC Phone: 781‑205‑0605
You can also read the full legal Notice of Privacy Practices in our office or request a copy at any time.