Pain Management

Our providers use a non-narcotic approach to pain management. Patients requiring medication for pain management may be referred to a pain management facility, an appropriate specialist, or a physical therapy. Our medical providers will tell patients at their first pain-related appointment if an exception to this policy can be made. Possible exceptions may include:

• Pain related to cancer
• End-of-life cycle
• Short-term pain control for an obvious and visible injury
• All medication provided will be at the discretion of the treating provider

Cancellations & No-Shows

To be respectful to our staff and our doctors, a 24-hour notice is required if you are unable to keep an appointment. Any appointment not cancelled within that time and without proper notification will be considered a “no-show”.

Prescriptions

Prescription refills are issued during office hours only. If you require a refill of your prescription, please contact your pharmacy and ask them to fax the request to our office at 814-263-5804. If your prescription has expired or you have not been seen in the office recently, we will need to schedule an appointment for you to come in and be evaluated by a provider before renewing your prescription. We will NOT replace lost or stolen prescriptions.

Customer Service

We are happy to answer your calls and questions. If you have any pain or problems, please call immediately. We will answer your questions the best we can. However, a telephone conversation cannot substitute for an appointment and examination. We may require that you come in and be evaluated by a provider.

Our phone number is 814-263-5804.

After Hour Emergencies

For established patients, please call your local office if you have an emergency. We will try to accommodate and offer after hour services. Our answering service will then contact the doctor on call and the doctor will then return your call. We are unable to offer this service for patients who have not yet been seen by our providers.

Confidentiality Statement

Information will not be provided to a third party (attorney) without your written and explicit authorization. Information is provided to family ONLY contingent on the patient’s permission.

Appointments

Please call 814-263-5804 to make an appointment. This will allow us to be more efficient in managing your health care. When making an appointment, please tell us your name, the service you need or describe your problem to our receptionist. Emergency same day appointments are available by appointment only.

If you are a new patient, we ask you to arrive twenty minutes prior to the scheduled time to complete necessary medical/dental history forms and background information forms. We ask that you do this so that our office can keep track of your medical history, so that our office moves smoothly and so that we can take care of everyone who needs to be seen.

When you arrive, simply see our friendly receptionist and sign in. She will give you the necessary forms. If there are any changes to your address, telephone number, marital status, insurance or other important personal information since your last visit, please let us know. Your medical and dental records will be kept safe. Please let us know when any changes occur.

When you arrive, be prepared to provide a list of all medications you are currently taking and are allergic to. Also arrive with your insurance information. This information will be kept CONFIDENTIAL.

We will make every effort to make sure your appointment is kept on-time. Occasionally, delays due to emergencies may cause us to fall behind schedule. Please understand that we are providing the best quality care that we can on an individual basis and these delays are out of our control and are unavoidable. We respect and value your time. If you are unable to wait, please see the receptionist and reschedule your appointment or call us to reschedule.

FTCA

This health center receives HHS funding and has federal PHS deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims including medical malpractice claims for itself and its covered individuals.

Patients Bill of Rights

• To receive quality medical and dental care regardless of your age, sex, religion, national origin, sexual preference, disability, health status or ability to pay.
• To be treated with respect by Hyndman Area Health Center.
• To information contained in your medical record. You also have the right to participate in decisions involving your health care.
• To personal privacy. Any discussion, consultation, examination and/or treatment regarding your care will be done discreetly.
• To confidentiality of your medical record and other information related to your medical condition.
• To be seen in a safe and clean environment.
• To have special needs met, such as an interpreter to help with communication.
• To appoint a person to make health care decisions on your behalf in the event you lose the ability to do so.
• To make advance directives regarding your medical care and have them honored.
• To file a complaint about your care without fear of penalty, to have your complaint reviewed, and when possible, resolved. We strive for patient safety and ensuring Patients First. Should you wish to file a complaint regarding safety or other concerns please contact our Risk Manager, Brittney Hillegass by email at bhillegass@hyndmanhealth.org or by phone at 814-842-3206, extension 117.

Your Responsibilities as a Patient are:

• To provide, to the best of your knowledge, complete information about your symptoms, past illnesses, medications and other matters relating to your plan of care.
• To schedule and keep doctor/dentist appointments, or call to cancel your appointment if you cannot be there.
• To notify Hyndman Area Health Center of any changes in address, family members or insurance coverage (provide a current copy of insurance card).
• To ask questions when you do not understand explanations about your care or services.
• To be responsible for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow your physician’s/dentist’s instructions.
• To follow the organization’s policies.
• To be courteous and considerate of Hyndman Area Health Center personnel and other patients.

Notice of Privacy Policy

HOW WE COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

Hyndman Area Health Center, Inc. (HAHC) and its employees collect data through a variety of means including, but not necessarily limited to, letters, phone calls, emails, voicemails, and from the submission of applications that are either required by law or necessary to process applications or other requests for assistance through our organization. We are required to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information. We are obligated to notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised your information. HAHC Inc. may change the terms of this notice to comply with state and federal privacy and security laws. Changes will be published in writing and on our website.

WHAT WE DO NOT DO WITH YOUR INFORMATION

Information about your financial situation, medical conditions, and care that you provide to us in writing, via email, on the phone (including information left on voicemails), contained in or attached to applications, or directly or indirectly given to us is held in strictest confidence. We do not give out, exchange, sell, or disseminate any information about applicants or patients who apply for or actually receive services considered confidential, are restricted by law, or have been specifically restricted by a patient in a signed HIPAA consent form for the purposes of marketing or fundraising.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

Information is only used as is reasonably necessary to process your application or to provide you with health or counseling services which may require communication between HAHC Inc. and healthcare providers, organ donation agencies, coroners, medical examiner, funeral director, medical product or service providers, pharmacies, insurance companies, workers compensation, law enforcement, and other providers necessary to: verify your medical information is accurate; determine the type of medical supplies or any healthcare services you need including, but not limited to; or to obtain or purchase any type of medical supplies, devices, medications, and insurance. If you apply or attempt to apply to receive assistance through us and provide information with the intent or purpose of fraud or that results in either an actual crime or fraud for any reason including willful or un-willful acts of negligence whether intended or not, or in any way demonstrates or indicates attempted fraud, your non-medical information can be given to legal authorities including police, investigators, courts, and/or attorneys or other legal professionals, as well as any other information as permitted by law. You have the right to request a list (accounting) of the dates, times, and individuals that viewed your record for 6 months prior to the date of asking. Information may be shared to help with public health and safety issues such as preventing disease, helping with product recalls, reporting adverse reactions to medications, reporting suspected abuse, neglect or violence, and preventing serious threat to anyone’s health and safety.

INFORMATION WE DO NOT COLLECT

We do not use cookies on our website to collect data from our site visitors. We do offer links to some affiliate programs/sites that may or may not capture traffic data, for which we cannot be held responsible. To avoid potential data capture, do not click on any of the outside affiliate links.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

We have chosen to participate in the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP), a regional health information exchange serving Maryland and D.C. As permitted by law, your health information will be shared with this exchange in order to provide faster access, better coordination of care and assist providers and public health officials in making more informed decisions. You may “opt-out” and disable access to your health information available through CRISP by calling 1-877-952-7477 or completing and submitting an Opt-Out form to CRISP by mail, fax or through their website at www.crisphealth.org. Public health reporting and Controlled Dangerous Substances information, as part of the Maryland Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), will still be available to providers.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PAGE

We participate in the CRISP health information exchange (HIE) to share your medical records with your other health care providers and for other limited reasons. You have rights to limit how your medical information is shared. We encourage you to read our Notice of Privacy Practices and find more information about CRISP medical record sharing policies at www.crisphealth.org.