HIPAA Statement

HIPAA Compliance & Your Health Information

At Bridges Psychology, protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your health information is an important part of providing psychological services.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) establishes federal standards for protecting certain individually identifiable health information. When HIPAA applies to information maintained or transmitted by Bridges Psychology in connection with your care, that information is handled in accordance with applicable privacy and security requirements.

This page provides general information about HIPAA and how privacy relates to your interactions with Bridges Psychology. It is not a substitute for the practice's formal Notice of Privacy Practices, which provides more detailed information about how protected health information may be used and disclosed and describes your rights regarding that information.

What Is Protected Health Information?

Protected Health Information, commonly called PHI, generally refers to individually identifiable health information created, received, maintained, or transmitted by a HIPAA-covered entity or business associate in connection with healthcare.

In a psychological practice, PHI may include information related to:

Your mental or behavioral health
Psychological assessment or treatment
Diagnoses and symptoms
Appointments and treatment history
Billing and payment for healthcare
Information you provide as part of treatment
Certain communications between you and your healthcare provider
Other identifiable information associated with your care

HIPAA establishes requirements governing how covered healthcare providers and their business associates may use, disclose, safeguard, and provide access to PHI.

How Bridges Psychology Protects Health Information

Bridges Psychology takes reasonable and appropriate measures to protect confidential patient information and PHI as required by applicable law.

Depending on the information and circumstances involved, safeguards may include administrative, technical, and physical measures designed to reduce unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or loss of protected information.

Privacy and security are also considered when selecting technology and third-party services used in connection with patient care.

No electronic communication or information system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. For that reason, patients should use communication methods designated by Bridges Psychology for sensitive clinical information.

HIPAA and This Website

It is important to distinguish between visiting a website and establishing a healthcare relationship with a provider.

Simply visiting the Bridges Psychology website does not, by itself, establish a psychologist-patient relationship.

Information collected through ordinary website technologies may also be governed by privacy laws and policies other than HIPAA, depending on the information, how it is collected, and how it is used.

For this reason, you should not submit sensitive medical, psychological, or other confidential information through general website contact forms, standard email, or other communication methods unless Bridges Psychology has specifically indicated that the method is appropriate for that information.

Electronic Communications

Email, text messaging, website forms, and other electronic communications can present privacy and security risks.

Please do not use ordinary electronic communications for emergencies or urgent mental health concerns.

When communicating with Bridges Psychology, follow any instructions provided by the practice regarding secure communications, patient portals, telehealth platforms, or other methods used for exchanging sensitive information.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on applicable law and the circumstances, HIPAA may provide patients with rights concerning their PHI, including rights related to:

Accessing certain health records
Requesting corrections or amendments
Receiving information about certain disclosures
Requesting restrictions on certain uses or disclosures
Requesting confidential communications
Receiving a copy of the practice's Notice of Privacy Practices
Filing a complaint regarding privacy practices

Some rights are subject to legal limitations and exceptions.

For complete information about your rights and the practice's obligations, please refer to the Bridges Psychology Notice of Privacy Practices provided to patients.

Confidentiality in Psychological Services

Confidentiality is fundamental to psychotherapy.

Information discussed during psychological treatment is generally treated as confidential. However, confidentiality is not absolute. Federal and state laws, professional requirements, court orders, emergencies, safety considerations, and other circumstances may permit or require disclosure.

The applicable limits of confidentiality are discussed as part of the informed-consent process for psychological services.

Questions or Privacy Concerns

If you are a current or prospective patient and have questions about privacy, HIPAA, medical records, or how your information is handled, please contact Bridges Psychology directly using the contact information provided on this website.

If you believe your HIPAA privacy rights have been violated, you may also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.