Confidentiality and HIPAA

Security of confidential information is a social, legal, and ethical responsibility of organizations that receive medical information. UMD Health Services has adopted a policy to protect the confidentiality of patient data, whether electronic or printed and including financial information.

All patient records maintained by Health Services are private. Only authorized Health Services personnel may release patient records, and then, only with written authorization or verbal permission from the patient. Parents of patients eighteen years and older, parents of emancipated minors, spouses, and other next of kin will not have access to the medical record without the authorization of the patient.

The HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices describes how medical information about a patient may be used and disclosed and how patients can get access to this information.