Desert Agave Wellness

Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

7325 N. 16th Street, Suite 135, Phoenix, AZ 85020  |  602-838-1156  |  info@desertagavewellness.com

At Desert Agave Wellness PLLC, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal health information (PHI). We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information, provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, follow the terms of this notice, and notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

We may change the terms of this Notice in the future. If we do, the updated Notice will be available upon request at our office and on our website.

1.  Treatment

We may use and disclose your medical information to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services — including communicating with other healthcare providers involved in your care.

Example: A nurse practitioner may review your medical history before ordering a test, and may share relevant information with a specialist if a referral is needed.

2.  Payment

We may use and disclose your medical information to obtain payment for healthcare services you received, including preparing bills and managing accounts.

3.  Healthcare Operations

We may use and disclose your medical information to operate our practice and improve the quality of care we provide. This includes:

•        Reviewing provider qualifications and performance

•        Training students, trainees, and healthcare professionals

•        Cooperating with accreditation and licensing organizations

•        Reviewing and improving quality, efficiency, and cost of care

•        Planning for organizational operations and resolving grievances

•        Working with legal, accounting, and compliance professionals

•        De-identifying medical information and using it for permitted purposes under HIPAA

4.  Persons Involved in Your Care

We may disclose medical information to a relative, close personal friend, or other person you identify if they are involved in your care. You may ask us at any time not to disclose information to such persons, and we will honor that request except in limited circumstances such as emergencies. If the patient is a minor, different rules may apply.

5.  Required by Law

We will use and disclose medical information whenever required by law — for example, reporting gunshot wounds, or reporting known or suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Services.

6.  National Priority Uses and Disclosures

When permitted by law, we may use or disclose your medical information without your permission for recognized national priorities, including:

•        Threat to health or safety — to prevent or lessen a serious threat

•        Public health activities — disease investigation, FDA monitoring, reporting child abuse

•        Abuse, neglect, or domestic violence — disclosure to appropriate government authorities

•        Health oversight activities — government agency investigations

•        Court proceedings — in response to a court order or legal process

•        Law enforcement — for specific, lawful law enforcement purposes

•        Coroners, medical examiners, and organ/tissue transplant organizations

•        Workers' compensation — to comply with applicable laws

•        Research organizations — when privacy protections have been satisfied

•        Certain government functions — including military, veterans, national security activities

7.  Authorizations

Other than the uses and disclosures described above, we will not use or disclose your medical information without your written authorization. We will not use or share your information for marketing purposes or sell your information without your written permission. You may revoke a signed authorization at any time in writing, except in limited circumstances related to obtaining insurance coverage.

You have the right to:

•        Get a copy of your medical record. You may request access to your records in paper or electronic format.

•        Correct your medical record. If you believe information is incorrect, you may request an amendment.

•        Request confidential communications. You may ask to be contacted in a specific way or at a specific location.

•        Ask us to limit what we use or share. You can request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures, though we may not always be able to comply.

•        Get a list of disclosures. You may request an accounting of those with whom we have shared your information.

•        Get a copy of this notice. You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time.

•        Choose someone to act for you. If someone is your legal guardian or holds your power of attorney, that person may exercise your rights on your behalf.

•        File a complaint. If you believe your rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our office or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

If you have any questions about this Notice or our privacy practices, or to file a complaint, please contact our Compliance Officer:

Desert Agave Wellness PLLC

7325 N. 16th Street, Suite 135, Phoenix, AZ 85020

Phone: 602-838-1156

Email: info@desertagavewellness.com