Questions & Answers
HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA requires that we provide you with our Privacy Notice explaining our privacy policies, that is, what we do with your private healthcare information, and that you acknowledge with your signature.
You can obtain a copy of your Patient Care Report (PCR) by completing a Records Access Form. You will need a copy of your Driver's License or other photo ID.
In order to obtain another person's PCR, you must have legal authority (such as a POA) or have the patient's permission. The patient can complete an Authorization to Release Form. In most cases, parents may obtain a copy of a child's PCR without permission if the child is less than 18 years old. If the person is deceased, you must provide legal authority, such as an Estate Executor or Administrator.
Usually, bills are sent directly to a parent or guardian. If you would like the bill to come directly to you, you must contact the business office the next business day or as soon as you are able.
When you are driving down the road and hear a siren, but you don't know where it's coming from, what should you do? According to the Vehicle and Traffic Law, you should pull as far to the right as possible and safely STOP. Simply slowing while you continue to drive along the side of the road can be very dangerous, and the driver of the emergency vehicle cannot prepare for the exact location where the vehicles will meet and pass. Remember!! Pull to the right and stop.
If You Need to Call 911
If you have an emergency and need to call 911 Emergency, the dispatcher will ask you some very specific questions. While this may seem to take some time, these questions are important in determining what type of help you need. They may give you some specific instructions; always follow those instructions!
Always speak calmly and clearly, and do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.
Turn on your porch light or front door light, even in daylight. This will increase visibility and aid the paramedics in finding your house.
If it is safe and an extra pair of hands is available, have someone wait outside to flag down the ambulance.
If you have pets and there is time, secure them in a separate room. This will avoid delays in confronting protective or scared dogs or prevent indoor pets from inadvertently being allowed outside when rescuers enter your home.
When you can, gather up medications and any important medical information, if you use our Medic Alert Pouch, have it available for the paramedics.
Our Patients Privacy
The privacy of our patients is important to us. We recognize that Bangs and its employees are in possession of and have access to a broad variety of confidential, sensitive information, the inappropriate use or disclosure of which could be injurious to individuals. We recognize our legal and moral obligation to protect and safeguard the information we both gather and create.
Privacy Forms
THESE NOTICES DESCRIBE HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to protected health information. We are required to abide by the terms of these notices for as long as it is in effect.
If you have any questions regarding these notices, please contact
Courtney Bangs
HIPAA Compliance Officer
205 W. Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
(607) 277-4911
Childhood Drowning
Among children aged one to four years, most drowning occurs in residential swimming pools. Most children who drown in pools were last seen in their home and had been out of sight for less than five minutes. Drowning can be prevented, and you can help. Never leave small children near water unsupervised, even for a few seconds. For above-ground pools, ladders should be secured. Remove ladders where the pool is not in use. Never use flotation devices as a substitution for supervision.
Car Safety
Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children of all ages? What can you do to change this tragic statistic? First, always make sure both you and your children are buckled up. If you have young children, secure them in correctly installed child safety seats, and always properly restrain older children in the back seat where they can't be injured by airbags. Remember, each year, six out of ten children who die in crashes are unbelted. However, when seat belts are used, they increase the chance of surviving a crash by nearly 45%. Be safe and buckle up!