State and federal law requires us to maintain the confidentiality of your identifiable information that relates to your health care. In general, we may not disclose your health information without your consent. There are some exceptions to this, which are described below. Please review this section carefully and ask any questions that you may have.

Our pledge regarding health information:

We understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. We are committed to protecting the confidentiality of your information. We create a record of the care and services you receive from us in order to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice provides you with information about our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information. This notice also discusses how we may use or disclose your health information. We will notify you following a breach of your unsecured health information. You can request a dated copy of our most current privacy notice at any time. We may update this notice from time to time. If we do, we will post an updated notice in the waiting room. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated or maintained by the Student Health & Wellness Center (SHWC).

How we may use and disclose health information about you:

We may use or disclose health information about you without your signed consent for purposes related to:

• Treatment: We may use your information within the SHWC to provide for your treatment. The SHWC provides integrated and holistic care and, as a result, your information may be shared with medical and/or mental health staff when deemed clinically or medically appropriate.
• Healthcare Administrative and Other Operations: We may use your information for activities that relate to the performance and operation of the SHWC. Examples of healthcare operations are quality assessment and improvement activities, audits and administrative services, and case management and care coordination.
• Abuse or Neglect (including sexual abuse) of a Child: If we have reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect, we are legally required to report this to the appropriate authorities.
• Abuse or Neglect (including sexual abuse) of a Vulnerable Adult: If we have reason to believe that a vulnerable adult has been subjected to abuse or neglect or exploitation, we are legally required to report this to the appropriate authorities.
• Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose your health information to federal or state agencies that oversee the healthcare system and enforcement of civil rights laws for audits, investigations, or inspections.
• Legal Proceedings: We may disclose your health information to courts and attorneys in response to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful process, or if necessary to defend ourselves in a lawsuit.
• Law Enforcement: We may disclose your health information to law enforcement officials as required or permitted by law to assist with a criminal investigation or in the search for a criminal or fugitive.
• Threats to Health or Safety: If you communicate a threat of imminent harm against a specified individual or group of individuals or we believe that there is an imminent risk of physical or mental injury being inflicted against another individual, we may disclose your health information if we believe it is necessary to protect that individual from harm. We may also disclose your health information to protect you from harm if we believe that you present an imminent, serious risk of harm to yourself.
• Medical Emergency: We may disclose your information to medical personnel in the event of a medical emergency.
• Appointments and Other Health Benefits: We may contact you to remind you about your appointments and bring to your attention other health-related benefits.
• Third-Party Support and Contractor Services: We may disclose your health information to third parties that provide certain services to us. These third parties are required to maintain the privacy of your information at the same level as we do.
• Payment: We may disclose your personal information in order to collect fees/payment for services.
• Public Health Emergency: During a public health emergency (such as COVID-19), SHWC staff may need to report your health or medical condition to SJC medical providers for coordination with college administrators and/or the local health department. This is to aid in efforts to monitor and mitigate the spread of infectious disease or other serious health conditions giving rise to a local, state, or federal public health emergency. By signing below, you are agreeing that SHWC staff may share such information without an additional signed release in the event of a designated public health emergency.

For participants in group counseling, we cannot guarantee that all participants will honor confidentiality agreements.

Other disclosures will be made only with your written consent or as otherwise permitted by law. You have the right to revoke your consent at any time, except if action has already been taken in reliance on it.