Privacy Policy

Important Notice About Resident Information

Edgewood Summit respects the privacy of the personal health information of the Residents of this community and is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of that information. We value the trust and confidence Residents have placed in us and believe that information must be handled with care. To ensure that we live up to your trust, we have procedures to be used to protect Resident information. We also want to define how we obtain and use information and what options Residents have.

Procedures to Secure Resident Information

Edgewood Summit protects our Residents' privacy by restricting access to personal information to only those employees who need to know the information in order to provide services. This applies to all information and records that are received from Residents, their family, physicians, etc.or information created by our staff while performing our responsibilities to you. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect all personal nonpublic information.

Sources of Information Obtained

Edgewood Summit obtains information in order to make better informed decisions about extending services to our Residents and potential Residents. We collect personal nonpublic information from several sources.

• Information from potential Residents and Residents on applications forms or other forms.
• Information is obtained from the Resident's physician such as diagnostics, medications, ability to live in the appropriate component of the community for proper services to be provided and safety to be assured.
• Information is obtained from the Resident's family members to the extent which is appropriate to ensure services to be provided are in accordance with the Resident's likes and dislikes.
• Information is obtained from the Resident's financial advisor, accountant, etc. to ensure financial qualifications of the community are met.

Information and How it is Shared With Others.

Edgewood Summit shares limited information about Residents for specific and defined purposes. The information may include a name, telephone number and address for a directory within the community or confirm your residency to someone who calls and asks for a Resident by name, unless the Resident objects. Resident telephone numbers and addresses are not disclosed to people outside of the community unless authorization to do so has been given by the Resident.

Unless a Resident objects, Edgewood Summit may disclose personal nonpublic information to a family member, close personal friend or member of the clergy who is involved in the care and well being of the Resident.

Residents will be asked to sign a consent form to allow Edgewood Summit to use the information obtained to provide services, emergency response, payment, treatment and care (as applicable). We may disclose information to employees of the community who might be involved in providing services to you. We may also disclose information to individuals who are not employed by Edgewood Summit but who will be involved in providing care or services to you as a result of your residency. For example, a nurse who may need to call your physician to report your condition or change in condition.

Edgewood Summit may also disclose information as required by law for completion of reports, public activities, disaster relief efforts, reporting of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, reports of communicable disease, product recalls FDA requirements, or to health oversights agencies. Information may be disclosed as a result of a judicial proceeding, administrative order, subpoena or some other lawful process.

We may use or disclose personal nonpublic information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to a Resident's health or safety of others. The disclosure would be made only to the extent necessary to help prevent the threat.

Personal nonpublic information may be disclosed as result of a Workers' Compensation or similar program to comply with required disclosures.

We may use or disclose information in order to remind Residents of an appointment, a treatment/service alternative or inform of a health-related benefit or service that may be of interest.

Edgewood Summit may use or disclose personal nonpublic information in order to manage the community and monitor our quality of services and care and the evaluate the performance of the service rendered.

Resident's personal nonpublic Information may be used or disclosed to individuals or organizations after leaving the community. For example, information disclosed to a hospital for emergency treatment or to a coroner or funeral director or organ procurement organization.

Resident Rights Regarding Information

Residents have a choice with regard to how personal nonpublic information is used and disclosed. Edgewood Summit fully respects the rights of all residents with regard to privacy requirements. At a Resident's request, restrictions may be imposed with regard to privacy requirements. At a Resident's request, restrictions may be imposed with regard to the community's practice. Residents may restrict the personal nonpublic information and to whom the information may be disclosed, with the exception of: (1) information that is not obtained or maintained by the community. (2) information that must be required by law, (3) information needed to provide emergency care or treatment, (4) information used in transferring to another health care facility.

Residents may request to review, obtain a copy or amend information that is maintained by Edgewood Summit with a few exceptions and limitations. Residents may not receive or amend information that is not maintained, information that did not originate at Edgewood Summit, information that is not part of a Resident's own record, and information that is not subject to amendment as it is complete and accurate, as determined by Edgewood Summit.

Edgewood Summit will, upon written request provide an "accounting" of the disclosures that have been made with regard to personal nonpublic information, to the best of our reasonable ability to do so. The community will accommodate reasonable requests on how information is communicated to Residents in terms of a certain manner. For example, contact at a specific telephone number or address.

Copies of records may be obtained by contacting Administrative Services. A fee is applicable for costs of copying, mailing, etc. in order to comply with the request for information. A denial would include the reasons and a Resident right to disagree with the denial. Copies of the Privacy Practices may be obtained upon request as well.

Your Approval of the Information Used and Disclosed

Residents of Edgewood Summit will be asked to give the community authorization to obtain, use and disclose the personal nonpublic information as outlined in the Privacy Practices. Written authorization of those approvals will be maintained. Residents may revoke or amend the authorizations with written notice at any time. Should an amendment or revocation be made, Edgewood Summit will respect the new authorization and its specifications, except as required by law and as already relied upon.

Changes to the Privacy Practices

Edgewood Summit will promptly notify Residents of revisions to the Privacy Practices whenever there is material change to the uses, disclosures, Residents rights, legal requirements or other practice as stated in this notice.

For Additional Information or Complaints

Should further information be required about the Privacy Practices of Edgewood Summit or should you have a concern over privacy rights being violated, please contact the Executive Director of Edgewood Summit at 304-346-2323 or the Office of Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources.