317-705-7050
8803 N. Meridian St., Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46260

Privacy Policy

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Midwest Institute For Clinical Research, Inc. (MICR®)

BACKGROUND & DISCLAIMER: MICR® is a private research organization conducting clinical trials for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. MICR® obtains medical information to evaluate patients to participate in FDA-regulated clinical trials as well as conducts those clinical trials. MICR® may need to communicate with your health provider(s) during the conduct of these research functions. However, MICR® does not provide services to function as your primary care provider. This Notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you get access to this information. Please review it carefully. You have a right to obtain a copy of this Notice upon request.

PATIENT HEALTH INFORMATION: Under federal law, your patient health information is protected and confidential. Patient health information includes information about your symptoms, test results, diagnosis, treatment, and related medical information. Your health information may also include payment, billing, and insurance information. However, at MICR®, there will not be payment or billing information required since there will be no charges for any of the services at MICR®.

HOW WE USE YOUR PATIENT HEALTH INFORMATION: We use health information about you to evaluate your eligibility for participation in research studies for medial treatment and for health care operations. Under some circumstances, we may be required to use or disclose this information even without your permission.

EXAMPLES OF MEDICAL EVALUATION, RESEARCH, TREATMENT, AND HEALTH CARE OPERATIONS:
Medical Evaluation: We will use and disclose health information to evaluate you for possible participation in a research study. This would include putting this information in a patient database for evaluation for current and future research studies.
Research: If you qualify for a research study and want to participate in that study, you will be required to sign a consent form and another privacy notice specific for that study.
Treatment: We will use and disclose your health information to provide you with medical treatment or services. For example, nurses, physicians, and other members of your treatment team will record information in your record and use it to determine the most appropriate course of care. We may also disclose the information to other health care providers who are participating in your treatment, to pharmacists who are filling your prescriptions, and to family members who are helping with your care.
Health Care Operations: We will use and disclose your health information to conduct our standard internal operations, including proper administration of records, evaluation of the quality of treatment, and to assess the care and outcomes of your case and others like it.

SPECIAL USES: We may use your information to contact you with appointment reminders. We may also contact you to provide information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES: We may use or disclose identifiable health information about you for other reasons, even without your consent. Subject to certain requirements, we are permitted to give out health information without your permission for the following purposes:
Required by Law: We may be required by law to report gunshot wounds, suspected abuse or neglect, or similar injuries and events. Research: We may use or disclose information for approved medical research.
Public Health Activities: As required by law, we may disclose vital statistics, diseases, information related to recalls of dangerous products, and similar information to public health authorities. Health Oversight: We may be required to disclose information to assist in investigations and audits, eligibility for government programs, and similar activities.
Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: We may disclose information in response to an appropriate subpoena or court order. Law Enforcement Purposes: Subject to certain restrictions, we may disclose information required by law enforcement officials.
Deaths: We may report information regarding deaths to coroners, medical examiners, funeral directors, and organ donation agencies. Serious Threat to Health or Safety: We may use and disclose information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Military and Special Government Functions: If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release information as required by military command authorities. We may also disclose information to correctional institutions or for national security purposes. Worker’s Compensation: We may release information about you for workers compensation or similar programs providing benefits for work-related injuries or illness. Misc.: In any other situation, we will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing any identifiable health information about you. If you choose to sign an authorization to disclose information, you can later revoke that authorization to stop any future uses and disclosures.

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: You have the following rights with regard to your health information. Please contact the person listed below to obtain the appropriate form for exercising these rights. Request Restrictions: You may request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. We are not required to agree to such restrictions, but if we do agree, we must abide by those restrictions. Confidential Communications: You may ask us to communicate with you confidentially by, for example, sending notices to a special address or not using postcards to remind you of appointments. Inspect and Obtain Copies: In most cases, you have the right to look at or get a copy of your health information. There may be a small charge for the copies. Some additional restrictions may occur while you are participating in a FDA regulated clinical trial. Amend Information: If you believe that information in your record is incorrect, or if important information is missing, you have the right to request that we correct the existing information or add the missing information. Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list of instances where we have disclosed health information about you for reasons other than medical evaluation, research, treatment, and health care operations.

OUR LEGAL DUTY: We are required by law to protect and maintain the privacy of your health information, to provide this Notice about our legal duties and privacy practices regarding protected health information, and to abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

CHANGES IN PRIVACY PRACTICES: We may change our policies at any time. Before we make a significant change in our policies, we will change our Notice and post the new Notice in the waiting area and each examination room. You can also request a copy of our Notice at any time. For more information about our privacy practices, contact the person listed below.

COMPLAINTS: If you are concerned that we have violated your privacy rights, or if you disagree with a decision we made about your records, you may contact the person listed below. You may also send a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The person listed below will provide you with the appropriate address upon request. You will not be penalized in any way for filing a complaint.

CONTACT PERSON: If you have any questions, requests, or complaints, please contact: Phillip D. Toth, M.D., Midwest Institute For Clinical Research, 8803 North Meridian Street, Suite 200, Indianapolis, Indiana 46260, (317) 705-7050.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 14, 2003

4/13/2003
updated 4/1/2008
updated 8/25/2009