DISCLAIMER

Dr. Robert Vitolo maintains this web site to provide information of a general nature about the specialty of plastic surgery. The information is provided with the understanding that Dr. Robert Vitolo is not engaged in rendering plastic surgery medical advice or recommendations. Any information in the publications, messages, postings or articles on the web site should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to address individual medical needs. Your particular facts and circumstances will determine the plastic surgery treatment which is most appropriate for you. All information contained within Dr. Robert Vitolo’s Web site is the copyrighted property of Dr. Robert Vitolo. Reproduction, redistribution or modification of the information for any purpose is prohibited without the express written permission of Dr. Robert Vitolo.

 

 

PRIVACY

 

Dr. Robert Vitolo believes that user privacy is integral to the success, growth and use of the Internet. This statement describes the practices that Dr. Robert Vitolo will follow in respect to the privacy of site users. This statement may be reviewed and changed as new services and programs are introduced which require modifications to this statement. Dr. Robert Vitolo encourages you to re-read this Privacy Policy periodically.

 

Dr. Robert Vitolo does not collect personally identifiable information regarding the users of its Internet site - including e-mail addresses – without asking the user. In some instances, Dr. Robert Vitolo may request that users voluntarily supply information, including e-mail address, street address, telephone number or other information, to allow Dr. Robert Vitolo to personalize and enhance a users’ site visit or to provide the opportunity for follow up after the site visit. Whether users provide information is entirely voluntary.

 

You must be at least 18 years old to have our permission to use this site. Our policy is that we do not knowingly collect, use or disclose personally identifiable information about visitors under 18 years of age.

 

Use of information provided

If you voluntarily provide information, you consent to the collection and use of your personally identifiable information by Dr. Robert Vitolo. However, Dr. Robert Vitolo does not sell or rent personal information collected through this site to anyone.

 

Dr. Robert Vitolo may collect aggregate statistics about Web site visitors, such as volume, traffic patterns, referral sources and related site information, but these statistics will include no personally identifiable information about the users. Dr. Robert Vitolo may also disclose information in special cases when he has a good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to legal requirements or comply with legal process; (b) protect and defend our rights or property; (c) enforce the Web site Terms and Conditions of Use; or (d) act to protect the interests of our users or others. Occasionally Dr. Robert Vitolo may be required by law enforcement or judicial authorities to provide personally identifiable information to the appropriate governmental authorities. We will disclose such information upon receipt of a court order, subpoena, or to cooperate with a law enforcement investigation. Dr. Robert Vitolo reserves the right to report to law enforcement agencies any activities that we in good faith believe to be unlawful.

 

If you have voluntarily provided personally identifiable information, Dr. Robert Vitolo may, from time to time, send mail or e-mail to you regarding products and services. If you do not want to receive such offers and mailings, you can easily indicate that by emailing drvitolo@aol.com and requesting that your email address be removed.

 

Regarding cookies

Dr. Robert Vitolo may utilize a standard Internet technology called "cookies" to collect information about how the site is accessed and utilized. Cookies can allow a web site operator to determine that a user visited the site in the past and thus save and remember preferences that the user may have set while browsing the site. Cookies do not allow the Web site to retrieve any other data from your hard drive or obtain your e-mail address. Dr. Robert Vitolo may also make use of memory-based cookies in support of authenticating the user of certain Dr. Robert Vitolo web applications. While users maintain the ability to modify browser settings to either accept all cookies, notify you when a cookie is sent, or reject all cookies, it may not be possible to utilize certain Dr. Robert Vitolo services which require registration if the browser is set to reject cookies.

 

Other sites

This site contains links to other sites. While Dr. Robert Vitolo strives to link only to sites that share our high standards and respect for privacy, Dr. Robert Vitolo is not responsible for the privacy practices employed by other sites. If you have questions or concerns regarding this statement, you should contact us at drvitolo@aol.com.

 

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Dr. Robert V. Vitolo

Notice of Privacy Practices

As required by the Privacy Regulations Created as a result of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

 

This notice describes how health information about you (as a patient of this practice) may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to your individually identifiable health information.

 

PLEASE REVIEW THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY

 

A. OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY

Our practice is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your individually identifiable health information (IIHI). In conducting our business, we will create records regarding you and the treatment and services we provide to you. We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of health information that identifies you. We also are required by law to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and the privacy practices that we maintain in our practice concerning your IIHI. By federal and state law, we must follow the terms of the notice of the privacy practices that we have in effect at the time.

We realize that these laws are complicated, but we must provide you with the following important information:

q      How we must disclose your IIHI

q      Your privacy rights in your IIHI

q      Our obligations concerning the use and disclosure of your IIHI

The terms of this notice apply to all records containing your IIHI that are created or retained by our practice. We reserve the right to revise or amend this Notice of Privacy Practices. Any revision or amendment to this notice will be effective for all of your records that our practice has created or maintained in the past, and for any of your records that we may create or maintain in the future.

Our practice will post a copy of our current notice in our offices in a visible location at all times, and you may request a copy of our most recent notice at any time.

B. IF YOU QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOTICE, PLEASE CONTACT:

Office Manager / Dr. Robert V. Vitolo 1510 Richmond Rd. Staten Island, NY 10304  (800) 332-1067

C. WE MAY USE AND DISLCOSE YOUR INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION (IIHI) IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS

The following categories describe the different ways in which we may use and disclose your IIHI.

1. Treatment. Our practice may use your IIHI to treat you. For example, we may ask you to have laboratory tests (such as blood or urine tests) and we may use the results to help us reach a diagnosis. We might use your IIHI to write a prescription for you. Many of the people who work for our practice – including, but not limited to, our doctor(s) and physician assistant - may use or disclose your IIHI in order to treat you or to assist others in your treatment. Additionally, we may disclose your IIHI to others who may assist in your care, such as your spouse, children or parents. Finally, we may also disclose your IIHI to other health care providers for purposes related to your treatment.

2. Payment.  Our practice may use and disclose your IIHI in order to bill and collect payment for the services and items you receive from us. For example, we may contact your health insurer to certify that you are eligible for benefits (and for what range or benefits), and we may provide your insurer with details regarding your treatment. We may also use and disclose your IIHI to obtain payment from third parties that may be responsible for such costs, such as family members. Also, we may use your IIHI to bill you directly for services and items. We may disclose your IIHI to other health care providers and entities to assist in their billing and collection efforts.

3. Health Care Operations. Our practice may use and disclose your IIHI to operate our business. As examples of ways in which we may use and disclose your information for our operations, our practice may use your IIHI to evaluate the quality of care you received from us, or to conduct cost-management and business planning activities for our practice. We may disclose your IIHI to other health care providers and entities to assist in their health care operations.

4. Appointment Reminders. Our practice may use and disclose your IIHI to contact you and remind you of an appointment.

5. Treatment Options. Our practice may use and disclose your IIHI to inform you of potential treatment alternatives.

6. Health-Related Benefits and Services. Our practice may use and disclose your IIHI to inform you of health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.

7. Release of Information to Family/Friends. Our practice may use and disclose your IIHI to a friend or family member that is involved in your care, or who assists in taking care of you. For example, a parent or guardian may ask that a babysitter take a child to a pediatrician’s office for treatment of a cold. In this example, the babysitter may have access to the child’s medical information.

8. Disclosure Required by Law. Our practice may use and disclose your IIHI when we are required to do so by federal, state or local law.

D. USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR IIHI IN CERTAIN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

The following categories describe unique scenarios in which we may use or disclose your identifiable health information:

1. Public Health Risks. Our practice may disclose your IIHI to public health officials that are authorized by law to collect information for the purposes of:

q      Maintaining vital records, such as births and deaths

q      Reporting child abuse or neglect

q      Preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability

q      Notifying a person regarding potential exposure to a communicable disease

q      Notifying a person regarding a potential risk for spreading or contracting a disease or condition

q      Reporting reactions to drugs or problems with products or devices

q      Notifying individuals if a product or device they may be using has been recalled

q      Notifying appropriate government agency(ies) and authority(ies) regarding the potential abuse or neglect of an adult patient (including domestic violence); however we will only disclose this information if the patient agrees or if we are required or authorized to do so by law

q      Notifying your employer under limited circumstances related primarily to workplace injury or illness or medical surveillance

2. Health Oversight Activities. Our practice may disclose your IIHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. Oversight activities can include, for example: investigations, inspections, audits, surveys, licensure and disciplinary action; civil, administrative, and criminal procedures or actions; or other activities necessary for the government to monitor government programs, compliance with civil rights laws and the health care system in general.

3. Lawsuits and Similar Proceedings. Our practice may use and disclose your IIHI in response to a court or administrative order, if you are involved in a lawsuit or similar proceeding. We may also disclose your IIHI in response to a discovery request, subpoena, or other lawful process by another party involved in the dispute, but only if we have made and effort to inform you of the request or to obtain an order protecting the information the party has requested.

4. Law Enforcement. We may release IIHI if asked to do so by a law enforcement official:

q      Regarding a crime victim in certain situations, if we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement

q      Concerning a death we believe has resulted from criminal conduct

q      Regarding criminal conduct at our offices

q      In response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena, or similar legal process

q      To identify/locate a suspect, material witness, fugitive or missing person

q      In an emergency, to report a crime (including the location of victim(s) of the crime, or the description, identity or location of the perpetrator)

5. Serious Threats to Health or Safety. Our practice may use and disclose your IIHI when necessary to reduce or prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of another individual or the public. Under these circumstances, we will only make disclosures to a person or organization able to help prevent the threat.

6. Military. Our practice may disclose your IIHI if you are a member of U.S. or foreign military forces (including veterans) and if required by the appropriate authorities.

7. National Security. Our practice may disclose your IIHI to federal officials for intelligence and national security activities authorized by law. We may also disclose your IIHI to federal officials in order to protect the President, other officials or foreign heads of state, or to conduct investigations.

8. Inmates. Our practice may disclose your IIHI to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials if you are an inmate or under the custody of a law enforcement official. Disclosure for these purposes would be necessary: (a) for the institution to provide health care services to you, (b) for the safety and security of the institution and/or, (c) to protect your health and safety of the health and safety of other individuals.

9. Workers’ Compensation. Our practice may release your IIHI for workers’ compensation and similar programs.

E. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING IIHI

You have the following rights regarding the IIHI that we maintain about you:

1. Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that our practice communicate with you about your health and related issues in a particular manner or at a certain location. For instance, you may ask that we contact you at home, rather than at work. In order to request a type of confidential communication, you must make a written request to:

 

Office Manager / Dr. Robert V. Vitolo 1510 Richmond Rd. Staten Island, NY 10304

This request must specify the method of contact or the location where you wish to be contacted. Our practice will accommodate reasonable requests. You need not specify a reason for your request.

2. Requesting Restrictions.  You have the right to request a restriction in our use of disclosure of your IIHI for treatment, payment or health care operations. Additionally, you have the right to request that we restrict our disclosure of your IIHI only to certain individuals involved in your care or the payment for your care, such as family members or friends. We are not required to agree to your request; however, if we do agree, we are bound by our agreement, except when otherwise required by law, in emergencies, or when the information is necessary to treat you. In order to request a restriction in our use or disclosure of your IIHI, you must make your request, in writing to:

 Office Manager / Dr. Robert V. Vitolo 1510 Richmond Rd. Staten Island, NY 10304  (800) 332-1067

Your request must describe in clear and concise fashion:

(a) the information you wish to restrict;

(b) whether you are requesting to limit our practice’s use, disclosure, or both; and

(c) to whom you want the limits to apply

3. Inspection and Copies. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the IIHI that may be used to make decisions about you, including patient medical records and billing records, but not including psychotherapy notes. If you wish to inspect and/or obtain a copy of your IIHI, you must submit your request in writing to:

Office Manager / Dr. Robert V. Vitolo 1510 Richmond Rd. Staten Island, NY 10304

Our practice may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, labor and supplies associated with your request. Our practice may deny your request to inspect and/or copy in certain limited circumstances; however, you may request a review of our denial. Another licensed health care professional chosen by us will conduct reviews.

 

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RECEIPT OF NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES WRITTEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

 

I, _______________________________, have received a copy of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery / Dr. Robert V. Vitolo’s Notice of Privacy Practices.

 

 

__________________________________                            ___________________

Signature of Patient                                                                 Date

 

 

__________________________________                            ___________________

Signature of Witness                                                               Date