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Website Privacy Statement

  • Permission to use material from this Web site / Reprints / Copyright

    Connections Area Agency on Aging retains copyright on the content of this site, unless otherwise noted. Information and materials copyrighted by Connections Area Agency on Aging are for noncommercial use only.

  • Reprint or reuse of information from this site without change

    Individuals or organizations may reprint or reuse information on this site, provided:

    - The information is used without change.
    - The following credit is included:

    Reproduced with the permission of the Connections Area Agency on Aging
    Copyright 2020 Connections Area Agency on Aging
    Using any of the Connections Area Agency on Aging's registered logos or graphics without the organization's prior consent is strictly prohibited. Please direct queries to 800-432-9209.

    The photographs on our Web site are not available for reproduction.

  • Press releases

    Reprint of Connections Area Agency on Aging content or references to Connections Agency on Aging contact information in an organization's press release must be approved by the Community Engagement Director of the organization. Please direct queries to 800-432-9209.

  • Linking policy

    Web site managers should request permission to link to the Connections Area Agency on Aging's Web site. Please direct queries to 800-432-9209.

    Connections Area Agency on Aging reserves the right to determine sites to which it will link. Please direct queries to 800-432-9209.

    The Connections Area Agency on Aging is not responsible for information or advice provided by others, including those we link to from this site.

  • Security and Privacy Policy

    Connections Area Agency on Aging is committed to protecting your privacy when you visit our Web site. Information we collect from you is used to improve our site, provide you a better experience, and respond to your questions and requests.

  • Information Collection

    We collect two types of information on our Web site:

    1. Web server traffic information. This information is used to determine the number of visitors to our site, length of stay and sources of traffic. We collect aggregate data -- or totals of those visiting from a domain -- not information identifying individual users. We use this information to help improve our site and our service to you.

    2. Personal information provided by you. We collect e-mail addresses and other personal information only when you provide it to us. If you fill out a form or survey, request information or make a donation, we may collect your name, address, city, state, zip code, telephone number and e-mail address.

  • Use of Personal Information

    Connections Agency on Aging collects information from different points on our Web site. We do not sell, trade or rent our Web site visitor's personal information to others other than those outlined in this section. If you willingly provide us your personal information, the Connections Agency on Aging may use it in the following ways:

    Donations. When you make an on-line donation to us, it's possible your name may be on some mailing lists shared with other reputable organizations. As a donor, you may request to have your name removed from these mailing lists.

    E-mail Information Requests and Questions. When we respond to your e-mail requests or questions, we may collect your e-mail address and send you Connections AAA e-mail bulletins or news. To opt out and remove your name from future e-mails, please call 800-432-9209.

    Event Registration. Connections AAA provides on-line registration for some of our events. We may collect your e-mail address and send you Connections AAA e-mail bulletins or news. To opt out and remove your name from future e-mails, Please call 800-432-9209.

  • Your Consent

    By using the Connections Agency on Aging Web site, you consent to the collection and use of the information described above. Any changes to this policy will be posted prior to their implementation.

  • Your Choice

    We respect your privacy and recognize that you may wish to limit the ways in which we contact you. Please contact us at 800-432-9209. with the following information:

    - To remove your name from mailing lists shared with other organizations, please provide your full name, mailing address and request removal.
    - To remove your name from the Connections Agency on Aging postal mailing list, please direct queries to 800-432-9209.
    - To review or correct your personal information with the Connections Agency on Aging, please direct queries to 800-432-9209.

  • Security

    We take every precaution to protect your personal information. At Connections Agency on Aging, your personal information is kept confidential and stored in a secure environment. Access to your information is restricted only to authorized staff with a legitimate and specific business purpose. For example, our finance employees need access to information to process on-line donations. If you have any questions about the security at our Web site, please direct queries to 800-432-9209.

  • Cookies

    A cookie is a piece of data sent to your Web browser and stored on your hard drive. Cookies help us improve our Web site by tracking and targeting the interests of our users as they visit different sections of our site. Cookies do not contain any personal information.

  • Log Files

    We use IP addresses to analyze trends, administer the site, track visitors' movements and gather broad information for aggregate use. IP addresses are not linked to personal information.

  • Disclaimer

    Connections Agency on Aging works to ensure that the information provided on its official Web site is accurate, timely, and useful. However, the information contained on the Connections Agency on Aging Web site should not be considered medical guidance or professional advice. The Connections Agency on Aging, its affiliates or agents, or any other parties involved in the preparation or publication of this site are not responsible for errors or omissions in information provided on this site or any actions resulting from the use of such information. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained herein with other reliable sources and to direct any questions concerning their personal health to licensed physicians or other appropriate health care professionals. Corrections and additions to this site will be made when necessary or as time permits.

HIPAA Privacy Practices Statement

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Your Rights

You have the right to: 

  • Get a copy of your paper or electronic medical record
  • Correct your paper or electronic medical record
  • Request confidential communication
  • Ask us to limit the information we share
  • Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information
  • Get a copy of this privacy notice
  • Choose someone to act for you
  • File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

Your Choices

  • You have some choices in the way that we use and share information as we:
  • Tell family and friends about your condition
  • Provide disaster relief
  • Include you in a hospital directory
  • Provide mental health care
  • Market our services and sell your information
  • Raise funds

Our Uses and Disclosures

We may use and share your information as we:

  • Treat you
  • Run our organization
  • Bill for your services
  • Help with public health and safety issues
  • Do research
  • Comply with the law
  • Respond to organ and tissue donation requests
  • Work with a medical examiner or funeral director
  • Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
  • Respond to lawsuits and legal actions

Your Rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record 

  • You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this.
  • We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.

 Ask us to correct your medical record 

  • You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this
  • We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.

Request confidential communications 

  • You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address.
  • We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.

Ask us to limit what we use or share

  • You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.
  • If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer. We will say “yes” unless a law requires us to share that information.
  • Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information
  • You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.
  • We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make). We’ll provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.

Get a copy of this privacy notice

  • You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.

Choose someone to act for you 

  • If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
  • We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.

File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated 

  • You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting at 800.432.9209. 
  • You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.
  • We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Your Choices

For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.

In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to: 

  • Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
  • Share information in a disaster relief situation
  • Include your information in a hospital directory
  •           If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

In these cases we never share your information unless you give us written permission:

  • Marketing purposes
  • Sale of your information
  • Most sharing of psychotherapy notes
  • In the case of fundraising:
  • We may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can tell us not to contact you again.

Our Uses and Disclosures

How do we typically use or share your health information?

We typically use or share your health information in the following ways.

  • Treat you

           We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.

          Example: A doctor treating you for an injury asks another doctor about your overall health condition.

  • Run our organization

         We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.

          Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.

  • Bill for your services

          We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.

          Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.

How else can we use or share your health information?

We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html.

Help with public health and safety issues

          We can share health information about you for certain situations such as:

  • Preventing disease
  • Helping with product recalls
  • Reporting adverse reactions to medications
  • Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
  • Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety
  • Do research

          We can use or share your information for health research.

  • Comply with the law

          We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that    we’re complying with federal privacy law.

  • Respond to organ and tissue donation requests

          We can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations.

  • Work with a medical examiner or funeral director

          We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies.

  • Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests

          We can use or share health information about you:

  • For workers’ compensation claims
  • For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official
  • With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law
  • For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services
  • Respond to lawsuits and legal actions
  • We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.

Our Responsibilities 

We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.

We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.

We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.

Changes to the Terms of this Notice

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our web site.

Other Instructions for Notice 

Original effective date of Notice of Privacy April 14, 2003: Updated January 16, 2019

Our Privacy Officer can be contacted at Connections Area Agency at Aging, 800-432-9209

We never market or sell personal information.

This notice covers our offices at:

               231 S. Main, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

               2301 Pierce St., Sioux City, IA 51104

               109 N. Elm, Creston, IA 50801

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