Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Please be aware that physicians and other healthcare professionals involved in your care at GMS Cyprus Medical Solutions Ltd. may be private practitioners and independent contractors, and therefore not employees or agents of GMS Cyprus. This includes, but is not limited to, surgeons, consultants, radiologists, anaesthesia providers, pathologists, obstetricians, physician assistants (PAs), and advanced practice registered nurses.

While GMS Cyprus ensures that all healthcare providers meet specific standards for education, training, and experience, the institute is not liable for the specific medical care you receive from non-employee providers.

This notice regarding privacy applies to the staff of GMS Cyprus and our Medical and Clinical Providers who participate in our Organized Health Care Arrangement. These providers have agreed to adhere to the terms of this notice concerning the services they provide within or on behalf of the entities mentioned.

Please note that medical staff members, including your surgeon, may have their own privacy policies and practices concerning the use and disclosure of your protected health information within their private clinics or offices.

To ensure coordinated care, treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and for other purposes outlined in this notice, the individuals and facilities listed may share your medical information as necessary.

GMS Cyprus and its staff function as independent contractors and participate in an Organized Health Care Arrangement solely to comply with laws governing the privacy of your medical information. The existence of this arrangement does not establish a partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship between GMS Cyprus and its Medical and Clinical Providers.

We are legally obligated to:

• Maintain the privacy of your health information and provide you with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.
• Comply with the terms of our current Notice.

Please be aware that our practices may change, and these changes will apply to all health information we maintain, both past and future.

Specific regulations apply to the disclosure of health information related to psychiatric conditions, substance abuse (drugs and alcohol), HIV status, and other transmittable viruses. In general, your explicit consent will be required to release this type of information.

A. For Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations We may use and disclose your health information as described below without your Authorization or permission:

1. For treatment

We may use and share your health information for the purposes of providing and coordinating your medical treatment and ongoing care. This includes sharing information with doctors, nurses, lab technicians, dietitians, physical therapists, and other personnel involved in your care, both within our organization and with external healthcare providers. We may also disclose your information to individuals or facilities that will be involved in your care after you are discharged.

2. For payment

We may use and disclose your health information so that we can bill and receive payment for the treatment and services you receive. For billing and payment purposes, your health information may be shared with managed care organizations or other insurance companies.

3. For Healthcare Operations

Additionally, we may use and disclose your health information for internal administrative purposes, such as reviewing the quality of care you received, training our staff, and improving our services.

B. Other Permitted Uses and Disclosures Without Your Authorization

The law permits us to disclose your health information in certain situations without your written authorization or permission:

1. As Required By Law: We will disclose your health information if mandated by applicable laws.
2. Internal Directory: Unless you object, we may include your name, location within the facility, general condition, and religious affiliation (for clergy only) in the directory of GMS Cyprus for internal use. This directory does not contain specific medical details.
3. Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment: Unless you object, we may share relevant health information with family members, close friends, or other individuals you identify (including clergy) who are involved in your care.
4. Health Oversight and Public Health Activities: We may disclose your health information for legally authorized public health activities or to government agencies responsible for overseeing the healthcare system.
5. Reporting Abuse or Neglect: If we have reason to believe you have been a victim of abuse or neglect, we may disclose your health information to a government authority as required or permitted by law, or with your agreement.
6. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings: We may disclose your health information in response to a valid court or administrative order.
7. Law Enforcement: Under specific limited circumstances, we may disclose your health information to law enforcement officials.
8. Coroners, Medical Examiners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Procurement Organizations: We may release your health information to these entities for their legally authorized duties, including organ and tissue donation if you are a donor.
9. Research: Your health information may be used for research purposes without your authorization, but only after review and approval by a special Review Board.
10. To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety: When necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health or the health and safety of others, we may disclose your health information to someone who can help mitigate the threat.
11. Military and Veterans: If you are a member of the armed forces, we may disclose your health information as required by military command authorities.
12. National Security and Intelligence Activities; Protective Services for the President and Others: We may disclose certain limited information to authorized government officials conducting national security and intelligence activities or providing protective services.
13. Workers’ Compensation: We may use or disclose your health information to comply with workers’ compensation laws or similar programs.
14. Disaster Relief: We may disclose your health information to organizations assisting in disaster relief efforts.
15. Fundraising Activities: We may use limited information such as your name, address, service department, and treatment dates to contact you for fundraising purposes for GMS Cyprus. You have the right to opt out of receiving these communications.
16. Appointment Reminders: We may use your health information to remind you of upcoming appointments for treatment or medical care.
17. Treatment Alternatives and Health-Related Benefits and Services: We may use your health information to inform you about alternative treatments and health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
18. Business Associates: We may disclose your health information to individuals or companies that provide services on our behalf, provided they have agreed to comply with this Notice.
19. Health Information Exchange: Your information may be maintained in electronic health information exchange networks.

1. We will obtain your explicit written authorization or permission before using or releasing your health information for any purpose not described above. Most uses and disclosures of your protected health information that are made for marketing purposes, sale of your protected health information notes, require your written authorization.
2. If you grant us permission to disclose your health information, you have the right to revoke that permission in writing at any time. This revocation will stop any future uses and disclosures, except where we have already acted based on your prior permission.

You have the following rights concerning your health information:

1. Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request limitations on how we use or disclose your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. While we are not always legally required to agree to your request, there are limited circumstances under which we must comply. For instance, we must agree to your request to restrict disclosures to your health plan for payment or healthcare operations purposes if the information pertains solely to a healthcare item or service for which you have paid us in full out-of-pocket and the disclosure is not otherwise required by law.
2. Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health matters in a specific way or at a particular location. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your requests.
3. Right of Access to Personal Health Information: With a written request, you have the right to review and obtain a copy of your health information, except in certain limited situations. Under the law of the Republic of Cyprus, if GMS Cyprus provides a copy of your medical record, the charge will not exceed €65 per page, plus postage, and a reasonable fee for x-ray films or tissue samples. There will be no charge if the record is needed for a Social Security claim/appeal, Worker’s Compensation, or if it is direct information in electronic format, and you request it to be transmitted directly to a healthcare provider or a person you designate (provided this choice is clear, conspicuous, and specific). GMS Cyprus may charge a reasonable fee for providing a copy in electronic form.
4. Right to Request Amendment: You have the right to request that we correct inaccuracies or add missing information to your health record. Your request must be in writing and must include the reason for the requested change. We may deny your request under certain circumstances. If we deny your request, we will provide you with a written explanation for the denial, and you will have the right to submit a written statement disagreeing with our decision. Your statement of disagreement will be added to your medical record.
5. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made by us or on our behalf. This accounting will be a list of these disclosures. There may be a fee for providing this accounting.
6. Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice at any time.
7. Notification of Breaches of Your Health Information: You have the right to receive written notification if there is a breach of your unsecured protected health information as defined by law.