Jasper County EMS (JCEMS)
Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective Date: 01/01/2023
IMPORTANT: THIS DOCUMENT EXPLAINS HOW YOUR MEDICAL DATA MAY BE UTILIZED AND SHARED, AND THE METHODS BY WHICH YOU CAN ACCESS THIS DATA. WE URGE YOU TO REVIEW IT THOROUGHLY.
Jasper County EMS (JCEMS) is dedicated to safeguarding your personal health details. Legal mandates require us to protect health data that could reasonably identify you, referred to as “protected health information” or “PHI.” This Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”) outlines our legal obligations and the privacy protocols we maintain regarding your PHI.
We value your privacy highly. Our team follows rigorous confidentiality standards to ensure your healthcare information is handled with the utmost care.
PLEASE EXAMINE THE FULL NOTICE BELOW. FOR ANY CLARIFICATIONS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR PRIVACY COMPLIANCE OFFICER AT (219) 866-9452.
Detailed Notice of Privacy Practices
Purpose Profile
This document clarifies your legal rights, details our internal privacy measures, and explains the circumstances under which JCEMS may use or share your PHI.
Unauthorized Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI
JCEMS is permitted to use or share your PHI without specific authorization or the opportunity for you to object in these instances:
Medical Treatment. We may share your PHI to assist in the care activities of other healthcare providers.
Billing and Payment. We may provide PHI to other entities, like hospitals or insurers, to facilitate payment for services rendered.
Healthcare Operations. We may share PHI with receiving facilities, such as hospitals where you are transported, to support their operational activities, provided they have a treatment relationship with you related to that information.
Compliance and Fraud Detection. Your PHI may be used to identify healthcare fraud or to ensure compliance with legal standards.
Family and Caregivers. If you give verbal consent or do not object when provided the chance, we may share relevant PHI with relatives or close friends involved in your care.
Inferred Consent. We may disclose health details to family or friends if circumstances suggest you would not object, such as sharing information with a spouse who called for emergency transport.
Emergency Situations. If you are incapacitated or unavailable to object, we will use our professional judgment to share only essential information with family or friends if it serves your best interest, such as updating a companion on your status during transport.
Public Health Initiatives. As required by law, we may report PHI to public health authorities for tracking births, deaths, or diseases; investigating child or adult abuse; reporting product defects; or notifying individuals of potential exposure to communicable diseases.
Regulatory Oversight. We may share PHI for government-authorized audits, inspections, or disciplinary actions used to monitor the healthcare system.
Legal Proceedings. PHI may be shared in response to court orders, administrative directives, or legal subpoenas.
Law Enforcement. We may disclose PHI to law enforcement in specific cases, such as fulfilling a warrant or assisting in locating a suspect.
Government and Military Functions. PHI may be shared for national security, defense, or other specialized governmental roles as permitted by law.
Safety Threats. To prevent serious danger to an individual or the general public, we may disclose your PHI.
Workers’ Compensation. We provide PHI as necessary to comply with laws governing workers’ compensation claims.
Final Arrangements. We may share PHI with coroners, examiners, or funeral directors to identify the deceased or determine the cause of death.
Donation Services. For organ, eye, or tissue donors, we may share PHI with procurement organizations to facilitate the transplantation process.
Scientific Research. Under strict oversight and only when privacy risks are minimal, we may share PHI for authorized research projects.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Permission
Any use or sharing of your PHI not listed above requires your explicit written authorization. This document must clearly state what data is being used and for what specific purpose.
Specifically, written permission is required for:
- Psychotherapy notes (outside of legally permitted exceptions);
- Marketing purposes where we receive financial compensation;
- The sale of your PHI.
You retain the right to cancel this authorization in writing at any time, though this will not affect data already shared while the permission was active.
Your PHI Rights
As our patient, you possess several rights regarding your PHI:
Access and Inspection Rights
You may review or obtain copies of most medical records we hold for you. Please submit these requests in writing to our Privacy Compliance Officer.
We may occasionally deny access under specific conditions; however, you will be informed of any appeal rights. We provide standard forms for these requests and typically respond within 30 days. If your records are digital, you may request them in an electronic format.
If you want us to send your PHI to a third party, provide a signed, written request clearly identifying the recipient and their contact details.
We may assess a reasonable, cost-based fee for fulfilling these requests as allowed by law.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You may request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI. Submit your request in writing to the Privacy Compliance Officer.
This list can cover disclosures made up to six (6) years prior to your request. Note that we are not required to list disclosures made for treatment, payment, operations, those you authorized, or those made for certain law enforcement purposes.
Right to Request Privacy Restrictions
You may ask us to limit how we use or share your PHI for treatment, payment, or operations, or with people involved in your care.
While we generally do not agree to restrictions unless legally required, we must honor a request to keep information from your health insurer if you have paid for the specific service in full yourself. If we do agree to a restriction, we will follow it except in emergency treatment scenarios. We may terminate a restriction with your consent or by notifying you for future information.
Breach Notification Rights
In the event of a security breach involving your unsecured PHI, we will inform you as mandated by law. If you wish to receive these notices via email, please provide a valid address to our Privacy Compliance Officer.
Confidential Communication Rights
You have the right to request that we contact you at a different address or via a different method (such as email instead of mail). We will honor all reasonable requests as required by law.
Notice Availability
We post this Notice prominently in our facilities and on our website. You may request a paper copy at any time, even if you previously agreed to receive it electronically.
Updates to This Notice
JCEMS must follow the Notice currently in effect but reserves the right to update these terms. Any changes may apply to all stored PHI. Updated versions will be displayed on our site and in our offices. You may request the most recent version from our Privacy Compliance Officer.

Complaints and Legal Recourse
If you believe your privacy has been compromised, you may file a complaint with us or the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We strictly prohibit retaliation against anyone for filing a complaint.

For inquiries or to exercise your rights, contact:

Privacy Compliance Officer
Jasper County EMS
2590 West Clark Street
Rensselaer, IN 47978
Phone: (219) 866-9452