The most effective healthcare comes from collaboration between patients, their families, physicians and other healthcare professionals. Your involvement in decisions that affect your care is important to us. Open and honest communication, respect for personal and professional values, and sensitivity to differences are integral to optimal patient care. Below are some resources to help you participate in your care.
Regional One Health respects the rights and responsibilities of patients and their families/surrogate. We value the role of the patient, their family and/or their surrogates in considering and deciding on treatment options and other aspects of their care. Moreover, we are sensitive to cultural, racial, linguistic, religious, age, gender and other differences, as well as the needs of persons with disabilities.
Patients receive information on rights and responsibilities upon admission to the hospital. View the Patient Rights and Responsibilities here in English and Spanish.
Regional One Health values the privacy of our patients’ health information. We consider Protected Health Information (PHI) about our patients to be private, and we carefully protect it as such. We will not use or disclose medical information about patients without authorization, except as described below.
We may use and disclose PHI about patients to provide medical treatment, obtain payment for services or for healthcare operations. Patients have the right to request restrictions on uses and disclosures of PHI. You also have the right to request a copy of your health record. To request medical records, call 901.545.7581 and ask for instructions.
You can download a PDF of the hospital’s Notice of Privacy Practices in English and in Spanish. Advanced care plan PDFs are also available in English and Spanish.
Regional One Health complies with state and federal laws, as well as regulatory and accreditation standards related to an Advance Medical Directive:
- We will ask each adult patient (age 18 and over) whether he/she has executed an Advance Medical Directive (i.e. living will or durable power of attorney for healthcare).
- We will provide written information to our patient, upon admission, describing his or her rights under Tennessee law to make decisions concerning healthcare, including the right to accept or refuse medical or surgical treatment and the right to formulate Advance Medical Directives.
- We will document that sections in the Advance Medical Directive form (see link below) have been complied with.
- We will place a copy of any Advance Medical Directive received in the patient’s medical record.
- We will refer the patient to the Social Work Services, or the Pastoral Care Services department, if he/she wishes to formulate an Advance Medical Directive.
- We will advise the attending physician whenever an Advance Medical Directive has been placed in the patient’s medical record.
Health Information Management
Health Information Management is dedicated to maintaining your medical records and keeping your health information private and secure in accordance with federal privacy and state regulations. In accordance with the Regional One Health Notice of Privacy Practices, patients have the right to review or, for a fee, receive copies of their medical records.
Obtain Your Medical Records by Mail or Fax
In general, the patient or the patient’s guardian/legal representative may request copies of medical records. To obtain copies, complete and sign our Authorization for Release of Information form. Please include a copy of your driver’s license or government issued photo identification and mail the form to the Health Information Management department at the addressed below or fax the form to 901.414.9939. We will provide a copy of your health information, within thirty (30) days.
Regional One Health
Attn: HIM Medical Records
877 Jefferson Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
Obtain Your Medical Records In Person
You may get copies of your medical records in person by visiting our Health Information Management department Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Health Information Management is located on the 1st floor of the Chandler Building. The requestor must be the patient or the patient’s guardian/legal representative. Please bring a copy of your driver’s license or government issued photo identification to authorize the release of records.
Fees
Fees may be charged based on the reason the copies are being requested and the method of delivery (paper, electronic, etc.). Under Tennessee Code, fees for paper copies vary based on the number of pages requested and may include delivery costs.
There is no charge for records that are requested for the purpose of continuity of care, which is sent directly to a physician’s office and/or medical facility or for eligibility review with insurance carriers or other public assistance programs.
Please call 901-545-7581 for more information about obtaining copies or medical record fees.
A Health Information Exchange (HIE) is a way of sharing health information with other participating health care providers through a secure, electronic means so health care providers have the benefit of the most current available information about your medical history. HIEs provide faster and more complete access to your information to allow our providers to make informed decisions about your care.
Regional One Health participates in a HIE to make patient information available electronically to other participating hospitals, doctors, and participants. By participating, we can also receive information about you from other non-Regional One Health providers participating in an exchange.
What is electronic HIE?
Electronic HIE allows your participating health care providers from different health care delivery organizations to appropriately access and securely share your health care information. Using HIE, health care information can follow you whenever and wherever it is needed. HIE makes it possible for the various providers involved in your care to gain access to the same information.
How secure is HIE?
HIE protects the privacy and security of your health care information by following the rules set in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for individually identifiable health information and gives patients’ rights about that information. The Privacy Rule permits the sharing of health information for patient care and other important purposes. The Security Rule lists administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that must be used to protect the privacy and security of your health care information.
What are the benefits of HIE?
Access to your medical history is very important to the health care providers caring for you. Using HIE, your health care providers have a more complete view of your health record. This allows you and your health care team to make informed decisions about your health. Through the HIE, your health care providers can share information on your prescriptions and medications, allergies, illnesses, laboratory and radiology results, immunizations, procedures, and clinical notes.
What does it mean to Opt-Out?
Participation is voluntary. If you choose to opt-out, Regional One Health will not be allowed to electronically share or receive your health care information through the HIE for any reason, even in case of an emergency where you may be unconscious. Your provider may not have the necessary information to save your life.
What does it mean to Opt Back In?
A patient can request to opt back in at any time. When you opt back in, you allow your health care providers access to important health care information about you when you visit a medical facility connected with the HIE and participating with Regional One Health.
Opt-Out
While participation in the HIE is strictly voluntary, for the convenience of our patients, Regional One Health automatically opts-in all patients to make their health information available for patient care purposes at external entities. Should you decide you do not want to participate, you may opt-out by:
- Informing the person registering you at the time of service;
- Contact the Regional One Health Privacy Office at 901-545-6554 or by email at [email protected]
Your choice to opt-out of the health information exchange will not affect your ability to access medical care. Opting-out will not prevent your caregivers from sharing your health information with authorized entities when necessary for public health or research purposes that are permitted or required by state and federal law. Please refer to our Notice of Privacy Practices for more information.
Opt Back In
If you opt back in your healthcare provider and other participants will once more be able to access information about your healthcare, including information created before your opt-back-in date. You may choose to opt back in at any time by contacting our Privacy Office using the contact information above.