Sherpa Mental Health Privacy Policy

At Sherpa Mental Health, we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you seek psychiatric services through our remote practice. By engaging with our remote psychiatric services, you consent to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal and health-related information from you to provide the best psychiatric care possible. This includes:

Personal Identifiable Information (PII): Full name, contact information (phone, email, emergency contacts), date of birth, gender, and emergency contact information. Health and Medical Information: History of mental health diagnoses, current mental health symptoms, previous psychiatric treatments, medications, medical conditions, allergies, and any other relevant health details. Payment Information: Collecting credit card information to ensure timely and consistent payments. We also provide superbills, which allows you to use our cash-pay service and submit a superbill to your insurance to receive out-of-network reimbursement. Technology Information: IP address, device information, and other data necessary to facilitate secure telemedicine consultations.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected for the following purposes:

To Provide Psychiatric Services: Diagnosis, treatment, and care plan development. To Process Payments and Insurance Claims: To bill for services provided, verify insurance coverage, and process payments. To Communicate with You: To send appointment reminders, treatment updates, and other communications related to your care. To Ensure Quality Care: To improve our services, manage appointments, and conduct quality assurance reviews. Legal and Regulatory Compliance: To comply with healthcare laws, including HIPAA, and other applicable regulations, such as medical records retention and reporting requirements.

3. Sharing and Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your information only under the following circumstances:

With Your Consent: We will only share your information with third parties (such as another healthcare provider, lab, or pharmacy) when you have provided explicit consent to do so. With Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist with our operations, such as billing companies, IT service providers, or telemedicine platforms. These providers are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information and use it only for the purposes specified in this policy. As Required by Law: We may disclose your information when required by law, such as for legal investigations, court orders, or when it is necessary for your safety or the safety of others. For Emergencies: If you are in a mental health crisis or there is an imminent risk of harm, we may disclose your information to emergency responders or healthcare providers.

4. How We Protect Your Information

We take your privacy seriously and employ the following measures to protect your information:

Encryption: All communication during remote consultations is encrypted to ensure privacy during video calls or messaging. Secure Storage: Patient records are stored in secure, HIPAA-compliant electronic systems with restricted access. Limited Access: Only authorized personnel have access to your information, and they are trained to handle sensitive data securely. Telemedicine Platform Security: We use secure, encrypted telemedicine platforms to conduct remote consultations, ensuring that the transmission of your data is safe.

5. Your Rights Regarding Your Information

As a patient, you have several rights related to your personal and health information:

Access: You have the right to request access to your health records. We will provide this information in a secure manner within a reasonable time frame. Correction: If you believe any of the information we have about you is incorrect, you have the right to request corrections. Deletion: You have the right to request that we delete your information, though we may need to retain certain records to comply with legal and medical record-keeping requirements. Limitations on Sharing: You may request that we limit how your information is shared or disclosed. This may include restrictions on certain aspects of your care or communication preferences. Revocation of Consent: You may revoke your consent for the use or sharing of your information at any time, except where required by law. File a Complaint: If you feel your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

6. How We Handle Children’s Information

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete the information.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Any changes to this policy will be communicated to you via email, and a revised version will be posted on our website. Please review this Privacy Policy regularly for any updates.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy practices, or if you wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at:

Phone: +1 520-355-4803. Email: admin@sherpamentalhealth.com.

By utilizing our remote psychiatric services, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, you should not proceed with the services provided by Sherpa Mental Health.