Privacy Policy

POINT LOMA CLINIC

2907 Shelter Island Dr., Ste 105-303 | San Diego, CA 92106 | 619-916-5216 | pointlomaclinic.com

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Effective Date: March 8, 2026

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED, AND HOW YOU CAN OBTAIN ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Point Loma Clinic is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. We create and maintain records of the care you receive so that we can provide you with quality treatment and comply with applicable legal requirements. This Notice explains how we may use and disclose your protected health information ("PHI"), describes your rights regarding that information, and outlines our obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and applicable California law.

We are required by law to:

Maintain the privacy of your PHI
Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices
Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect
Notify you in the event of a breach of your unsecured PHI

We may update this Notice at any time. The revised Notice will apply to all health information we hold. The current Notice is always available upon request and on our website.

2. How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

Treatment

We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care. For example, we may share relevant information with another licensed provider involved in your treatment, or with a specialist to whom you are referred. Coordination between providers — including between psychiatry and psychology — is central to how Point Loma Clinic operates and is permitted without your written authorization.

Payment

We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for services. Because Point Loma Clinic does not bill insurance directly, this primarily applies to providing documentation for out-of-network reimbursement claims at your request.

Health Care Operations

We may use your PHI for internal clinic operations, including quality review, training, legal compliance, and administrative functions necessary to run the practice.

Appointment Reminders and Health-Related Information

We may contact you to remind you of upcoming appointments or to provide information about treatment options or services we offer. Please let us know your preferred method of contact.

Website and Digital Communications

Point Loma Clinic maintains a HIPAA-compliant website. We do not collect, use, or retain any personal health information through our website. Contact forms and general inquiries submitted via the website are used solely to respond to your message and are not stored as part of a medical record.

3. Uses and Disclosures That Do Not Require Your Authorization

In certain circumstances, we may use or disclose your PHI without your authorization, including:

As required by federal or California state law
To report suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult, as mandated by California law
To prevent or reduce a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public
For public health activities and oversight investigations
In response to a valid court order, subpoena, or other lawful judicial or administrative process
To law enforcement in limited circumstances, including reporting crimes occurring on our premises
To coroners or medical examiners performing duties authorized by law
For workers' compensation purposes, to the extent required by law
To the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for compliance investigations

4. Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization

Psychotherapy Notes

We maintain psychotherapy notes as defined under 45 CFR § 164.501. Any use or disclosure of these notes requires your written authorization, except in limited circumstances permitted by law — including our use in your treatment, supervision of clinical staff, defense in legal proceedings you initiate, or as required by law or to avert serious harm.

Marketing

We will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes without your written authorization.

Sale of PHI

We will not sell your PHI.

All Other Uses

Any use or disclosure of your PHI not described in this Notice requires your prior written authorization. You have the right to revoke a previously given authorization at any time by submitting a written request to our office. Revocation does not apply to uses or disclosures already made in reliance on your authorization.

5. Disclosures Requiring Your Opportunity to Object

Family Members, Friends, and Others Involved in Your Care

We may share relevant PHI with a family member, close friend, or other person you identify as involved in your care or in paying for your care — unless you object. In emergency situations, we may use our judgment and share information we believe is in your best interest, with an opportunity for you to object afterward.

6. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

Right to Request Restrictions

You may request that we limit how we use or disclose your PHI. We are not obligated to agree if we determine the restriction would affect your care. If you have paid for a service in full out of pocket and do not want the information shared with a health plan, we are required to honor that restriction.

Right to Request Confidential Communications

You may ask us to communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location (e.g., call your cell phone rather than your home). We will accommodate all reasonable requests.

Right to Access Your Records

You have the right to inspect and receive a copy — electronic or paper — of your medical record and other PHI we maintain about you, with the exception of psychotherapy notes. We will provide access or a summary within 30 days of a written request. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply.

Right to Request Amendment

If you believe your PHI contains an error or omission, you may request an amendment in writing. We may deny the request, but will provide a written explanation within 60 days.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of instances in which we have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations — and for which you did not provide authorization. We will respond within 60 days. The accounting covers the previous six years unless a shorter period is requested. The first request in any 12-month period is free; additional requests may incur a reasonable fee.

Right to a Copy of This Notice

You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

7. California-Specific Rights

California law affords patients additional privacy protections in certain circumstances, including more stringent requirements around the disclosure of mental health records, substance use treatment information, and HIV/AIDS-related information. Where California law is more protective than HIPAA, we follow California law.

8. Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Point Loma Clinic directly or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

To file a complaint with Point Loma Clinic, contact us at:

Point Loma Clinic

2907 Shelter Island Dr., Ste 105-303

San Diego, CA 92106

619-916-5216

To file a complaint with the federal government:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights: www.hhs.gov/ocr

9. Effective Date and Revisions

This Notice is effective as of March 8, 2026. Point Loma Clinic reserves the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time. Any revised Notice will apply to all health information we maintain, including records created before the revision. The current version will always be available at our office and on our website at pointlomaclinic.com.

Questions about this Notice? Contact us at 619-916-5216 or visit pointlomaclinic.com