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Notice of Privacy Practices – Long form

Notice of Privacy Practices and HIPAA Compliance

This notice describes how your medical information may be used and disclosed and how you may gain access to this information. We will ask you to sign an Acknowledgement that you have received this notice of our Patient Privacy Practices. In accordance with the HIPAA Privacy Regulation, this Notice describes how Hillsboro Wellness may use and disclose your protected health information to carry out treatment, payment, or healthcare operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. The Notice also describes your rights and Hillsboro Wellness’s requirements to protect your health information. 

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OUR LEGAL DUTY

We are required by applicable federal and state law to maintain the privacy of your health information. We are also required to give you this Notice about our privacy practices, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your health information. We must follow the privacy practices that are described in this Notice while it is in effect. This Notice takes effect on 12/22/2022, and will remain in effect until we replace it. 

We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law. We reserve the right to make the changes in our privacy practices and the new terms of our Notice effective for all health information we maintain, including health information we created or received before we made the changes. Before we make a significant change in our privacy practices, we will change this Notice and make the new Notice available upon request. 

You may request a copy of our Notice at any time. For more information about our privacy practices, or for additional copies of this Notice, please contact us using the information listed at the end of this Notice. 

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USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION: 

Treatment, Payment, and Healthcare Operations

We use and disclose health information about you for treatment, healthcare operations, and payment. For examples:

Treatment: We will use and disclose your protected health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes coordination or management of your health care with a third party. For example, we would disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to an insurance carrier. For example, your protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the physician has the necessary information to treat you. 

Payment: Your protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for your health care services. We will bill you and/or a third party payor for the cost of treatment and related services provided to you. 

Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your protected health information for all activities that are included within the definition of “health care operations” as defined in the federal Privacy Regulations. Healthcare operations include quality assessment and improvement activities, reviewing the competence or qualifications of healthcare professionals, evaluating practitioner and provider performance, conducting training programs, accreditation, certification, licensing, or credentialing activities. 

OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION: 

Your Authorization: In addition to our use of your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, you may give us written authorization to use your health information or to disclose it to anyone for any purpose. If you give us an authorization, you may revoke it in writing at any time. Your revocation will not affect any use or disclosures permitted by your authorization while it was in effect. 

Friends and Family and Other Persons Involved in Care: We may disclose your protected health care information to friends and family in the case of an emergency to the extent necessary to help with your health care or with payment of your healthcare. Using their judgment as health care professionals, our staff may disclose protected information with a family member, other relative, close personal friend, or any person you identify as being involved in your healthcare. 

Marketing Health-Related Services: We will not use your health information for marketing communications without your written authorization. 

Required by Law: We may use or disclose your health information when we are required to do so by law. 

Abuse or Neglect: We may disclose your health information to appropriate authorities if we reasonably believe that you are a possible victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence or the possible victim of other crimes. We may disclose your information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of others. 

Law Enforcement: We may disclose to law enforcement agencies in response to a court order, subpoena, discovery request, administrative order, or other lawful process by another person involved in a dispute involving a patient.

Other required or permitted disclosures: We may disclose your health information to the following entities when we are required to do so by law. 

• • • To authorized federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities
    • To the military authorities under certain circumstances when the patient is a member of the Armed Forces
    • To notify, or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for the patient’s care, of the patient’s location or general condition
    • To a correctional institution or its agents, if a patient is or becomes an inmate of such an institution, when necessary for the patient’s health or the health and safety of others
    • To public health or legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability (public health and safety)

Appointment Reminders: We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with appointment reminders (such as voicemail messages, text messages, emails or letters).

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PATIENT RIGHTS

Access to Protected Health Information: You have the right to look at or get copies of your health information, with limited exceptions. You must make a request in writing to obtain access to your protected health information. We will charge you a reasonable cost-based fee for expenses such as copies and staff time. We may deny your request to inspect and copy your protected health information in certain limited circumstances. 

Requests for Restrictions: You have the right to request that we restrict how your protected health information is used or disclosed in carrying out treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. Such requests must be made in writing to our clinic. In your request tell us: 1) the information of which you want to limit our use and disclosure and 2) how you want to limit our use and disclosure of the information. We are not required to agree to the requested restrictions, but if we do, we will abide by our agreement except in an emergency. 

Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to receive an accounting of the disclosures, if any, we have made of your protected health information. 

Amendment(s) to Healthcare Information: You have the right to request we amend your health information. Your request must be in writing, and it must explain why the information should be amended. If we did not create the information you want amended or for certain other circumstances, we may deny your request. If denied, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with the decision (to be included in your medical record). 

Alternative Communication: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information by reasonable alternative means or to alternative locations. You must make your request in writing. Your request must specify the alternative means or location, and provide satisfactory explanation how payments will be handled under the alternative means or location you request. 

Electronic Notice: If you receive this Notice on our web site or by electronic mail (email), you are entitled to receive this Notice in written form. 

Notification of a Breach: You have the right to be notified upon discovery of a breach of unsecured protected health information. The Privacy Officer will make reasonable efforts to notify you of the breach without unreasonable delay in the event that such a breach occurs. 

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REPORT A PROBLEM, REQUEST MORE INFORMATION, ISSUE A QUESTION OR COMPLAINT

If you have any questions, complaints, or want more information, contact this office. If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us. 

Hillsboro Wellness Privacy Officer: Mackenzie Ryan
Phone: 503-844-4325
Address: 5295 NE Elam Young Pkwy, Ste 160, Hillsboro OR 97124
Email: info@hillsborowellness.com 

If you are not satisfied with the manner in which this office handles your complaint, you also have the right to file a formal, written complaint with the Secretary of the US Department of Public Health and Human Services. 

State of Oregon Department of Human Services Privacy Officer
500 Summer Street NE, E24
Salem, Oregon 97301
Phone: 1-503-945-5780
Toll Free: 1-800-442-5238
Fax: 1-503-947-5396
email: dhs.privacyhelp@state.or.us

Office for Civil Rights-Medical Privacy, Complaint Division
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave., SW HHH Building, Room 509H
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 866-627-7748, TTY: 866—788-4989
Email: OCRComplaint@hhs.gov

We support your right to protect the privacy of your protected health and financial information. We will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint with us or the Department of Health and Human Services. 

The Amazing Benefits of Bone Broth!

There are a few things I am regularly surprised by: one is acupuncture, and another is the difference that bone broth can make in strengthening patients. I can have a patient come in for months, be exceptionally sensitive to needles, and have only some relief for a few hours to days. And then they finally find a way to consume a cup of bone broth a day. (I say “finally” as there can be a lot to figure out and bring into your weekly routine!) After just a week of bone broth, when they come in, needling is so much easier! Their tissues suddenly feel much more soft and supple, and they respond well and immediately to the needles. The treatments bring much more relief- and the relief lasts! So how does bone broth do this?

Contains all the basic building blocks for repairing tissues in your body:
-Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, all are available and ready for easy absorption
-Minerals: and not just calcium & magnesium, but all the trace minerals needed for bones, nervous system, and every muscle, tendon, tissue, and organ in the body!
-Glucosamine & chondroitin: did you use knuckles or joints to make the bone broth with? Then you are getting some great building blocks for cartilage. Knees & disks say “Yes please!”
-Collagen: perhaps the single most important ingredient in bone broth for helping promote healing, collagen makes up the connective tissues in your body and is what helps give your body elasticity, flexibility, and strength.

Helps heal and seal your gut lining, and promotes healthy digestion: The gelatin found in bone broth is a hydrophilic colloid. It attracts and holds liquids, including digestive juices, thereby supporting proper digestion. Bone broth is an essential part of the diet for helping to heal inflammatory bowel disease, like Crohn’s disease.

Inhibits infection caused by cold and flu virus, etc: a study published over a decade ago found that chicken soup indeed has medicinal qualities, mitigating infections.

Reduces joint pain and inflammation thanks to glucosamine & chondroitin. Glucosamine reduces inflammation- everything from tennis elbow to autoimmune diseases. Amino acids like glycine, proline, and arginine all have anti-inflammatory effects, too.

Calming effects, improved mood, & better sleep: amino acids are also building blocks for neurotransmitters. For instance, glycine can have calming effects, which may improve sleep. Amino acids can provide great improvement in various mood disorders.

Promotes strong, healthy bones: all those minerals & collagen- bones say “Yes!”
Promotes healthy hair and nail growth: your body will love all that collagen (gelatin)
Promotes healthy connective tissues such as fascia, tendons, & ligaments

FAQ:

Can I use powdered bone broth?
No, not really. I have not noticed improvement in patients taking bone broth powder. However, I do notice a positive difference in patients using collagen powder! It’s not as good as real bone broth, but it’s a great 2nd, especially if you eat Pho occasionally.

Can I just go have Pho instead? Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) is made with bone broth and is way to get your dose! You can ask how long the kitchen cooks the bones, where they get their bones from, and if they add sugar or MSG to their broth (many places do). I highly recommend you get Pho with tendon. It is actually exceptionally tender and delicious, and just the right prescription for any joint pain or disk disorder (or inflammation of any kind). Glucosamine! Yay!

Is there a vegetarian alternative? For that, I have another handout- just ask.

Can I buy bone broth in the store? Yes, but the flavor tends to be much better when you make it at home. Also, you can control the quality of bone broth when you make it. However, you can do what you can do! Any new step in a daily routine is a challenge- keep it simple.

Does it matter which bones I use? Most importantly, try to use high quality bones, such as grass-fed. The difference in quality and flavor of broth is significant!
Here is a quick guide:
-Sensitive digestion (or breaking from vegetarian diet)?: start with chicken bones
-Extremely thin & dry, or a mother suffering from insufficient lactation?: pork bones
-Easily cold, easily catch colds, weak?: lamb bones (only if you can digest it- work up to it)
-For lots of minerals, collagen, amino acids, and collagen: big beef bones
-The best of the best: wild elk or deer bones, or even bear bones (bear bones bring some serious strength to nails & loads of hair growth!). Some caution though: avoid the bones of animal packs suffering from illnesses, such as deer with lyme disease. Hunters can be aware of these things.

Can I use bones from a roast, such as a roast chicken or leg-of-lamb?
Absolutely! Yum! The flavor will be great. You can also save bones in the freezer until you have enough.

What is a simple recipe I can try?
InstantPot- 4 hours or CrockPot- 48 hours. Roast bones on pan in oven at 425 degrees F for 30 min (great for flavor!). Put in InstantPot or CrockPot, can add whole garlic cloves & quartered onions, 1-2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (to help break down bones), cover with water & cook. That’s it! Can add spices like Worcestershire sauce or tarragon after cooking.

Bone Broth Instructions

See our other post about the great benefits of bone broth!
Here are the Instructions:

Choosing the right bones!!!
In order to get the best nutrients from your broth, choosing the right bones is important. Remember the purpose of adding broth to your diet is to get all of the nutrients from the bones. This means organic bones are really important. If you buy bones that are not organic it is likely that you will also be getting an array of hormones, antibiotics and pesticide in your broth. These can be toxic to your body, and it is important to avoid them where you can. We suggest looking at your local farmer’s market first; if markets are closed New Season’s sometimes carries bones.
Red meat marrow bones are the best and most nutrient-rich. It is good to get joint bones if you have joint pain. All the nutrients your joints need are available in the joints of other animals.

How to cook bone broth:
Cooking bones long enough to get the nutrient from the bones is crucial. We suggest roasting bones at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes before starting the broth. This will create a better tasting broth.
Slow Cooker: Add enough water to fully cover all bones (using more water is OK to make more broth). Cook in a slow cooker for about three days adding more water as it cooks down. After 2 days of cooking you can strain the broth, add more hot water and cook down again. At the end of the third day ensure bones are starting to fall apart. Strain broth and combine with the first strained batch.
Pressure Cooker: Add enough water to fully cover the bones. Adding more water will produce more broth. Pressure cook for 4-6 hours.

What do I do with all this broth?
Rather than cooking rice in water, rinse your rice and cook it in bone broth
Use it as a base for soup
Drink this yummy broth by itself

Bone broth stays good in a refrigerator for up to three days. If you are not going to use your broth within three days please freeze your broth. We suggest storing broth in freezer-safe Mason Jars.

Yummy things to add to spice it up a bit
Adding digestive herbs while cooking broth will help to aide in digestion and increase metabolic function in the body
Digestive Herbs:
Ginger, Garlic, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Shallots, Onion, Citrus Peel
After cooking:
Add salt, pepper and hot chili paste to taste

Immune Support for COVID-19 Prevention

There is still lots we don’t know about the spread of COVID-19. What we do know that is universal to all viruses though, is the importance of keeping our immune system strong and healthy do we can effectively fight off the virus if we are exposed.

We recommend the following steps to help build your immune system:

*Manage stress: Stress is one of the major factors in reduced immune function. Getting plenty of sleep, meditation, acupuncture and a variety of calming herbs (like chamomile) are great ways to help reduce stress.

*Daily vitamin recommendations to help improve immune response and reduce symptoms of the coronavirus are as follows (doses listed are for adults):
1,000-2,000 mg of Vitamin C,
5,000-10,000 IU of Vitamin D3,
15-25 mg of Zinc and
100-200 mcg of selenium.

*Western herbal preparations like Fire Cider (garlic, onions, ginger & hot peppers soaked in vinegar
with honey) can help support the immune system. Medicinal mushrooms are especially immune boosting, as is widely available Echinacea root and Elderberry extracts. Amounts are important, a common mistake is not taking enough of immune boosting preparations. Check labels or ask an herbalist about dosage.

The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.