Privacy policy.

Jennifer Villena LMFT 123591

NOTICE OF PRIVACY POLICIES & PRACTICE

INTRODUCTION:

This Notice of Privacy Policies and Practices describes how Jennifer Villena, Marriage and Family Therapist, PC, a professional corporation, collects, utilizes, and protects client information. Information collected may include basic contact information such as client name, address, phone number, and email address, which will be utilized in routine communications such as phone calls, SMS text messaging, email, and written mail. This information will be used for appointment scheduling to facilitate the delivery of mental health care services and payment for services rendered. This information may be collected electronically through a client submitting electronic forms or in person during routine care delivery.

**THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBES HOW THE HEALTH INFORMATION I COLLECT MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.**

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Jennifer Villena, Marriage and Family Therapist, PC is a professional corporation operated under the laws of the State of California. I provide professional psychotherapy services, specializing in working with adults, teens, and families.

DATA SECURITY MEASURES

Electronic Health Records: Jennifer Villena, Marriage and Family Therapist maintains client information in an electronic health record system known as SimplePractice, which adheres to strict data security standards, primarily focusing on HIPAA compliance, which means they protect patient health information with high-level encryption, secure servers, and access controls; additionally, they are HITRUST certified, considered the gold standard for healthcare data security, encompassing controls required by HIPAA, PCI, NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and ISO 27002 standards; essentially guaranteeing a robust level of data protection for client information within their platform.

Telephone and SMS text message communication is managed through RingCentral, which provides robust security measures. 

Details can be found at this link: https://trust.ringcentral.com/ If you consent/opt-in to communicate with Jennifer Villena, LMFT via SMS/Text, you may receive text messages related to appointment scheduling, care coordination, or services. Your phone number will not be shared with any third parties or affiliate companies for marketing purposes. Please note that message and data rates may apply. You can opt-out at any time by texting “STOP.” For assistance, you can text “HELP.”

Squarespace hosts the website and Contact Form Communications. Squarespace contact forms are encrypted using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), meaning all data submitted through a Squarespace form is automatically encrypted in transit between the user and the website, protecting information like email addresses and other details from being intercepted by unauthorized parties; this encryption is automatically applied to all Squarespace domains due to their built-in SSL certificates.

DATA SHARING, HEALTH INFORMATION USE and DISCLOSURE

I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with specific legal requirements. This Notice applies to all the records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. This Notice will tell you how I may use and disclose health information about you. I also describe your rights to the health information I keep about you and my obligations regarding using and disclosing your health information. I am required by law to:  

  • Make sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.  

  • I give you this Notice of my legal duties and privacy practices concerning health information.  

  • Follow the terms of the Notice that is currently in effect.  

  • I can change the terms of this Notice, which will apply to all information I have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request in my office and on my website.

Your information will be used for scheduling, treatment, payment, and/or Health Care Operations. Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have a direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment, or health care operations. I may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any healthcare provider. This, too, can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed healthcare provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information, which is otherwise confidential, to assist the clinician in diagnosing and treating your mental health condition.

Your personal data or health care information will never be sold, transferred, shared or distributed for any other reason than those outlined above unless required by a judge with a court order.

YOUR PATIENT PRIVACY RIGHTS IN CALIFORNIA

Please refer to the State of California consumer guide to health information privacy at this link: 

https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/privacy/CIS_7_Patient_Privacy_DOJ.pdf