At Main Street Pediatric Dentistry Of Belmont, we are committed to protecting the privacy and security of our patients’ personal and health information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our practice or use our services.
We understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality, especially when caring for children. This policy applies to all patients and their parents or guardians who interact with our practice.
Information We Collect
We collect information that you provide directly to us when scheduling appointments, completing forms, or communicating with our office. This includes your child’s name, date of birth, address, phone numbers, email addresses, and insurance information. We also collect health information necessary for providing dental care, including medical history, current medications, allergies, and treatment records.
During dental visits, we create clinical records that may include X-rays, photographs, treatment notes, and diagnosis information. These records become part of your child’s permanent dental record and help us provide continuous, quality care.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to provide dental services, schedule appointments, and communicate with you about your child’s care. Your information helps us process insurance claims, coordinate treatment with other healthcare providers when necessary, and send appointment reminders. We may also use this information to improve our services and ensure we’re meeting the needs of our patients and families.
Treatment information may be shared within our practice among team members involved in your child’s care. This ensures everyone on our team can provide the best possible service during your visits.
Information Sharing and Disclosure
We take your privacy seriously and only share information when necessary for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We may share information with insurance companies to process claims, with other healthcare providers involved in your child’s care, or with dental specialists when referrals are needed.
We will not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. In certain situations, we may be required to disclose information, such as responding to legal requirements, protecting patient safety, or complying with public health reporting obligations.
HIPAA Compliance
Main Street Pediatric Dentistry Of Belmont fully complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This federal law establishes standards for protecting the privacy and security of health information. Under HIPAA, you have specific rights regarding your child’s health information.
You have the right to request access to your child’s dental records, request corrections to inaccurate information, and request restrictions on certain uses of health information. You may also request confidential communications and receive an accounting of certain disclosures of health information.
Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our office maintains physical safeguards for paper records and uses secure, encrypted systems for electronic information.
Staff members receive training on privacy practices and are required to maintain confidentiality. Access to patient information is limited to authorized personnel who need the information to perform their job duties.
Parent and Guardian Access
Parents and legal guardians generally have the right to access their minor child’s dental records and make healthcare decisions on their behalf. In certain circumstances involving mature minors or specific state laws, there may be limitations on parental access to protect the minor’s privacy rights.
We encourage open communication between parents, children, and our dental team to ensure everyone understands treatment plans and oral health needs.
Communication Preferences
We may contact you through various methods including phone calls, text messages, emails, or postal mail for appointment reminders, treatment follow-ups, or important practice updates. You may opt out of certain communications or specify your preferred contact method by informing our office staff.
Please note that we cannot guarantee the security of unencrypted email communications. We recommend avoiding sending sensitive health information through standard email.
Website and Online Services
Our website may collect certain information automatically, such as your IP address, browser type, and pages visited. This information helps us improve our website and online services. We may use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, but you can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings.
If we offer online appointment scheduling or patient portals, additional terms and privacy practices may apply to those services.
Children’s Privacy
We are especially committed to protecting the privacy of children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through our website without parental consent. Parents and guardians are responsible for managing their child’s online activities and any information submitted through our website on their child’s behalf.
Our practice focuses exclusively on pediatric dental care, and we understand the unique privacy considerations involved in treating young patients.
Your Rights and Choices
You have the right to review and request copies of your child’s dental records, though we may charge a reasonable fee for copying and mailing. You may request corrections if you believe information in the record is inaccurate or incomplete. You can also request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your child’s health information.
To exercise these rights, please contact our office during regular business hours. We will respond to your request within the timeframes required by law.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy as needed to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted in our office and on our website. The effective date will be updated to reflect when changes take effect.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
Acknowledgment
By choosing Main Street Pediatric Dentistry Of Belmont for your child’s dental care, you acknowledge that you have been informed of our privacy practices. We may ask you to sign an acknowledgment form for our records, as required by HIPAA regulations.
Thank you for trusting us with your child’s dental health and personal information. We look forward to providing exceptional pediatric dental care while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality.
