[Effective January 1, 2026]

This webpage provides a summary of our Notice of Privacy Practices.

The full Notice, which governs how Washington County Hospital and Clinics (WCHC) uses and discloses protected health information (PHI), is available in the PDF below.

English Version PDF
Spanish Version PDF

WCHC is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your protected health information (PHI). We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of your PHI, provide you with this Notice describing our privacy practices, and follow the terms of the Notice that is currently in effect.

This Notice applies to all WCHC departments, clinics, services, workforce members, and medical staff involved in your care.

Protected health information (PHI) is information that identifies you and relates to:

• Your past, present, or future physical or mental health
• The health care services you receive
• Payment for health care services

Examples of PHI include diagnoses, test results, treatment records, medications, billing information, insurance details, and contact information.

We may use and share your PHI as permitted or required by law to support your care and our operations. These uses and disclosures may occur without your written authorization in certain situations, including for:

• Treatment – to provide, coordinate, or manage your care among providers and facilities
• Payment – to bill and collect payment from health plans or other responsible parties
• Health Care Operations – for activities such as quality improvement, training, audits, accreditation, and compliance
• Public Health and Safety – to report certain conditions, prevent serious threats, or comply with public health requirements
• Legal and Regulatory Purposes – as required by law, court orders, or government oversight

In other situations, you may have the right to agree or object, or we may need your written authorization before using or sharing your PHI. The full Notice includes additional details and examples.

You have important rights regarding your health information. These rights include certain choices you can make about how your information is used and shared, including the right to:

• Inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI
• Request corrections to your PHI if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete
• Request confidential communications (for example, at a different address or phone number)
• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your PHI
• Receive an accounting of certain disclosures
• Receive notification if a breach occurs involving your PHI
• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

The full Notice explains these rights, how to exercise them, and any applicable limitations.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Washington County Hospital and Clinics or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Brianna Guyer, Compliance and Privacy Officer

Washington County Hospital and Clinics

400 E. Polk Street

Washington, IA 52353

bguyer@wchc.org

319-863-3904

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.

Washington County Hospital and Clinics complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Language assistance services and appropriate auxiliary aids are available free of charge for individuals with limited English proficiency or disabilities.

To view our Language Assistance Notice, please visit:

https://www.wchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/NoticeofAvailability.pdf

Paper copies of the Notice of Privacy Practices and our Language Assistance Notice, including information in multiple languages and alternative formats, are available upon request.