OUR PRIVACY POLICY

By law, if you are over the age of 12, you are able to consent for yourself (meaning you dont need your parent's permission) for sensitive services. Sensitive services include talking about and getting birth control, Pap smears, STD testing and treatment, pregnancy testing, HIV counseling, testing and prenatal care. Services such as physical exams for school or work and general medical care are not considered sensitive services and require parental consent unless you are emancipated (meaning that you are legally freed from the control of parents or a guardian).

Confidentiality means that any information about you or your visit to the clinic will not be given to anyone (except in the instances of child abuse, or if you say that you are going to hurt yourself or hurt someone else).

TSFC staff understands that health information about you is personal. We are committed to protecting your health information. We create a record of the care and services you receive from us; this record helps to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements.

We are required by law to:

•  Make sure that health information (that means your name, Social Security number, address and phone number) that identifies you is kept private; 
• Give you a written notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information about you; 
• Follow the terms of the Summary of HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practice that is currently in effect. This form will be given to you at your first visit with the clinic, along with the patient registration forms. PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THE NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES!

What should I expect when I first come into the clinic?
At your first appointment, we ask everyone to fill out a patient registration form. This form asks you general information about yourself including your health history. There are two types of consent forms attached to your registration packet: the general health care consent form and the minor consent form. You do not need to sign the general consent form. *Please ask the registration staff for the minor consent form. In case we need to reach you we will ask you if it is OK to call you at home or at a confidential phone number. It is our goal to keep our communication with you as private as possible.

When you are in the exam room waiting for a doctor, one of our case managers will come in to do an assessment with you. This assessment is done with everyone. Again, all information is confidential (see above). If you are with your parent or guardian, you have the right to see the case manager and doctor without your parent or guardian present.

*If you have an emergency please call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.

Do I need to bring anything with me at the time of my appointment?
If you are coming in for sensitive services, The Saban Free Clinic does not require you to show ID. However, they do require you to show proof of LA County residency. This could be anything mailed to you with your name and address on it. If you are homeless, all you would need to do is sign an affidavit (a special form).