Privacy Policy.

Personal information you submit through forms on this website — such as your name, email address, and telephone number — is used solely to respond to your contact or appointment request. We do not sell or rent this information.

You may opt out of future communications at any time by contacting the office at 972-612-7800.

Like most websites, this site uses standard log files. These may record your IP address, browser type, internet service provider, referring and exit pages, and date and time stamps. This information is used to analyze site trends, administer the site, and improve the experience. It is not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Please do not send private health information through the website form. If you need to discuss your care, treatment, records, or any protected health information, call the office at 972-612-7800 so we can protect your privacy.

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 described in this notice while it is in effect. This notice takes effect on its date of publication and remains 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 the changes are permitted by law. Before making a material change, we will revise this notice and make the new notice available upon request, at our practice, and on this website. Changes may apply to all health information we maintain, including information created or received before the change.

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

Treatment. We may use or disclose your health information to a dentist, physician, or other health care provider who is providing treatment to you or who is involved in coordinating your care.

Payment. We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services we provide to you, including submitting claims to and communicating with your dental or medical benefit plan.

Healthcare operations. We may use and disclose your health information in connection with our operations, such as quality assessment, staff training and review, licensing, accreditation, legal and auditing services, and general business management.

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 or disclose your health information for any other purpose. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, and we will stop using or disclosing your information for the purposes covered by that authorization, except to the extent we have already relied on it. Unless you give us a written authorization, we will not use or disclose your health information for any reason other than those described in this notice.

Family and friends. We may disclose your health information to a family member, friend, or other person to the extent necessary to help with your dental care or with payment for that care, but only if you agree that we may do so.

Persons involved in care. We may use or disclose health information to notify or assist in notifying a family member, personal representative, or another person responsible for your care of your location, general condition, or death. If you are present, we will provide you an opportunity to object before disclosing information. In the event of your incapacity or an emergency, we will disclose health information based on our professional judgment of what is in your best interest, and only information that is directly relevant to that person's involvement in your care.

Marketing health-related services. We will not use or disclose your health information for marketing communications without your written authorization.

Required by law. We may use and disclose your health information when required to do so by federal, state, or local 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, domestic violence, or another crime. We may disclose your health information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of others.

National security. We may disclose to military authorities the health information of Armed Forces personnel under certain circumstances, and we may disclose health information to authorized federal officials for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence, national security, and protective service activities.

Appointment reminders. We may use or disclose your health information to contact you as a reminder of a scheduled or a missed appointment.

Access. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health information, with limited exceptions. You must make a written request to obtain access. We may charge you reasonable cost-based fees for a copy of your records, for mailing the copy, and for supplies or staff time associated with preparing an explanation or summary you request.

Disclosure accounting. You have the right to receive a list of instances during the six years prior to your request in which we or our business associates disclosed your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and certain other activities. We will provide one list without charge in any twelve-month period; additional lists may be subject to a reasonable cost-based fee.

Restriction. You have the right to request that we place additional restrictions on our use or disclosure of your health information. We are not required to agree to these additional restrictions, but if we do agree, we will abide by our agreement except in an emergency.

Alternative communication. You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information by alternative means or at an alternative location. You must make your request in writing, and it must specify the alternative means or location. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Amendment. You have the right to request that we amend your health information. Your request must be in writing and must explain why the information should be amended. We may deny your request under certain circumstances, and if we do, we will explain the reason in writing.

Electronic notice. If you receive this notice on our website or by electronic mail, you are also entitled to receive a paper copy of this notice upon request.

If you want more information about our privacy practices, or have questions or concerns, please contact us.

If you believe that we may have violated your privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision we made about access to your health information, or in response to a request you made to amend or restrict the use or disclosure of your health information, or to have us communicate with you by alternative means or at an alternative location, you may complain to us using the contact information below. You may also submit a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

We support your right to the privacy of your health information. We will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Information about filing a complaint with HHS is available at hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint.

Lee Fitzgerald, D.D.S.

Telephone: 972-612-7800
Fax: 972-612-7842