Category: Uncategorized

Our practice is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. We have made every effort to make our website accessible and easy to use by following the available standards and guidelines.

Website standards

Our website seeks to conform with Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. In that regard, this website seeks to comply with Level AA and Level AAA compliance, as practicable.

Accessibility features of this website

• Screen readers – To assist our visitors who are visually impaired or blind, our website is compatible with screen reading software.
• Code Compliance – This site was built using code compliant with W3C standards for HTML and CSS. Standards compliant code means that the site displays correctly in current browsers and ensures that it will display correctly in future browsers.
• Text Alternative – With the exception of decorative imagery, all non-text content presented to the user has a text alternative that serves the equivalent purpose. Screen readers can then present this alternate information to the user in place of the image.
• ARIA Landmarks – We use ARIA landmarks to identify regions of the page allowing those with screen readers to jump to different sections of the page.
• Skip to Main Content – Our pages all contain a skip to main content link allowing users to jump directly to the page’s main content, avoiding the header content from being read aloud repeatedly.
• Accessible Forms – Our forms have the proper markup to associate labels with their form controls making it easier for screen readers to present the form information to the user.
• Headings and Lists – We use the proper markup for headings and lists, i.e. h1-h6 and ol, ul and dl for lists. Heading markup will allow assistive technologies to present the heading status of text to a user. A screen reader can recognize the code and announce the text as a heading with its level, beep or provide some other auditory indicator. Some assistive technologies allow users to navigate from list to list or item to item.
• CSS – We use CSS to control visual presentation of text. This will allow users to modify, via the user agent, the visual characteristics of the text to meet their requirement. The text characteristics include aspects such as size, color, font family and relative placement.
• Resizing Text – Text can be resized without assistive technology up to 200 percent without loss of content or functionality.
• Raster Images – We avoid the use of text in raster images, this allows user agents to read aloud any text on the page and apply custom style sheets to make the text more legible.
• Keyboard Interface – The site is designed with consideration for people unable to use a mouse. The website can be navigated using your computer’s keyboard or by using other assistive devices. All functionality of the content is operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings for individual keystroked. When all functionality of content can be operated through a keyboard or keyboard interface, it can be operated by those with no vision as well as by those who must use alternate keyboards or input devices that act as keyboard emulators like speech input software or on-screen keyboards.
• Flashing Content – Web pages do not contain anything that flashes more than three times in any one second period, or the flash is below the general flash and red flash thresholds. These effects are known to cause seizures if the flashes are bright and large enough.
• Page Titles – Our web pages have titles that describe topic or purpose. Descriptive titles help users find content, orient themselves within it, and navigate through it. A descriptive title allows a user to easily identify what Web page they are using and to tell when the Web page has changed. The title can be used to identify the Web page without requiring users to read or interpret page content. Users can more quickly identify the content they need when accurate, descriptive titles appear in site maps or lists of search results. When descriptive titles are used within link text, they help users navigate more precisely to the content they are interested in.
• Locating Content – More than one way is available to locate a Web page within a set of Web pages. We provide breadcrumbs, and site maps. This makes it possible for users to locate content in a manner that best meets their needs. Users may find one technique easier or more comprehensible to use than another.
• Highlighting – The majority of our web site components allow for highlighting by the user agent when they receive focus.
• Default Language – The default human language of each Web page can be programmatically determined. Speech synthesizers that support multiple languages will be able to orient and adapt to the pronunciation and syntax that are specific to the language of the page, speaking the text in the appropriate accent with proper pronunciation.
• Component Focus – When any of our components receive focus, they do not initiate a change of context, i.e. forms submitted automatically when a component receives focus, new windows launched when a component receives focus.
• Consistent Navigation – We have a consistent navigation across our web pages. This technique makes the placement of navigational components more predictable.
• Form Input Errors – In forms, if an input error is automatically detected, the item that is in error is identified and the error is described to the user in text.
• Proper Coding – Elements have complete start and end tags, elements are nested according to their specifications, elements do not contain duplicate attributes, and any IDs are unique. These errors that are known to cause problems for assistive technologies when they are trying to parse content which involve having opening and closing tags that are not used according to specification.
• Portable Document Format (PDFs) – Some documents on this website are in PDF format. You need Adobe Acrobat to open these files. You can download Acrobat for free. Download Adobe Acrobat.

Exceptions

While we strive to adhere to the accepted guidelines and the highest standards for accessibility and usability, it is not always possible to do so in all areas of the website.

Future Efforts

We are currently working to achieve Level AA and Level AAA conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, as practicable.

How to send feedback on this website’s accessibility

We welcome feedback on the accessibility of this website or if, for any reason, you are unable to access any part of this website, please contact us immediately.

Email us at:
manager@100milevisioncare.com

Phone us at:
250-395-4412

Write to us at:
#122 – 475 Birch Avenue
100 Mile House BC

This Notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this  information. Please review it carefully. If you have any questions please contact our office.

We are required by law to:

Maintain the privacy of your protected health information;
Give you this notice of our duties and privacy practices regarding health information about you; Follow the terms of our notice that is currently in effect.

HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION:

Described as follows are the ways we may use and disclose health information that identifies you (Health Information, or PHI). Except for the following purposes, we will use and disclose Health Information only with your written permission. You may revoke such permission at any time by writing to us and stating that you wish to revoke permission you previously gave us.

Treatment. We may use and disclose Health Information for your treatment and to provide you with treatment-related health care services. For example, we may disclose Health Information to doctors, nurses, technicians, or other personnel, including people outside our office, who are involved in your medical care and need the information to provide you with medical care.

Payment: We may use and disclose Health Information so that we may bill and receive payment from you, an insurance company, or a third party for the treatment and services you received. For example, we may give your health plan information so that they will pay for your treatment. However, if you pay for your services yourself (e.g. out-of-pocket and without any third party contribution or billing), we will not disclose Health Information to a health plan if you instruct us to not do so.

Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose Health Information for health care operation purposes. These uses and disclosures are necessary to make sure that all of our patients receive quality care and to operate and manage our office. For example, we may use and disclose information to make sure the care you receive is of the highest quality. Subject to the exception above if you pay for your care yourself, we also may share information with other entities that have a relationship with you (for example, your health plan) for their health care operations.

Appointment Reminders: Treatment Alternatives and Health Related Benefits and Services. We may use and disclose Health Information to contact you and to remind you that you have an appointment with us. We also may use and disclose Health Information to tell you about treatment alternatives or health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you. We will not, however, send you communications about health-related or non health-related products or services that are subsidized by a third party without your authorization.

Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care. When appropriate, we may share Health Information with a person who is involved in your medical care or payment for your care, such as your family or a close friend. We also may notify your family about your location or general condition or disclose such information to an entity assisting in a disaster relief effort.

Research: Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose Health Information for research. For example, a research project may involve comparing the health of patients who received one treatment to those who received another, for the same condition. Before we use or disclose Health Information for research, the project will go through an approval process. Even without approval, we may permit researchers to look at records to help them identify patients who may be included in their research project or for other similar purposes, as long as they do not remove or take a copy of any Health Information.

Fundraising and Marketing: Health Information may be used for fundraising communications, but you have the right to opt-out of receiving such communications. Except for the exceptions detailed above, uses and disclosures of Health Information for marketing purposes, as well as disclosures that constitute a sale of Health Information, require your authorization if we receive any financial remuneration from a third party in exchange for making the communication, and we must advise you that we are receiving remuneration.

Other Uses: Other uses and disclosures of Health Information not contained in this Notice may be made only with your authorization.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS:

As Required by Law. We will disclose Health Information when required to do so by federal, state or local law.

To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety, We may use and disclose Health Information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Disclosures, however, will be made only to someone who may help prevent the threat.

Business Associates: We may disclose Health Information to our business associates that perform functions on our behalf or provide us with services if the information is necessary for such functions or services. For example, we may use another company to perform billing services on our behalf. All of our business associates are obligated to protect the privacy of your information and are not allowed to use or disclose any information other than as specified in our contract.

Organ and Tissue Donation: If you are an organ donor, we may use or release Health Information to organizations that handle organ procurement or other entities engaged in procurement; banking or transportation of organs, eyes, or tissues to facilitate organ, eye or tissue donation; and transplantation.

Military and Veterans: If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release Health Information as required by military command authorities. We also may release Health Information to the appropriate foreign military authority if you are a member of a foreign military.

Workers’ Compensation: We may release Health Information for workers’ compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.

Public Health Risks: We may disclose Health Information for public health activities. These activities generally include disclosures to prevent or control disease, injury or disability; report births and deaths; report child abuse or neglect; report reactions to medications or problems with products; notify people of recalls of products they may be using; a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition; and the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient has been the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. We will only make this disclosure if you agree or when required or authorized by law.

Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose Health Information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.

Lawsuits: If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose Health Information in response to a court or administrative order. We also may disclose Health Information in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

Law Enforcement: We may release Health Information if asked by a law enforcement official if the information is:

1. in response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process;
2. limited information to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person;
3. about the victim of a crime even if, under certain very limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement;
4. about a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct;
5. about criminal conduct on our premises; and
6. in an emergency to report a crime, the location of the crime or victims, or the identity, description or location of the person who committed the crime.

Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors: We may release Health Information to a coroner or medical examiner. This may be necessary, for example, to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death. We also may release Health Information to funeral directors as necessary for their duties.

National Security and Intelligence Activities: We may release Health Information to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counter-intelligence, and other national security activities authorized by law.

Protective Services for the President and Others: We may disclose Health Information to authorized federal officials so they may provide protection to the President, other authorized persons, or foreign heads of state, or to conduct special investigations.

Inmates or Individuals in Custody: If you are an inmate of a correctional institution or under the custody of a law enforcement official, we may release Health Information to the correctional institution or law enforcement official. This release would be if necessary:

1. for the institution to provide you with health care;
2. to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others; or
3. the safety and security of the correctional institution.

YOUR RIGHTS:

You have the following rights regarding Health Information we have about you:

Right to Inspect and Copy: You have a right to inspect and copy Health Information that may be used to make decisions about your care or payment for your care. This includes medical and billing records, other than psychotherapy notes. To inspect and copy this Health Information, you must make your request, in writing, to our office.

Right to Amend: If you feel that Health Information we have is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for our office. To request an amendment, you must make your request, in writing, to our office.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we made of Health Information for purposes other than treatment, payment and health care operations or for which you provided written authorization.

To request an accounting of disclosures, you must make your request, in writing, to our office.

Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the Health Information we use or disclose for treatment, payment, or health care operations. You also have the right to request a limit on the Health Information we disclose to someone involved in your care or the payment for your care, like a family member or friend. For example, you could ask that we not share information about a particular diagnosis or treatment with your spouse. To request a restriction, you must make your request, in writing, to our office. We are not required to agree to all such requests. If we agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you with emergency treatment.

Right to Request Confidential Communication: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you by mail or at work. To request confidential communication, you must make your request, in writing, to our office. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted. We will accommodate reasonable requests.

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to a paper copy of this notice. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. Even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this notice. You may obtain a copy of this notice in our office.

To obtain a paper copy of this notice please request it in writing.

Right to Electronic Records: You have the right to receive a copy of your electronic health records in electronic form.

Right to Breach Notification: You have the right to be notified if there is a Breach of privacy such that your Health Information is disclosed or used improperly or in an unsecured way.

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE:

We reserve the right to change this notice and make the new notice apply to Health Information we already have as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of our current notice at our office. The notice will contain the effective date on the first page, in the top right-hand corner.

COMPLAINTS:

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our office or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. All complaints must be made in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

Privacy Contact Officer: Dr. Neil VanderHorst