CONFIDENTIALITY
REGISTERED ENTITY: Clients should be aware that Redfish Counseling is the assumed trade and public-facing operating name of RFC’s legal entity: Salem Counseling Center, PLLC. The full registered name of the practice is: Salem Counseling Center, PLLC dba Redfish Counseling. Clients may see notices from RFC and/or their payment processing vendors showing "Salem Counseling Center” as a merchant, and should be aware that these items are linked with RFC services unless otherwise notified.
CLIENT RECORD: RFC follows confidentiality requirements as outlined by HIPAA. After your first session, a client record will be created. Digital client information is stored in secure, 3rd-party, cloud-based platforms, and is not maintained on RFC staff devices, personal or otherwise. Physical client records (copies of completed worksheets, documents, etc.) may be stored in physically secured containers on RFC premises. RFC staff may internally review, discuss, evaluate, consult on, and/or otherwise share client information and clinical data with other RFC staff when appropriate to assist in effective treatment and/or management of logistical concerns related to client care, or according to other relevant RFC policies.
INSURANCE USE: Be aware that most insurance companies require a diagnosis of a clinical condition before they will cover any services. This becomes part of your client record with RFC and your permanent health record. RFC is not responsible for any breach of confidentiality that occurs as a result of sharing your information to your insurance company, or because of actions taken with your information by your insurance company.
MINORS Minors’ parents and/or legal guardians are legally entitled to certain information about your therapy. Your therapist will discuss what information is generally appropriate for guardians to receive and which issues are more appropriately kept confidential for the purposes of treatment.
✸ There are exceptional situations when client confidentiality may be waived, requiring RFC to disclose information with or without your consent. These include:
You or your legal guardian directs RFC staff in writing to share information with someone else.
RFC staff determine that you may be in immediate risk of harm to self or others.
There is reasonable suspicion that you or another named individual is the perpetrator, observer of, or direct victim of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or criminal neglect of children under the age of 18 years or of an elderly person.
If a court of law issues a legitimate subpoena for information stated on the subpoena.
If a client is in therapy or being treated by order of a court of law, or if information is obtained for the purpose of rendering an expert’s report to an attorney.
ESSENTIAL SYSTEMS VENDORS Redfish Counseling utilizes services provided by third-party vendors that are critical to the functions and operations of the practice. These vendors provide services facilitating the maintenance of electronic health records, internal practice operations, and client- and public-facing communications. RFC examines the integrity and security of each third-party system utilized by the practice to the greatest degree possible, and has internal procedures and policies dictating appropriate RFC-staff uses of these systems such that any risks to client data breaches are reasonably limited. RFC has no control over the operations of these third-party systems or their vendors, and is not liable for any breaches of client data managed internally by these systems. RFC is committed to the maintenance of data security and to resolving any data breach that may occur, including communicating with clients in the event that a third-party system experiences a breach, demanding any affected vendors to remedy such breaches, and/or discontinuing contracts with any vendors who fail to meet certain expectations in addressing any breaches should one occur.