New River Valley Community Services has a legal, ethical, and moral responsibility to protect your human rights, as well as the privacy and security of your personal health information. This notice describes how protected health information about you may be used and disclosed. Please review it carefully. As a client, you have a right to the following:

1. To consent to treatment and receive services in the least restrictive environment, and to be free from any unnecessary use of seclusion, restriction, or time out. To be treated with dignity and in a professional and courteous manner; to be protected from harm including abuse, harassment, neglect and exploitation. To use your preferred or legal name.

2. To have your protected health information treated with confidentiality and not released without written consent, except for situations required by law (such as medical emergency; suspected child abuse or neglect; suspected adult abuse, neglect or exploitation; threat to self or lives of others; court order). You have the right to determine what information is disclosed, to whom, and how it will be used.  You have the right to be provided an accounting of disclosures-except those routine disclosures necessary to carry out treatment, payment and health care operations.

3. To read, correct, and get a copy of your service record, except in instances as noted in NRVCS privacy and security policies. You have the right to be notified of changes in the regulations regarding privacy of protected health information.

4. To receive services according to law and sound therapeutic practice. To be involved in all aspects of your services, and provided information to help you make decisions. To ask questions of your counselor/case manager about services, including treatment and discharge planning and to share any concerns regarding your service. To be provided help in learning about/applying for any public services or benefits to which you are entitled.

5. To receive services which meet your personal needs and abilities. To not be included in any experimental program or research, or to be recorded by audio- video equipment without your knowledge and written consent.

6. To have opportunities to communicate in private with lawyers, judges, legislators, clergy, licensed health care practitioners, legally authorized representatives, advocates, the Inspector General; and have access to an advocate or representative, self help groups, and legal services.

7. To engage or not engage in work or work-related activities consistent with your service needs while receiving services through NRVCS. 

8. To know that in day-to-day business practices, trained staff may handle your service record in order to have the records assembled, available for review by the primary Case Manager, or for filing of documentation. Certain data elements are entered into our computer system for billing purposes, and for state statistical reporting to DMHMRSAS. As part of our continuous Quality Improvement efforts to provide the most effective services, your record may also be reviewed by professional staff for accuracy, completeness and organization.

9. To know that in order to effectively provide treatment/service, your primary Case Manager may consult with various service providers within the agency. During those consultations, health information about you may be shared.

If you are unable to resolve any problem with your services, ask to speak to a supervisor, program director, the agency’s internal client advocate, or the agency director. You also have the right to contact the Local Human Rights Advocate if you have a problem or complaint that has not been resolved to your satisfaction. The Regional Human Rights Advocate is available to assist with concerns or complaints specific to Human Rights issues. The Regional Human Rights Advocate is Ms. Nan Neese, DMHMRSAS Southwest Satellite Office, 340 Bagley Circle, Marion VA 24354; Telephone: (276) 783-1219 or toll free (877) 600-7434.

If you file a complaint, it will be acted upon through specific steps described in the Human Rights Policy.  These steps also provide for an appeals process if you are not satisfied with the outcome of discussions or investigations.  If these steps do not help resolve the complaint, you may request to have your complaint heard by the Local Human Rights Committee.  You may request written information about the appeals process from any NRVCS office or from the regional advocate.

Our Human Rights Plan is reviewed and recommended by a Local Human Rights Committee (LHRC) and by the State Human Rights Committee.

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