Policies, Disclaimers & Usage Agreements

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY. 

If you have any questions about this Notice of Privacy Practices, please ask a member of the staff where you receive healthcare services. You may also contact our Privacy Office of Corporate Integrity at 864-560-6321. 

Spartanburg Regional Health Services District, Inc. (SRHS) is Committed to Your Privacy 

At SRHS, we keep medical information about you to help us provide your care and to meet legal requirements. We also understand that your medical information is private. 

The law requires us to: 

• Protect your medical information 
• Give you this notice 
• Follow the terms of the notice 
• Notify you following a breach of unsecured medical information 

Effective date 9/20/2013 

In this document we will use words that will have the following meaning: 

• “Notice” is used to refer to this Notice of Privacy Practices. 
• “SRHS” means Spartanburg Regional Health Services District, Inc. 
• “We,” “our,” or “us,” means one or more of the SRHS organizations and their individual licensed providers and staff. 
• “You” means the patient who is the subject of the medical information. 
• “Medical information” includes all paper and electronic records of your care that identify you and relate to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, including information about payment and billing for your healthcare services. 
• “Use” means sharing or using your medical information within SRHS. 
• “Share” or “disclose” means to release, give access to or provide your medical information to someone outside SRHS. 

SRHS and its medical staff; employed healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, care partners, other employees; trainees and students; volunteers; and business associates follow the terms of this notice. SRHS uses electronic record systems to more efficiently and safely coordinate your care across many individuals and locations. Physical and technical safeguards are used to protect the information in these systems. SRHS also uses policies and training to restrict use of your information to only those who need it to do their job. 

Doctors and other people who are not employed by SRHS may share information about you with SRHS employees in order to provide your health care. These non-SRHS caregivers may also give you their notices that describe their privacy practices for information they maintain outside of SRHS. 

All of these hospitals, clinics, doctors, and other caregivers, programs and services may share your medical information with each other for treatment, payment and healthcare operations purposes. The general ways that we can use and share your information are described below. While we cannot list every specific use, we have given examples under each general category. 

Treatment: We may use and share your medical information to provide you with healthcare services. For example, a doctor treating you for a broken leg will need to know if you have diabetes, because diabetes may slow the healing process. The doctor may need to tell someone who works in food services that you have diabetes, so we can prepare the right meals for you. We may also share medical information about you in order to provide you with items and services such as medicine, lab tests and X-rays, and to make arrangements for transportation, home care, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, medical devices or equipment experts, or with community agencies and family members. This medical information may be shared when needed in order to plan for your care after you leave SRHS. 

Payment: We may use and share your information so that SRHS or other healthcare providers that have provided services to you, such as an ambulance company, may bill and collect payment for those services. For example, we may share your medical information with your health plan, so your health plan will pay for care you received at SRHS, or to obtain prior approval for a procedure, or to allow your health plan to review your records to make sure they have paid the correct amount to SRHS. We may also share your information with a collection agency when needed in order to collect an overdue payment. If you wish to make this request, please contact the Privacy Office of Corporate Integrity by sending a written letter to the location below. 

Healthcare Operations: We may use and share information about you for business tasks necessary to operate SRHS. Whenever practical we may remove information that identifies you. For example, we may use or share your medical information: 

• To comply with laws and regulations 
• For healthcare training and education 
• To perform credentialing, licensure, certification and accreditation functions 
• To improve our care and service 
• For our budgeting and planning 
• For legal services and compliance programs 
• To conduct audits 
• To maintain computer systems 
• To evaluate the performance of our staff in caring for you 
• To make decisions about additional services SRHS should offer 
• To do patient satisfaction surveys 
• To bill and collect payment 

When information is shared with outside parties (called “business associates”) who perform these tasks on behalf of SRHS, the business associates are also required to protect and restrict use of your medical information. 

Contacting You about Appointments, Insurance and Other Matters: We may contact you by mail, phone, or email about appointments, registration questions, insurance updates, billing or payment matters, test results, to follow up about care received, or to ask about the quality of the services we have provided to you. We may leave voice messages at the telephone number you give to us. 

Treatment Alternatives or Health News and Services: We may use or share your information to inform you about treatment options or health-related products or services that may interest you. 

Fundraising Activities: We may use your name, address, phone number, age, gender, date of birth, health insurance status, and the dates you received services at SRHS to contact you in an effort to raise money to support SRHS. If you do not want us to contact you for fundraising efforts, you must notify us. 

Hospital Directory: If you do not object, while you are a patient in the hospital, we may include certain limited information about you in the hospital patient directory. This information may include your name, location in the hospital, general condition, such as “fair” or “stable,” and your religion. This helps your family, friends and clergy visit you and learn your general condition. This general information, except your religion, may be released to visitors or phone callers who ask for you by name. Unless you tell us not to, your stated religion may be given to a member of the clergy, such as a priest or rabbi, even if they don’t ask for you by name. If you prefer not to be in the hospital patient directory, please contact the Privacy Office of Corporate Integrity at 864-560-6321 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., or Patient Access Services during all other hours. 

Family Members and Friends Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care: We may share information about you with family members and friends who are involved in your care or payment for your care. Whenever possible, we will allow you to tell us who you would like to be involved in your care. However, in emergencies or other situations in which you are unable to tell us who to share information with, we will use our best judgment and share only information that others need to know. We may also share information about you with a public or private agency during a disaster, so the agency can help contact your family or friends about your location and tell them how you are doing. 

Research: We may use and disclose medical information about you for the research we conduct in order to improve public health and develop new knowledge. For example, a research project may compare the health and recovery of patients who received one medicine for an illness to those who received a different medicine for the same illness. We use and share your information for research only as allowed by federal and state rules. Each research project is approved through a special process that balances the research needs with the patient’s need for privacy. In most cases, if the research involves your care or the sharing of your medical information, we will first explain to you how your information will be used and ask for your consent to use the information. We may access your medical information before the approval process to design the research project and provide the information needed for approval. Health information used to prepare a research project, does not leave SRHS. 

To Stop a Serious Threat to Health or Safety: We may share your medical information when necessary to prevent a serious and urgent threat to the health and safety of you or someone else. For example, threats of harming another person may be reported to the police or other proper authorities. 

Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation: We share medical information about organ, eye or tissue donors and about the patients who need those organs, eyes or tissues with others involved in obtaining, storing and transplanting organs, eyes and tissues. 

Military and Veterans: If you are a member of the armed forces, we may share your medical information with the military as authorized or required by law. We may also release information about foreign military personnel to the proper foreign military authority. 

Workers’ Compensation: We may share medical information about you with those who need it in order to provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness. 

Health Oversight Activities and Public Health Reporting: We may share information with health oversight agencies for activities like audits, investigations, inspections and review of requirements to obtain a license. We may also share your medical information to file reports with state public health authorities, agencies such as cancer registries, and the federal Food and Drug Administration. 

Some examples of the reasons for these reports are: 

• To prevent or control disease and injuries. 
• To report events such as births and deaths. 
• To report child abuse or neglect of children, elders and dependent adults. 
• To report reactions to medications or problems with products. 
• To notify people of recalls of products they may be using. 
• To notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may spread a disease. 
• To notify the appropriate authority if we believe a patient has been the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. 

Lawsuits and Disputes: We may share your medical information as directed by a court order, subpoena, discovery request, warrant, summons, or other lawful instructions from a court or public body when needed for a legal or administrative proceeding. 

Law Enforcement: We may release your medical information to a law enforcement official, as authorized or required by law: 

• In response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process. 
• To identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person. 
• If you are suspected to be a victim of a crime, generally with your permission. 
• About a death we believe may be the result of a crime. 
• About criminal conduct at the hospital. 
• 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. 

We May Share Your Information

With: 

• Coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors, so they can carry out their duties. 
• Federal officials for national security and intelligence activities. 
• Federal officials who provide protective services for the president and others such as foreign heads of state, or to conduct special investigations. 
• A correctional institution if you are an inmate. 
• A law enforcement official if you are under their custody. 

Other Uses of Your Medical Information 

We will not use or share your medical information for reasons other than those described above without your written consent. Specifically, we would need your authorization for most uses of sharing of: 

• Your psychotherapy notes (if applicable) 
• Your medical information for marketing purposes 
• A sale of your medical information 

For example, you may want us to give medical information to your employer or to your child’s school. We will not share your medical information for purposes like this unless you give your written approval or if the law requires it. You may revoke the approval, in writing, at any time, but we cannot take back any medical information that has already been shared with your approval. 

Effective date 9/20/2013 

The records we create and maintain using your medical information belong to SRHS, but you have the following rights: 

Right to Ask for Limits on the Use and Sharing of Your Medical Information: You have the right to ask that we limit our use or sharing of information about you for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. You also have the right to ask us to limit the medical information we disclose about you to someone who is 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 surgery you had. We reserve the right to accept or reject your request. Generally, we will not accept restrictions for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. However, we may restrict disclosure of your medical information to a health plan if the information relates solely to the healthcare service that you or a person on your behalf, and not the health plan, has paid us in full. We will notify you if we do not agree to your request. If we do agree, our agreement must be in writing, and we will comply with the restriction unless the information is needed to provide emergency treatment for you. We are allowed to end the restriction if we tell you. If we end the restriction, it will only affect medical information that was created or received after we notify you. 

You must submit your request to restrict the use and sharing of your medical information in writing to the Privacy Office of Corporate Integrity at the address listed at the end of this notice. In your request, you must tell us (1) what information you want to limit (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure, or both and (3) to whom you want the limits to apply. 

Right to Ask for Confidential Communications: You have the right to ask us to communicate with you in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we contact you only at work or at a post office box. You must make your request in writing to the Privacy Office of Corporate Integrity at the address given at the end of this notice. You do not need to tell us the reason for your request. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted. You will also be required to tell us what address to send bills for payment. We will accept all reasonable requests. However, if we are unable to contact you using the requested ways or locations, we may contact you using any information we have. 

Right to Review and Get a Copy of Your Medical Information: You have the right to look at and get a copy of your medical information, including billing records. You must first make your request in writing to Health Information Management at the address provided at the end of this notice. If you would like us to send a copy of your medical information to another person, you must send us a signed, written request and clearly specify the person and address that you wish to send the copy. We may charge a fee to cover copying, mailing, and other costs and supplies used to respond to your request. We may deny your request for certain information in very limited cases. If we deny your request, we will give you the reason for the denial in writing. In some cases, you may request that the denial be reviewed by a licensed healthcare professional chosen by SRHS. Please note that once your medical information is given to you, SRHS is not liable for any information that is spread or distributed outside of our control and through no fault of SRHS. 

Right to Ask for a Change of Your Medical Information: If you think our information about you is not correct or not complete, you may ask us to correct the record by writing to Health Information Management at the address listed at the end of this notice. Your written request must give the reason you ask for a correction. We have 60 days to respond to your request. If we accept your request, we will tell you we agree and add the correction. We cannot take anything out of the record. We can add new information to complete or correct the existing information. With your help, we will notify others who have the incorrect or incomplete medical information. If we deny your request, we will tell you in writing the reasons. If we deny your request, you have the right to submit a written statement of 250 words or less that tells what you believe is not correct or is missing. We will add your written statement to your records and include it whenever we share the part of your medical record that your written statement relates to. 

Right to Ask for an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request a list of when your medical information was shared without your written consent. 

This list will not include uses or disclosures: 

• To carry out treatment, payment or healthcare operations. 
• To you or your personal representative. 
• To those who request your information as listed in hospital directories. 
• To your family members or friends who are involved in your care. 
• As required or permitted by law as described above. 
• As part of a limited data set with direct identifiers removed. 
• Released before April 14, 2003. 

Any request for this list must be made in writing to the Privacy Office of Corporate Integrity at the address listed at the end of this notice. Your request must state the time period for which you want the list. The time period may not be longer than six years and may not begin before April 14, 2003. The first list you request within a 12-month period will be free. We will charge you a fee for additional requests in that same period. 

Right to Get a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to get a paper copy of this notice, even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically. You may get a copy at any of our facilities, by contacting the Privacy Office of Corporate Integrity at the number below or at the SRHS website, SpartanburgRegional.com. 

Effective date 9/20/2013 

We have the right to change this notice at any time. Any change could apply to medical information we already have about you, as well as any information we receive in the future. The effective date of this notice is on the first page. We will post a copy of the current notice throughout SRHS and on this Policies webpage.

Effective date 9/20/2013 

How to Ask a Question or Report a Complaint 

If you have questions about this notice or want to talk about a problem without filing a formal complaint, please contact the Privacy Office of Corporate Integrity at 864-560-6321. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a written complaint with us. Please send it to the Privacy Office of Corporate Integrity at the address listed below. You may also file a complaint with Guest Services or the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services at the addresses listed below. 

You will not be treated differently for filing a complaint. 

How to Contact Us 

• Privacy Office of Corporate Integrity
  • Mail:
    Spartanburg Regional Health Services District, Inc.  
    Attention: Corporate Integrity Privacy Officer  
    101 East Wood Street Spartanburg, SC 29303
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 864-560-6321 
• Health Information Management 
• Guest Services 
• Office for Civil Rights Region IV
  • Mail:
    DHHS 
    Roosevelt Freeman, Regional Manager Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
    S.W. Atlanta, GA 30303-8909 
  • Voice Phone: 404-562-7886
  • FAX 404-562-7881  
  • TDD 404-331-2867 

Effective date 9/20/2013 

As a patient in our hospital, you have many rights that we are committed to protecting and promoting. Whenever possible, we will inform you of your rights before beginning or discontinuing care. 

• You have the right to be free from all forms of abuse (physical or mental), neglect, or harassment. 
• You have the right to expect a safe environment for your care and treatment while a patient in the hospital. 
• You have the right to quality health care, regardless of race, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disabilities, national origin, or ability to pay. 
• You have the right to clear communication that provides information in a manner you can understand. The hospital will provide foreign language and sign language interpreters at no charge. To ensure your care needs are met, additional communication techniques or aids may be used if you have vision, speech, hearing, and/or other impairments. 
• You and/or your family, with your permission, have the right to participate in decisions regarding your inpatient or outpatient plan of care and treatment, discharge planning, pain management; to request and/or refuse treatment(s), and information about your health status. This right, however, is not to be construed as a demand for the provision of treatment or services deemed medically unnecessary or inappropriate by the doctor. 
• You have the right to have a family member (or person of your choice) and your physician notified promptly of your admission to the hospital. 
• You have the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain during your hospitalization. 
• You have the right to make decisions regarding your medical care and formulate an advance directive (such as a living will or durable power of attorney for healthcare). You can expect hospital staff to implement and comply with your advance directive in accordance with federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. 
• You can expect that all communication and records about your care are confidential, unless disclosure is permitted by law. 
• If you are a Medicare inpatient you have the right to appeal a discharge you feel is too soon. 
• You can expect to be provided with privacy during personal hygiene or clinical care/treatments, visits from your physician or staff wishing to discuss clinical care issues or perform an examination, and upon your request, as appropriate. 
• You have the right to access your medical records, request amendments to the record, and to obtain information about disclosures of your health information in accordance with laws and regulations. 
• You or your representative, where appropriate, have the right to choose who your family members are, including, but not limited to, a spouse, domestic partner, same-sex partner, other family members, or friends who that patient considers to be family. Visitation from family or other guests will not be denied on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or disability. Patient and family have a responsibility to comply with any visitation restrictions communicated by the healthcare team. 
• You have the right to be free from restraints or seclusion, of any form, that are not medically necessary. You can expect to be treated with respect and dignity. 
• You or your representative, where appropriate, have the right to be given (in a way you can understand) the names of those who will perform and assist with planned surgical interventions, and the information, risks, benefits, and alternatives, needed in order to make an informed consent for a procedure or treatment. 
• By S.C. law, the hospital is required to notify the authorized representative of the right to have an autopsy performed, at the expense of the requester. 
• You have the right to know the identity and professional status of those involved in your care, including if a caregiver is a student or trainee, or is professionally associated with other individuals or healthcare institutions involved in your care. 
• You have the right to request your nurse to call your attending physician or designee or assist you in calling your attending physician or designee with any urgent personal medical care concern. 
• You have the right to be involved in your discharge planning and to be told of your discharge, transfer to another facility, or transfer to another level of care, in a timely manner. 
• You have the right to exercise and express your cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, and personal beliefs and to expect that the care you receive will include consideration of your beliefs. Chaplains are available to you – speak with any staff member to make a request. 
• You have the right to know if this hospital has relationships with outside parties, other healthcare providers, or educational institutions that may influence your care. 
• You have a right to examine and receive an explanation of your bill, regardless of your source of payment.
• You have a right to request an itemized bill of your charges. 
• You have the right to consent or decline participation in research, investigation, or clinical trials without jeopardizing your access to care and services. 
• You have the right to give or withhold consent to recordings, filming, or obtaining images of you for any purpose other than your care. 
• You and/or your family may access the Ethics Committee to discuss an ethical issue related to your care. Please ask the physician, nurse, or nurse leader for assistance. 
• You have the right to be informed about your rights as a patient, how to receive help for a problem or file a complaint, as well as information about hospital rules. If you have a problem or complaint, please speak with your doctor, nurse, or nurse leader. 
• Lodging a complaint with any entity will in no way compromise your medical care or result in any other retaliation. 

As our patient, you are expected to comply with hospital rules and regulations and be an active participant in your care. You also are expected to: 

• Cooperate with the hospital staff and provide necessary personal and medical history required for your treatment. 
• Ask for simpler explanations if you do not understand your illness or treatment. 
• Tell your physician whether or not you are willing and able to follow the treatment plan recommended for you. 
• Be courteous and respectful to all hospital staff, other patients, and visitors; follow all hospital rules and safety regulations; and be mindful of noise levels, privacy, and number of visitors. 
• Ask questions and actively participate in your continued care after you leave the hospital, knowing when and where to get further treatment. 
• Be responsible for keeping follow-up appointments. 
• Be timely about paying your hospital bill, to provide information necessary to process insurance, and to ask questions if you do not understand the bill. 

To register a complaint, please contact:  

Spartanburg Medical Center Guest Services: 864-560-6600 
Pelham Medical Center Guest Services: 864-530-2273 
Union Medical Center Guest Services: 864-301-2390 
Cherokee Medical Center: 864-487-1500  

If your concern is not resolved to your liking, you may also contact:  

• DNV provides five channels for submitting a hospital complaint:
  • Website: https://www.dnvhealthcareportal.com/patient-complaint-report
  • Email:     [email protected]
  • Phone:   866-496-9647
  • Fax:        281-870-4818
  • Mail:       DNV Healthcare USA Inc.
                   Attn: Hospital Complaints
                   4435 Aicholtz Road, Suite 900
                   Cincinnati, OH 45245
• DHHS - Office for Civil Rights: 800-368-1019 
• Division of Licensing DHEC: 803-545-4370 
• Medicare: 800-633-4227  

Letters should be sent to: 

• Spartanburg Medical Center Guest Services 
  101 East Wood Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303  
• Pelham Medical Center Guest Services 
  250 Westmoreland Road, Greer, SC 29651  
• Union Medical Center Guest Services 
  322 West South Street, Union, SC 29379  
• Cherokee Medical Center 
  1530 N. Limestone Street, Gaffney, SC 29340  
• DNV - Healthcare Attn: Complaints 
  400 Techne Center Drive, Suite 100 Milford, OH 45150 
• DHHS - Office for Civil Rights 
  200 Independence Ave. S.W., Suite 515F, HHH Building, Washington, D. C. 20201 

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, including intersex traits, and sex stereotypes). Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System does not exclude people or treat them less favorably because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System provides people with disabilities reasonable modifications and free appropriate auxiliary aids and services to communicate effectively with us, such as:

• Qualified sign language interpreters
• Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats).
   

Provides free language assistance services to people whose primary language is not English, which may include:

• Qualified interpreters
• Information written in other languages.
   

If you need reasonable modifications, appropriate auxiliary aids and services, or language assistance services, contact Chandra Snyder, Section 1557/504 Compliance Coordinator.

If you believe that Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, including intersex traits, and sex stereotypes), you can file a grievance with:

Chandra Snyder
Section 1557/504 Compliance Coordinator
101 E. Wood St.; Spartanburg, SC 29303
Office: 864-560-6484 / Fax: 864-560-7305
Email: [email protected]

You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, Chandra Snyder, Section 1557/504 Compliance Coordinator, is available to help you. You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

Complaint forms are available at www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints.

To download the full Notice of Nondiscrimination in English, click here.

The full Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Notice of Nondiscrimination can be downloaded in each of the following languages by clicking the link below:

• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Arabic)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Cambodian)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Chinese)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (French)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (German)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Gujarati)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Hindi)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Japanese)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Korean)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Portuguese)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Russian)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Spanish)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Tagalog)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Ukrainian)
• Download Notice of Nondiscrimination (Vietnamese)

This SRHS Link Access and Use Agreement ("Agreement") between Spartanburg Regional Health Services District, Inc. d/b/a Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System ("SRHS") and the healthcare provider designated below ("Participant") details the terms and conditions for Participant's access to the SRHS Link electronic health information system ("SRHS Link").

To download a copy of this agreement in its entirety, click here.

a. Participant shall comply with the terms of this Agreement; SRHS policies and procedures governing SRHS Link access and use of and access to information technology resources, as they may be amended from time to time; and applicable state and federal laws regarding patient privacy and confidentiality, including but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and its accompanying regulations ("HIPAA"). Participant warrants that it is a "covered entity" and "healthcare provider" as such terms are defined in HIPAA, particularly at 45 CFR § 160.103, and shall notify SRHS immediately upon it ceasing to be either a covered entity or healthcare provider.

b. Participant understands and acknowledges that Participant is authorized to utilize SRHS Link only for Permitted Purposes. Permitted Purposes shall mean treatment of, and care coordination for, patients under the care of Participant for healthcare reasons. By way of example, access to information on a patient/resident in a “continuing care retirement community” facility depends on the scope of services provided by the facility to that specific patient/resident.

c. Participant shall maintain appropriate policies and procedures to prevent unauthorized access, use and disclosure of information obtained through SRHS Link. Upon request Participant shall provide copies of such policies to SRHS. Participant shall regularly monitor and audit access to patient information and take reasonable steps to pursue, address and mitigate any privacy and security issues detected by such monitoring. SRHS has the right to audit Participant's and each Authorized User's access to SRHS Link, with or without notice, and Participant expressly consents to such monitoring.

d. Participant agrees to indemnify and hold SRHS harmless from any damages or costs incurred by or asserted against SRHS arising from Participant's noncompliance with this Agreement or any access to SRHS Link by or through Participant, an Authorized User, or Participant's IT systems. Participant acknowledges that the SRHS Link system and software is protected by a variety of licensing agreements and laws and that any misuse of the SRHS Link system may subject Participant to legal liability. Participant acknowledges that SRHS may have additional rights and remedies available in law or equity in cases of a disclosure of trade secrets or proprietary information. Participant acknowledges that in the event of any breach of this Agreement or inappropriate use, access or disclosure related to SRHS Link or information obtained through SRHS Link, SRHS may seek such legal action and damages as may be allowable under applicable law.

e. Neither SRHS nor any of its affiliates shall have any liability for any damages whatsoever (including loss of profits or loss of goodwill) resulting from, arising out of or in connection with the use or inability to use or the performance or nonperformance of SRHS Link or any items or services provided under or in connection with this Agreement, even if they have been advised of the possibility of such damages or should have known of the possibility of such damages, and whether such liability is based on contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, products liability or otherwise. The limitations of liability and disclaimers of warranty stated in this Agreement form an essential basis of the bargain between the Parties.

f. Participant and Authorized Users acknowledge and agree that the provision of SRHS Link is not intended to, and shall not be deemed in any way to, eliminate, replace or substitute for, in whole or in part, the medical judgment of Participant or Authorized Users, or the analysis or treatment of any patient’s medical condition. Participant has the sole and exclusive responsibility for any medical decisions made or actions taken by Participant, Authorized Users, or any other employees, independent contractors or other personnel of Participant or any Authorized User with respect to a patient’s medical care and treatment.

g. SRHS Link access, and use of SRHS patient information, is governed by SRHS policies and procedures, and applicable state and federal privacy laws, including but not limited to HIPAA. To maintain Link access, Link Sites must meet the “Covered Entity” and “Healthcare Provider” definitions under HIPAA and immediately disclose to SRHS if the Site no longer meets these definitions. See 45 CFR § 160.103 for definitions.

a. “Authorized User” shall mean Participant’s employees, agents, assigns, representatives, independent contractors, or other persons or entities authorized by Participant and SRHS to access the SRHS Link. Participant shall be responsible for all actions of its Authorized Users relating to access to SRHS systems including SRHS Link.

b. All terms of this Agreement, including but not limited to Access Terms and Conditions, shall also apply to access by an Authorized User.

c. Participant shall use reasonable care in selecting Authorized Users. Participant will be responsible for initiating, updating, monitoring, controlling and removing or suspending access of its Authorized Users in accordance with the Agreement and applicable law. Participant shall require that Authorized Users act in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. Participant shall provide Authorized Users with appropriate education and training on the requirements of this Agreement. Participant shall apply appropriate sanctions against any Authorized User who fails to comply with the requirements of this Agreement.

d. Participant shall immediately remove an Authorized User’s access to SRHS Link upon the request of SRHS or if the Authorized User is determined by Participant to no longer qualify as an “Authorized User.” Upon termination of Participant's access to SRHS Link, access by Participant's Authorized Users shall also terminate.

Participant acknowledges that the patient information maintained through SRHS Link may be drawn from numerous sources. Certain categories of information may be more sensitive and may be accorded extra protections under state and federal law. For this or other reasons, at SRHS's sole discretion, patient information provided through SRHS Link may not include an entire record, and Participant and Authorized Users may have limited access to certain information and records. Participant agrees and acknowledges that such information is provided as-is, and SRHS makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of any of the information obtained through SRHS Link.

The parties agree and acknowledge that all information obtained through SRHS Link is the sole and exclusive property of SRHS. This Agreement does not grant to Participant or any Authorized User any rights in SRHS Link, the information maintained in or obtained through SRHS Link, or in any of the technology used to create, operate, enhance or maintain SRHS Link, except the limited license provided pursuant to this Agreement which license shall be limited, non-transferable and revocable at SRHS's sole discretion.

Participant and Authorized Users acknowledge that use of the access code or log-in information by unauthorized persons is prohibited. If Participant or any Authorized User has reason to believe that the confidentiality of an access code or log-in information has been compromised, Participant or Authorized User will immediately contact SRHS at the number listed in the signature block below, and immediately change the password. If Participant or Authorized User learns or has reason to believe that any person has made or attempted any unauthorized access to SRHS Link, the Participant or Authorized User will immediately report this information to SRHS at the number listed in the signature block below.

a. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the later of the dates listed in the signature block ("Effective Date"), and shall continue until terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

b. Each party shall have the right to immediately terminate this Agreement if required to comply with any legal order, ruling, opinion, procedure, policy, or other guidance issued, or proposed to be issued, by any federal or State agency, which (i) invalidates or is inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement; (ii) would cause SRHS or Participant to be in violation of the law; or (iii) jeopardizes the good standing status of licensure, accreditation or participation in any federally or State funded health care program.

c. Either party may terminate this Agreement if the other party has materially violated its responsibilities under this Agreement and has failed to provide satisfactory assurances within one (1) day of written notice of such material violation that reasonable steps are being taken to effect a cure, and (i) such cure will be completed no later than ten (10) days from notice of such material violation; and (ii) the breaching party has taken reasonable steps to prevent the recurrence of such material violation.

d. In addition to other termination rights stated in this Agreement, SRHS reserves the right to immediately terminate Participant’s access, or any Authorized User's access, at any time in its sole discretion, including if SRHS has reason to believe that Participant or Authorized User has suffered a breach of the security of its information technology systems or has violated any term of this Agreement.

Participant shall not assign or transfer this Agreement, or any part thereof, without the prior review and written consent of SRHS. Any such assignment without SRHS's written consent shall be void and have no binding effect. This Agreement shall be binding on the parties, their successors and permitted assigns.

By accepting this Agreement by such electronic means as SRHS or its vendor may provide, the Participant shall be deemed to have accepted and agreed to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Please note that these policies are subject to change as our services evolve. 

SRHS includes links to external resources for your convenience in accessing information. Please note that these external sites may have differing privacy policies. 

This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement.

The Spartanburg Regional Health Services District, Inc. (SRHS) website has been translated for your convenience using translation software powered by Google Translate. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation; however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace human translators. Translations are provided as a service to users of the SRHS website and are provided "as is." No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, or correctness of any translations made from SRHS into any other language. Some content (such as images, videos, Flash, etc.) may not be accurately translated due to the limitations of the translation software.

The official text is the English version of the website. Any discrepancies or differences created in the translation are not binding and have no legal effect for compliance or enforcement purposes. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contained in the translated website, refer to the English version of the website which is the official version.

When you sign up for text messages from Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System (SRHS), you are signing up to receive SMS text messages related to your relationship with SRHS, including all SRHS facilities and hospitals, and all Medical Group of the Carolinas locations and affiliated providers. SRHS text messages may include updates related to your medical visits, your MyChart account, MyChart one-time passcode requests, billing notifications, prescription reminders and care management notifications.  

Cell phone carriers and providers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

Message and data rates may apply for any messages sent to and from SRHS. Text message frequency may vary.

Contact us at 1-888-842-4278 or [email protected]. 

You can opt-out of text messages from SRHS by texting STOP to the shortcode (a five-digit phone number) you received the text message from. Your STOP request will generate one final message confirming that you have been unsubscribed from future text messages from that shortcode. After this step, you will no longer receive SMS messages from the shortcode you opted-out from. If you want to join again and receive future text messages from SRHS, you can sign up by texting SRHS to the shortcode or by using your SRHS MyChart account.

Message and data rates may apply for any messages sent to and from SRHS.

If you are experiencing issues with the SRHS text messaging program, you can reply to a text message with HELP for more assistance, or you can get help directly at 1-888-842-4278 or [email protected].

Message and data rates may apply for any messages sent to and from SRHS. Text message frequency may vary.