Effective Date: January 20, 2026
Benjamin DeVries, D.O., LLC
1831 N. Belcher Rd, Suite A-3
Clearwater, FL 33765
Phone: (727) 600-8500
Email: info@doctordevries.com
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information. Please review it carefully.
Benjamin DeVries, D.O., LLC (“we,” “our,” or “the Practice”) is committed to protecting your health information. Federal and state laws require us to:
- Maintain the privacy and security of your Protected Health Information (PHI)
- Provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices
- Follow the terms of the Notice of Privacy Practices currently in effect
- Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction on how we use or disclose your PHI
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information
We may use and disclose your health information for the following purposes:
1. Treatment
We may use your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your medical care and related services. This includes sharing information with other healthcare providers involved in your care, such as specialists, hospitals, laboratories, and pharmacies.
Example: We may share your medical records with a specialist to whom we refer you for evaluation or treatment.
2. Payment
We may use and disclose your health information to bill and collect payment for services we provide. This may include sharing information with your health insurance company, Medicare, Medicaid, or other payers.
Example: We may submit claims to your insurance company that include your diagnosis, procedures performed, and other necessary information.
3. Healthcare Operations
We may use and disclose your health information for our normal business operations, including quality improvement, staff training, credentialing, and compliance activities.
Example: We may review medical records to assess the quality of care provided or to train medical students and residents.
4. Appointment Reminders and Health Information
We may contact you to remind you of appointments or to provide information about treatment alternatives or other health-related services that may be of interest to you.
Communication Methods:
With your consent, we may contact you using the following methods:
- Phone calls to the number(s) you provide
- Text messages (SMS) to your mobile phone
- Email to the email address you provide
- Postal mail to your address on file
Important Security Notice:
Please be aware that email and text messages are not secure forms of communication. There is a risk that Protected Health Information (PHI) sent via email or text could be intercepted or accessed by unauthorized individuals. By providing your email address and/or mobile phone number and consenting to communications, you acknowledge and accept these risks.
You have the right to:
- Request that we do not contact you via email or text message
- Specify your preferred method of communication
- Withdraw consent for electronic communications at any time by contacting our office
To opt out of text messages, reply STOP to any text. To opt out of emails, click the unsubscribe link in any email or contact our office at (727) 600-8500.
5. As Required by Law
We will disclose your health information when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.
6. Public Health and Safety
We may disclose your health information to public health authorities for purposes such as:
- Preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability
- Reporting births, deaths, suspected abuse or neglect
- Reporting reactions to medications or problems with medical products
- Notifying individuals who may have been exposed to a disease or are at risk of contracting or spreading a disease
7. Other Uses Requiring Your Authorization
Other uses and disclosures not described in this notice will be made only with your written authorization. You may revoke your authorization at any time by submitting a written request to our office.
Your Privacy Rights
You have the following rights regarding your health information:
Right to Inspect and Copy
You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your medical records. To request copies of your records, please submit a written request to our office. We may charge a reasonable fee for copying and mailing costs.
Right to Request Amendments
If you believe that information in your medical record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that we amend it. We may deny your request under certain circumstances, and we will provide you with a written explanation.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures of your health information made by our office. This does not include disclosures for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or disclosures made with your authorization.
Right to Request Restrictions
You have the right to request restrictions on how we use or disclose your health information. We are not required to agree to your request, but if we do, we will comply with the agreed-upon restriction except in emergency situations.
Right to Request Confidential Communications
You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information in a specific manner or at a specific location. For example:
- By mail instead of by phone, email, or text message
- By phone instead of text or email
- At your work address instead of your home address
- At an alternative phone number
We will accommodate all reasonable requests. To make a request, please contact our office in writing.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time, even if you have previously agreed to receive it electronically. You may request a copy by contacting our office.
Information Collected Through Our Website
When you submit a request for an appointment or contact us through our website, we collect the following information:
- Full name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Date of birth
- Any other information you voluntarily provide in the message or inquiry
How We Use This Information:
- To schedule and confirm your appointment
- To contact you regarding your care
- To maintain our patient records in accordance with medical record retention laws
Security Measures:
- All information submitted through our website is transmitted via secure, encrypted connection (HTTPS/SSL)
- Information is stored securely and accessed only by authorized personnel
- We have implemented administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your information
Third-Party Service Providers:
We may use third-party services to operate our website and manage appointment requests. These services are carefully selected and are required to maintain appropriate safeguards to protect your information. We maintain Business Associate Agreements with all third-party vendors who have access to Protected Health Information.
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time. Any changes will apply to health information we already have as well as information we receive in the future. We will post the current notice on our website and in our office, and the effective date will be noted at the top of the notice.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our office or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
To file a complaint with our office:
Contact our Privacy Officer:
Benjamin DeVries, D.O., LLC
1831 N. Belcher Rd, Suite A-3
Clearwater, FL 33765
Phone: (727) 600-8500
Email: info@doctordevries.com
To file a complaint with the federal government:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 1-877-696-6775
Website: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/
You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Contact Information
If you have questions about this Notice of Privacy Practices or need additional information, please contact:
Benjamin DeVries, D.O., LLC
1831 N. Belcher Rd, Suite A-3
Clearwater, FL 33765
Phone: (727) 600-8500
Email: info@doctordevries.com
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Acknowledgment:
By submitting information through our website or receiving services at our office, you acknowledge that you have been provided with an opportunity to review this Notice of Privacy Practices.
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to revise this notice at any time. The current version will always be available on our website and in our office.