Privacy & Patient Rights
Whether you’re a student or a non-student, the confidentiality, privacy, and security of your medical records are the responsibility of the health care facility that owns them, but you can help maintain confidentiality by:
- Being aware of what personally identifiable information and protected health information is collected.
- Being aware of who collects personally identifiable information and protected health information.
- Understanding who manages UHS medical records.
- Asking about UHS’s confidentiality practices.
- Reading the fine print before you authorize the release of your confidential health information.
- Confirming the authorization specifies the recipient and the purpose of release accurately.
Federal and state privacy laws
The privacy of your medical records maintained by University Health Services (UHS) are protected by federal and state laws. The primary laws governing patient privacy and confidentiality are listed below. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, only those most relevant.
Federal laws
Wisconsin laws
- 146.81-.84 – Miscellaneous Health Provisions: Health Care Records
- 146.816 – HIPAA Harmonization – Mental Health Care Coordination
- 153.5 – Protection of Patient Confidentiality
- 51.30 – Mental Health Act: Records
- 943.201 – Unauthorized Use of an Individual’s Personal Identifying Information or Documents
To ensure compliance with these laws, UHS does not disclose information to family members, or others, without your consent or authorization. However, in an emergency, our professional staff will exercise professional judgment to determine if family members, usually parents, should be informed of the situation even if the student withholds consent.
