Patient Confidentiality and Medical Records

Brigham and Women’s Hospital is committed to providing patients with high quality health care and to forming relationships that are built on trust. That means respecting patient privacy and confidentiality of medical information. We protect patients’ privacy and confidentiality rights through policies and procedures that allow access to personal and medical information only for legitimate purposes that support treatment, payment, and health care operations. Our policies and procedures are in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Please call the Admitting staff at (617) 732-7453 to request a copy of “Mass General Brigham Notice for Use and Sharing of Protected Health Information” that describes in detail how medical information about you may be used and shared.

These policies conform to state and federal laws and are designed to safeguard your privacy. For more information on getting a medical record release form, please call Health Information Services at (617) 732-4939.

In addition, certain patient information is further restricted by law, such as:

  • communications between a patient and psychotherapist;
  • sexually transmitted disease test results or visit notes;
  • substance abuse rehabilitation treatment records;
  • sexual assault treatment records.

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