Privacy & Patient's Rights



At Waccamaw Urology Associates, we prioritize our relationship with each patient and place great importance on your privacy, rights, and responsibilities. We encourage you to review our policies on these matters. Should you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.



Your Privacy Rights





ACCESS: Upon written request, you have the right to inspect and get copies of your health information (and that of an individual for whom you are a legal guardian.) There will be some limited exceptions. If you wish to examine your health information, you will need to complete and submit an appropriate request form. Contact our Privacy Officer for a copy of the Request Form. You may also request access by sending us a letter to the address at the end of this Notice. Once approved, an appointment can be made to review your records. Copies, if requested, will be 25¢ for each page and the staff time charged will be $25.00 per hour including the time required to locate and copy your health information. If you want the copies mailed to you, Postage will also be charged. If you prefer a summary or an explanation of your health information, we will provide it for a fee. Please contact our Privacy Officer for a fee and/or for an explanation of our fee structure.

The facility includes operating and procedure rooms, post and pre-operative care areas, and a comfortable waiting area for family and friends.


AMENDMENT: You have the right to amend your healthcare information, if you feel it is inaccurate or incomplete. Your request must be in writing and must include an explanation of why the information should be amended. Under certain circumstances, your request may be denied.


NON-ROUTINE DISCLOSURES: You have the right to receive a list of non-routine disclosures we have made of your health care information. (When we make a routine disclosure of your information to a professional for treatment and/or payment purposes, we do not keep a record of routine disclosures: therefore, these are not available.) You have the right to a list of instances in which we, or our business associates, disclosed information for reasons other than treatment, payment or health care operations. You can request non-routine disclosures going back 6 years starting on April 14, 2003. Information prior to that date would not have to be released. (Example: If you request information on May 15, 2004, the disclosure period would start on April 14 2003 up to May 15, 2004. Disclosures prior to April 14, 2003 do not have to be made available.)


RESTRICTIONS: You have the right to request that we place additional restrictions on our use or disclosure of your health information. We do not have to agree to these additional restrictions, but if we do, we will abide by our agreement. (Except in emergencies.) Please contact our Privacy Officer if you want to further restrict access to your health care information. This request must be submitted in writing.


BREACH NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Beginning September 23, 2009, in the event unsecured protected information about you is “breached” and the use of the information poses a significant risk of financial, reputable, or other harm to you, we will notify you of the situation and any steps you should take to protect yourself against harm due to the breach. We will inform HHS and take any other steps required by law.


Download Privacy PDF



Patient's Rights & Responsibilities





  1. You have the right to considerate and respectful care.
  2. You have the right to every consideration of your privacy concerning your own medical care program. Case discussion, consultation, exam, and treatment are confidential and should be conducted discreetly. Those not involved in your care must have your permission to be present.
  3. You have the right to obtain from your physician completed current information concerning your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms that you can understand. When it is not medially advisable to give such information to you, the information should be made available to an appropriate person in your behalf. You have the right to know, by name, the physician responsible for coordinating your care.
  4. You have the right to receive from your physician information necessary to give informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and/or treatment. Except in emergencies, such information for informed consent should include, but not necessarily be limited to the specific procedure and/or treatment, the medically significant risks involved, and the probable duration of incapacitation. Where medically significant alternatives for care or treatment exist, or when you request information concerning medical alternatives, you have the right to such information. You also have the right to know the name of the person responsible for the procedures and/or treatment.
  5. You have the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to your care be treated as confidential unless required by law.
  6. You have the right to expect that within its capacity the surgery center must make a reasonable response to the request of the patient for services. The center must provide evaluation, service, and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically permissible, you may be transferred to another facility only after you have received complete information and explanation concerning the needs for and alternatives to such a transfer.
  7. You have the right to obtain information as to any relationship of the surgery center to other health care and educational institutions insofar as your care is concerned. You have the right to obtain any information as to the existence of any professional relationships or financial interests among individuals, by name who are treating you.
  8. You have the right to be advised if the surgery center proposes to engage in or perform human experimentation affecting your care or treatment. You have the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.
  9. You have the right to expect reasonable continuity of care. You have the right to know in advance what appointment times and physicians are available and where. You have the right to expect that the surgery center will provide a mechanism whereby you are informed by your physician, or delegate of your physician, of your continuing health care requirements following discharge.
  10. You have the right to examine and receive explanation of your bill regardless of the source of payment.
  11. You have the right to know what surgery center rules and regulations apply to your conduct as a patient.
  12. You or your responsible other has the right to be informed of the complaint process at the surgery center. You should report any concerns about your care or safety issues you encountered during your stay. You may contact the nurse manager for information regarding initiation, review, and resolution of your complaints. You may report issues to the DHEC Bureau of Health Facilities Licensing at 803-545-4370, or if Medicare related, www.cms.hhs.gove/center/ombudsman.asp or 800-633-4227.
  13. You have the right to an advance directive, such as a living will or healthcare proxy. A patient who has an advance directive should provide a copy to the facility and his/her physician. It is the policy of this facility NOT to honor an advance directive. Information is available regarding Advance Directives at https://www.state.sc.us/dmh/804-97.htm.
  14. Your right on reporting of pain will be believed and information will be given about pain and pain relief measures. We are a concerned staff committed to pain prevention and management; health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain management.

Download Patient's Rights PDF





Waccamaw Urology Associates


3911 Hwy 17, Suite A, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Ph: 843-652-4000 | Fx: 843-652-4005


Privacy Practices
Patients Rights