Patient FAQs
South Elgin, IL - Illinois Gastroenterology Group
- How do I make an appointment?
You can make an appointment by going to Enter URL here or by finding your preferred location on the locations page and calling or filling out the Appointment request form.
- Do the HIPAA requirements apply to non physician staff ?
Yes, everyone working in the office must follow these rules.
- Can my physician discuss my care with a close family member or friend as we have been doing in the past?
Yes, HIPAA allows your physician to disclose your health information to family members and friends involved in your care as long as you do not object to the disclosure.
- Can my physician discuss my case with other providers and/or staff in the office?
Yes, as long as your physician is discussing only the information needed to accomplish a legitimate function (like treatment or payment for your treatment). This is called the “minimum necessary” standard under the Privacy Rule.
- Can my physician still fax records?
Yes, your physician may fax your health information as long as reasonable safeguards are used.
- Can my physician still use a sign-in sheet and/or call my name in the waiting room to announce my "turn"?
Yes, your physician may still have you sign your name at the time of registration or announce your name in order to call you to an exam room.
- Does HIPAA allow my physician to share my health information to market goods and services?
HIPAA prohibits the selling or disclosing of your private health information.
- Does HIPAA prevent physician offices from reporting patients to collection agencies?
No. Under HIPAA, collection activities are considered legitimate payment functions, and disclosures of “minimum necessary” data to collection or credit agencies to receive payment are possible.
- Does HIPAA still allow parents the right to access their children's records?
Parents of children 17 years and under generally have access to their child’s health information. However, HIPAA usually defers to state law in recognizing certain confidential relationships.
- If my physician is referring me to another physician, can this physician have access to my records before I enter his/her office for the first time?
Yes, HIPAA does not prohibit the physician from accessing your health information to prepare the process for seeing you for the first time.
- Will the doctor's office still leave message reminders at my home?
Yes, unless you object to having the office contact you at your home, such as with appointment reminders, your physician will continue to leave message reminders and communications with you as necessary to provide quality service.
- What conditions do you treat?
We treat all of the conditions located on our conditions page. For more information about whether a specific office treats a condition you can filter by the desired condition on the locations page to find the nearest office to you that treats it. If you are already on your desired location page you can see the list of conditions at the bottom of the page.
- What type of services and procedures do you offer?
We offer all of the procedures located on our procedures page. For more information about whether a specific office offers a procedure or service you can filter by the desired procedure on the locations page to find the nearest office to you that offers it. If you are already on your desired location page you can see the list of procedures at the bottom of the page.