Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
Privacy / Security
What is HIPAA?What has Summit DD done to comply with HIPAA?How can I learn more about Summit DD Board's privacy policies?Service Quality
What does Summit DD do to monitor the quality of services offered by agency staff and contract providers?Do your travel trainers work for Metro Regional Transit Authority?
Responses
Privacy / Security
What is HIPAA?HIPAA is the Privacy Rule that provides federal protections for personal health information held by covered entities and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information. At the same time, the Privacy Rule is balanced so that it permits the disclosure of personal health information needed for patient care and other important purposes
What has Summit DD done to comply with HIPAA?The County of Summit Developmental Disabilities Board (Summit DD Board) has put a policy in place to comply with the HIPAA laws which protect the privacy of persons served as well as employees of the Board. The Summit DD Board conforms to all requirements set forth in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and other applicable law.
This policy will apply whether the Summit DD Board is acting as a covered health care provider or a Health Plan under HIPAA. If the Board is acting in more than one capacity, the Board shall be subject to the requirements applicable to that function and shall use or disclose protected health information only for purposes related to the function being performed.
Purpose:
(1) Ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all electronic protected health information (EPHI) the County of Summit Developmental Disabilities Board (Summit DD Board) creates, receives, maintains, or transmits.
(2) Protect against any reasonably anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information.
(3) Protect against any reasonably anticipated uses or disclosures of such information that are not permitted or required.
(4) Ensure compliance with this subpart by its workforce.
Anyone with questions about the HIPAA policy can contact the Human Resources Department at (330) 634-8855.
How can I learn more about Summit DD Board's privacy policies?If you would like more information about the HIPAA policy or you have questions regarding privacy, please contact the Assistant Superintendent's office at (330) 634-8090.
Service Quality
What does Summit DD do to monitor the quality of services offered by agency staff and contract providers?Monitoring is carried out in a variety of ways by Summit DD staff. State of Ohio regulations mandate that we conduct quality assurance reviews at least once every three years for anyone who lives in a supported living or waiver funded setting. Our Quality Assurance Department conducts these reviews by going out into the home settings of individuals and talking with the person served, their family members, and staff who work closely with them. We review their plans and check to see if the providers are providing the services that are outlined in an individual's plan. We look to see if the plan is working for that person, whether they are satisfied, and whether the results of services are what were intended. We visit people in their day program settings for the same purpose. We conduct special monitoring reviews in any of these settings when there is a concern expressed by the individual, family member, or staff member working with the individual. Last year we conducted over 900 of these kinds of quality assurance reviews.
Do your travel trainers work for Metro Regional Transit Authority?No. Our trainers are employed by Summit DD. The Community Travel Department is an ancillary service provided for individuals who are eligible for services. We maintain a partnership with Metro RTA to ensure safety and proper delivery of services when using Metro, SCAT and ADA services.