Website Terms and Conditions
Andre M. Samuel, MD (The Company) operates ochipandknee.com (Website) to allow our patients and users to view health-related information, communicate with our physicians, set up appointments and access additional services. By entering and using the Website, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions of use. If you cannot or will not agree to these terms and conditions, please refrain from using the Website.
Any personal information you submit is governed by the Privacy Policy of the Website.
The content available on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended in any way to be used as medical advice or to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment offered by orthopedic surgeons, physicians or other health care professionals familiar with a user’s condition. By using this Website, you understand and acknowledge that the Company makes no warranties or guarantees that the information contained herein is accurate or complete and is not responsible for any errors or omissions therein, or for the results obtained by the use of such information. Each user of this Website has unique circumstances and certain health variables that cannot necessarily be applied to others, so always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The Company makes no representations or warranties with respect to any treatment, action, or application of medication or preparation by any person utilizing the information offered or provided on this web site. This Website and its content and all site-related services are provided “as is,” with all faults, with no representations as to accuracy or warranties of any kind, express of implied. No oral or written information provided by the Company, its authorized representatives, agents, designees, attorneys or web developers shall create a warranty of any kind and neither the Company nor any of its representative, agents, designees, attorneys or developers shall be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, incidental and consequential damages), arising from your use of this Website. As a user of this site you understand, accept and assume total responsibility and risk for your use of this Website, all site-related services, and third-party web sites.
IF YOU HAVE SUSTAINED AN INJURY OR HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION OR OTHERWISE HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS, YOU SHOULD PROMPTLY SEEK APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE FROM YOUR PHYSICIAN.
Updates to Terms and Conditions
Note that we may revise the information on this Website or otherwise change or update the Website, including these Terms and Conditions, without notice to you. Andre M. Samuel, MD may also make improvements and/or changes in products and/or services described on this Website or add new features at any time without notice. We encourage you to periodically read these Terms and Conditions to see if there have been any changes to our policies that may affect you. Your continued use of the Website will signify your continued agreement to these Terms and Conditions as may be revised.
Trademarks and Service Marks
The Company is a registered service mark of the Company. Other proprietary marks of the Company or third parties may be designated as such from time to time on this Website through use of the TM, SM, or ® symbols. Users of this Web site are not authorized to make any use of the Company’s marks or the proprietary marks of third parties, including but not limited to, as metatags or in any other fashion that may create a false or misleading impression of affiliation or sponsorship with or by the Company or the applicable third party.
Copyrights
Except as otherwise indicated, all content on this Website, including text, graphics, logos, button icons, photos, images, forms, audio, video, questionnaires, and software, is the property of the Company or its licensors and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. The compilation of all content on this Website is also the exclusive property of the Company and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. Unless specifically authorized in writing by the Company, any use of these materials, or of any materials contributed to this Website by entities other than the Company, for any purpose is prohibited. Any rights not expressly granted by these Terms and Conditions, or any applicable end-user license agreements are reserved by the Company.
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (the “DMCA”) provides recourse for copyright owners who believe that material appearing on the Internet infringes their rights under U.S. copyright law. If you believe that materials appearing on this Website infringe your copyright, you may send us a notice requesting that the material be removed. In addition, if you believe that a notice of copyright infringement has been wrongly filed against you, the DMCA permits you to send us a counter-notice. Notices and counter-notices must meet statutory requirements imposed by the DMCA. In accordance with the DMCA, the Company has designated an agent to receive notification of alleged copyright infringement in accordance with the DMCA. Any written Notification of Claimed Infringement should comply with Title 17, United States Code, Section 512(c)(3)(A), so we recommend you consult your legal advisor before filing a notice. All notices should be provided in writing to the following:
Andre M. Samuel, MD
Fondren Orthopedic Group
7401 Main St
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 832-932-4114
Fax: 281-501-5927
Accounts and Passwords
The Company’s Website may allow you to record and store information with the Website. You are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure that no unauthorized person shall have access to your online account information. It is your sole responsibility to: (i) control the disclosure and use of your activation codes and password; (ii) authorize, monitor, and control access to and use of your account and password; and (iii) promptly inform the Company of any need to deactivate a password or remove information.
Miscellaneous Terms
You agree that you will not upload or transmit any communications or content of any type (including secure messaging) that infringe upon, misappropriate, or violate any rights of any party. If you believe that information found on the Website is infringing, inaccurate or unauthorized, please inform us immediately.
This Website accepts links from and provides links to other websites that are not owned or controlled by the Company (“Third Party Websites”). The Company is not responsible for the content, security or the privacy practices of Third Party Websites. Please review the privacy statement and any terms of use of each Third Party Web site you visit. Unless we specifically advise you otherwise, links to Third Party Web sites do not constitute or imply endorsement by the Company of those sites, the information they contain or any products or services they describe.
Any references to specific products or services on this Website do not constitute or imply a recommendation or endorsement by the Company or its affiliates unless specifically stated otherwise.
Breach of Terms and Conditions
In consideration of being allowed to use the Website, you agree that the following actions shall constitute a material breach of these Terms and Conditions: (i) signing on as or pretending to be another person; (ii) using secure messaging for any purpose in violation of local, state, national, international laws or policies of the Company; (iii) transmitting material that infringes or violates the intellectual property rights of others or the privacy or publicity rights of others; (iv) transmitting material that is unlawful, obscene, defamatory, predatory of minors, threatening, harassing, abusive, slanderous, or hateful to any person or entity; (v) using interactive services in a way that is intended to harm, or a reasonable person would understand would likely result in harm, to the user or others; (vi) collecting information about others, including e-mail addresses; and (vii) intentionally distributing viruses or other harmful computer code. The Company expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate a user’s access to any interactive services and/or to any or all other areas of the Website due to any act that would constitute a violation of these Terms and Conditions.
Privacy Policy – HIPAA Privacy Notice
THIS PRIVACY POLICY AND HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES (“PRIVACY POLICY”) DESCRIBES HOW YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE — USED AND DISCLOSED. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY IS AUGUST 1, 2014.
Purpose
Andre M. Samuel, MD is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information, laboratory test results, and other protected health information. This Privacy Policy applies to all users of Andre M. Samuel, MD website (ochipandknee.com), as well as employees, management, and contractors of Andre M. Samuel, MD.
Our Privacy Obligations
We are required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) to maintain the privacy of patients’ health information (“Protected Health Information”) and to provide our patients with this Privacy Policy, outlining our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to their Protected Health Information. Users of the Website and patients are referred to as “you” or “your” throughout this Privacy Policy. Andre M. Samuel, MD and its workforce are referred to as “we”.
Responsibilities of Andre M. Samuel, MD
Andre M. Samuel, MD has established this Privacy Policy, including implementing and maintaining the various policies and procedures described herein, as an overall program in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.
Use and Disclosure Of Health Information
Andre M. Samuel, MD is permitted by federal privacy law to use and disclose our Protected Health Information for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and other purposes permitted or required by law. Protected Health Information is the information we create and obtain in providing our services to you, including billing documents related to the services we provide to you.
We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information for the following purposes:
- Treatment. We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information for treatment purposes. For example, we may use your Protected Health Information to perform our testing services and disclose your Protected Health Information, including laboratory test results, to physicians and other health care providers involved in your care.
- Payment. We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information to obtain payment for health care services we provide. For example, we may disclose your information to your health plan to receive payment for the services provided to you.
- Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information for our health care operations. These activities include, for example, monitoring the quality of our testing services, reviewing the competence or qualifications of laboratory professionals, conducting training programs, performing accreditation, certification, licensing and credentialing activities, and other business and administrative functions.
- Personal Representatives; Minors; Persons Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care. We may disclose Protected Health Information about you to your authorized personal representative, as defined by applicable law, or to an administrator, executor, or other authorized person responsible for your estate. As permitted by federal and state law, we may disclose Protected Health Information about minors to their parents or guardians. We may disclose your Protected Health Information to a person involved in your care or payment for your care, such as a family member or close friend, as designated by you or as we identify using our best efforts. We may use or disclose your Protected Health Information for disaster relief efforts or to notify a family member or close friend of your location or general condition. If you do not want us to use or disclose your Protected Health Information in these ways, you must notify us using the contact information at the end of this Privacy Policy.
- Communications About Our Products and Services. We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information to contact you about our products and services which we believe may be of interest to you.
- As Required by Law. We must disclose your Protected Health Information when required to do so by any applicable federal, state or local law. For example, we are required to report child abuse or neglect and must provide certain information to law enforcement officials in domestic violence cases.
- Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose your Protected Health Information to a health care oversight agency for activities that are authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure activities. For example, we may disclose your Protected Health Information to agencies responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules of government health programs such as Medicare or Medicaid.
- Research. Under certain conditions, such as following review by an institutional review board, we may use or disclose Protected Health Information for research purposes. We may allow researchers to look at Protected Health Information to develop a study, identify prospective research participants, or for similar purposes provided that the information is not removed from our premises.
- Disclosures to Business Associates. We may disclose your Protected Health Information to other companies or individuals, known as “business associates,” who need your information to provide services to us. For example, we may use another company to perform billing services on our behalf. We will disclose your Protected Health Information only after a business associate has agreed in writing to safeguard that information. Our business associates also are required by law to protect the privacy of your Protected Health Information.
- Judicial and Administrative Proceedings. Under certain circumstances, we may disclose your Protected Health Information in the course of a judicial or administrative proceeding in response to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful process.
- Fundraising. We may use certain information to contact you about fundraising efforts, either on our behalf. If you receive such a fundraising communication, you will be provided an opportunity to opt-out of receiving such communications in the future.
- Law Enforcement; Threats to Health or Safety. We may disclose your Protected Health Information to the police or other law enforcement officials as required by law or in compliance with a court order, warrant, subpoena, summons, or similar process authorized by law. Under certain circumstances, we also may disclose Protected Health Information to law enforcement officials when the information is needed to: identify or locate a missing person or a suspect, fugitive, or material witness; determine whether an individual has been a victim of a crime; determine if a death resulted from criminal conduct; or investigate suspected criminal activity on our premises. We may also disclose Protected Health Information if necessary to prevent or reduce the risk of a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of an individual or the general public.
- Workers Compensation. If you seek compensation for a work-related illness or injury, we may disclose your Protected Health Information as necessary to comply with requirements of workers’ compensation or similar programs that provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness without regard to fault.
- All Other Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information. We will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing your Protected Health Information for any purpose not described above. Specific examples of such types of uses include (1) most uses of your health information for marketing purposes and (ii) disclosures of your health information that constitute the sale of your health information. You may revoke your authorization, in writing, at any time, except that a revocation will not affect any use or disclosures we have made in reliance on your authorization.
- Disaster Relief: We may use and disclose your health information to assist disaster relief efforts
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA): We may disclose to the FDA health information relative to adverse events with respect to food, supplements, product or product defects, or post-marketing surveillance information to enable product recalls, repairs or replacement.
- Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors: We may disclose health information consistent with applicable law concerning deceased patients to coroners, medical examiners and funeral directors to assist them in carrying out their duties.
- Organ and Tissue Donation: We may disclose health information consistent with applicable law to organizations that handle organ, eye or tissue donation or transplantation.
- 19. Military, Veterans, National Security and Other Government Purposes: If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release your health information as required by military command authorities or to the Department of Veterans Affairs. We may also disclose medical information to authorized federal officials for intelligence and national security purposes.
- Correctional Institutions: If you are an inmate, we may disclose information necessary for your health and the health and safety of other individuals in the institution or its agents.
Your Rights
The health and billing records we maintain are the physical property of Andre M. Samuel, MD. The information in those records, however, belongs to you. You have the following rights with respect to your Protected Health Information. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us.
- Access to Protected Health Information. You or your authorized or designated personal representative have the right to inspect and copy your Protected Health Information and billing information maintained by us. We may deny access to certain information for specific reasons, for example, where state law prohibits such patient access. Health information that is maintained electronically may be accessed in an electronic format. We may assess a reasonable, cost-based fee for production of records. Please note that federal and state laws regulating laboratories generally prohibit us from disclosing test results directly to a patient. PLEASE NOTE THAT FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS REGULATING LABORATORIES GENERALLY PROHIBIT US FROM DISCLOSING TEST RESULTS DIRECTLY TO A PATIENT.
- Restrictions on Uses and Disclosures. You have the right to request restrictions on our use and disclosure of your Protected Health Information. While we will consider all requests for additional restrictions carefully, we are not required to agree to a requested restriction. If we do agree to a requested restriction, we will notify you in writing. If you have paid for services out-of-pocket in full, you may request that we not disclose information related solely to those services to your health plan.
- Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your Protected Health Information by alternative means or to an alternative address. Your request must be in writing and must specify the alternative means or location.
- Correct or Update Information. If you believe the Protected Health Information or billing information we maintain about you contains an error, you may request that we correct or update your information. Your request must be in writing and must explain why the information should be corrected or updated. We may deny your request under certain circumstances, if the information (i) was not created by us; (ii) is not part of the health information kept or for Andre M. Samuel, MD; (iii) is not part of the information that you would be permitted to inspect or copy; or (iv) is accurate and complete. If your request is denied, you will be informed of the reason for the denial and will have an opportunity to submit a statement of disagreement to be maintained with your records.
- Accounting of Disclosures. You may request in writing a list, or accounting, of certain disclosures of your Protected Health Information made by us or our business associates for purposes other than treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and certain other activities. The first list will be provided to you for free, but you may be charged for any additional lists requested during the same year.
Our Responsibilities
Andre M. Samuel, MD is required to:
• Maintain the privacy of your health information as required by law.
• Provide you with a notice as to our duties and privacy practices as to the information we collect and maintain about you.
• Abide by the terms of this notice.
• Notify you if we cannot accommodate a requested restriction or request.
• Notify you following a breach of your health information that is not secured in accordance with certain security standards.
We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice and to make the provisions of the new notice effective for all health information that we maintain. If we change the terms of this notice, the revised notice will be made available upon request, posted to our website and posted in prominent locations, and will be effective for all Protected Health Information we maintain, including information created or received prior to implementation of the new notice.
Health Care Providers Covered By This Notice
This notice applies to Andre M. Samuel, MD and its personnel, volunteers, students and trainees. This notice also applies to other health care providers that come to Andre M. Samuel, MD to care for patients, such as physicians, physician assistants, therapists and other health care providers who are not employed by Andre M. Samuel, MD. These health care providers will follow this notice for information they receive about you from Andre M. Samuel, MD, but these providers may follow different practices at their own offices of facilities.
Questions And Complaints
If you want more information about our privacy practices pertaining to Protected Health Information, have general questions or concerns, or want to report a problem regarding the handling of your information, please contact us at
You also may write to us at:
Andre M. Samuel, MD
Fondren Orthopedic Group
7401 Main St
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 832-932-4114
Fax: 281-501-5927
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint at Andre M. Samuel, MD by delivering the written complaint to the address above. You may also file a complaint by contacting the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at:
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave. S.W.
Room 509F HHH Bldg.
Washington, DC 20201
[email protected]
We cannot, and will not, retaliate against you for filling a complaint. We cannot, and will not, require you to waive the right to file a complaint with HHS as a condition of receiving treatment from the hospital.
Website: Notice is published on website at: https://andresamuelmd.com/
Privacy notice updated October 1, 2023
