Patient Privacy

Your mental health care is confidential.

When you partner with us for mental health care, rest assured that Novant Health is committed to guarding your privacy. Whether you are receiving outpatient counseling or need inpatient psychiatric care, your health information and identity will be protected.

How we protect you

Adult inpatient privacy

If you're hospitalized at one of our inpatient mental health facilities, your information is held in strict confidence. That includes your name, room number, phone number and any details regarding your diagnosis and treatment. You'll be assigned an identification number to mask your identity when you are admitted.

You can choose to share this with family, friends and anyone else you want to keep informed about your hospitalization. When someone calls or visits our hospital, they must provide your identification number to reach you. If they can't give this information, we cannot disclose any details about you.

Inpatient privacy of minors

Information about child/adolescent patients will be shared only with the care team and others for whom a current and valid release of information is signed. Before your child's treatment begins, you'll be provided with a release of information form that you must sign. This form identifies who is authorized to receive updates and information from your child’s care team.

Every patient is assigned an identification number. This number must be provided to gain access to the treatment unit or share patient information with family over the phone. 

Privacy rights of others

If you're a patient or guardian, you have a responsibility not to disclose information about other patients receiving treatment. Group therapy and situations where personal information is shared must never be discussed with anyone.

Outpatient privacy practices

You can expect to receive the same level of privacy from outpatient treatment as we provide with inpatient hospitalization. Your therapist is required to maintain confidentiality about everything said during your sessions.

Before receiving treatment at Novant Health, you'll be provided with a release of information form, a medical release form and other documents related to HIPAA privacy laws. You can identify who your care team is able to share your information with and how to access your mental health records.

If you participate in group therapy sessions, you have a responsibility not to disclose information about other patients receiving treatment. Group therapy and situations where personal information is shared must never be discussed with anyone.

Managing access to MyChart 

MyChart provides you with a secure tool for managing your relationship with your health care team. Using a mobile device or a desktop computer, you can communicate directly with your care team, see your medical records, and schedule and participate in a video visit. 

You can allow a parent, guardian, family member, or friend to access your personal information in MyChart through proxy access. Complete a proxy consent form and return it to one of our medical facilities to request access. 

Proxys are limited to parents or guardians of children between the ages of 12-to 17 and will not offer access to view notes, the problem list, or sensitive test results in MyChart.

Your patient privacy documents

Novant Health is committed to guarding your privacy whether you are receiving outpatient counseling or need inpatient psychiatric care.

Your health information and identity will be protected. This right is detailed in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.

A Novant Health nurse is sitting at a nurses station, in front of a computer, talking on the phone.