Legal

Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective date: September 13, 2026

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

JC Family Dental LLC and Dr. Jay Patel, DMD are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information ("PHI"), to provide you with this Notice describing our legal duties and privacy practices regarding your PHI, and to abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We may use and disclose your PHI, without your separate written authorization, for:

Treatment — for example, sharing information with a dental specialist we refer you to, or a lab preparing a restoration.
Payment — for example, submitting claims and records to your dental insurance carrier to obtain payment for services.
Health care operations — for example, quality improvement, staff training, and practice administration.
Appointment reminders — including by phone, text, or email, using the contact information you provide.
As required by law — for example, reporting of certain communicable diseases, suspected abuse or neglect, or gunshot or knife wounds, as required under New Jersey law.
Public health and safety — including health oversight activities, and to avert a serious threat to health or safety.
Judicial and administrative proceedings, and law enforcement — in response to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful process.
Specialized government functions — such as workers' compensation programs, as authorized by law.

Any use or disclosure not described above — including use of your PHI for marketing purposes or sale of your PHI — requires your prior written authorization, which you may revoke at any time in writing.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

Right to inspect and copy. You may request a copy of your dental records. Under New Jersey Board of Dentistry rules, we will provide copies within 14 days of a written request, and may charge a reasonable copying fee (up to $1.00 per page, capped at $100 total).
Right to request amendment. You may ask us to amend your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete.
Right to an accounting of disclosures. You may request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made outside of treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.
Right to request restrictions. You may ask us to restrict certain uses or disclosures of your PHI; we are not required to agree, except in limited circumstances required by law.
Right to request confidential communications. You may ask us to contact you in a specific way or at a specific location.
Right to a paper copy of this Notice. You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
Right to choose someone to act for you. If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
Right to be notified of a breach. We will notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your PHI.

Retention of Your Dental Records

We retain patient dental records, including radiographs, for at least seven years from the date of the last entry. If you were a minor patient, we retain your records until you reach age 23 or for seven years from the last entry, whichever period is longer, consistent with New Jersey Board of Dentistry rules (N.J.A.C. 13:30-8.7).

Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your PHI, provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information, and abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the revised Notice effective for PHI we already have as well as any information we receive in the future. A copy of our current Notice will always be posted on this website and available at our office.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our office at 201-332-3217 / 273A Monmouth Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302, or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, at hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint. You will not be penalized or retaliated against for filing a complaint.