
Telepsychiatry across
Washington State

Privacy Policy & Notice of Privacy Practices
Rockdale Mental Health, PLLC (“we,” “our,” or “the practice”) is committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining the security of your personal and health information. This notice explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applicable state laws in Washington and Iowa.
1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy
We value your trust and take privacy seriously. All personal health information (PHI) is handled in compliance with HIPAA. We use secure, encrypted systems to store and transmit your data, and only authorized personnel have access to your records for legitimate treatment, payment, or healthcare operations purposes.
2. Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information:
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Contact details (name, date of birth, phone number, email address, mailing address)
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Health history, medications, and treatment information
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Payment and billing information (for direct-pay clients)
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Communications and documents submitted through our HIPAA-compliant platform (SimplePractice)
We collect this information only to provide psychiatric care, manage your account, and comply with healthcare regulations.
3. How We Use and Share Your Information
Your PHI may be used or disclosed for the following reasons:
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Treatment: To provide, coordinate, or manage your mental health care and communicate with other professionals at your request.
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Payment: To process self-pay transactions or send receipts if you request them. (We do not bill insurance or share data with insurance companies.)
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Healthcare Operations: For recordkeeping, quality improvement, and administrative purposes.
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When Required by Law: Such as for public-health reporting, abuse or neglect disclosures, or legal proceedings.
We will not sell, rent, or use your information for marketing purposes without your explicit written consent.
4. Electronic Communications & Telehealth
All video sessions, messaging, scheduling, and documentation occur through our HIPAA-compliant electronic health record (SimplePractice).
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SimplePractice encrypts all PHI in transit and at rest.
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Email or website contact forms should not be used to share sensitive medical information.
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Telepsychiatry services are available only to patients physically located in Washington or Iowa at the time of the appointment.
5. Your Rights Under HIPAA
You have the right to:
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Access and obtain copies of your medical record.
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Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information.
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Receive an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI.
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Request restrictions on how your PHI is used or shared (though we may not be able to agree to all requests).
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Request confidential communications through alternative methods (e.g., secure email or phone).
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Receive a paper or electronic copy of this notice at any time.
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File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.
Complaints may be submitted directly to Rockdale Mental Health (see contact information below) or to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
6. Data Security
We take multiple measures to protect your data:
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Encrypted storage and communication via SimplePractice
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Password-protected systems and limited staff access
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Secure disposal of physical and electronic records per federal and state retention rules (minimum 6 years for Iowa, 10 years recommended for Washington)
Despite our best efforts, no system can be guaranteed 100% secure; we continuously review and update our safeguards.
7. Record Retention
We retain medical records for at least 6 years (Iowa) and 10 years (Washington) from the last date of service, unless a longer period is required by law.
8. Website Privacy
When you visit our website (rockdalementalhealth.com):
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We may collect non-identifiable information such as browser type, pages visited, or general location for analytics purposes.
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If you submit a contact form, please do not include sensitive medical details. Contact forms are intended for general inquiries only.
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All appointment scheduling and health communications occur within SimplePractice.
9. Updates to This Policy
We may update this policy as needed to reflect changes in laws or our operations. The revised version will be posted on our website with the updated effective date.
10. Contact Information
Rockdale Mental Health, PLLC
Email: Rockdalementalhealth@gmail.com
For Emergencies
If you are in crisis or experiencing an emergency, do not use this website or email.
Call 911, 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or go to your nearest emergency department.
By using this website or engaging in services with Rockdale Mental Health, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this Privacy Policy and Notice of Privacy Practices.
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