Welcome

The site is designed in a question and answer format to give you an overview of the Privacy Act and how it relates to the IHS patient medical records. Throughout the site, user friendly links provide easy access to more detailed information and/or sample forms and formats.

This web site is not intended to make you a specialist regarding Privacy Act matters. The IHS has established a network of Privacy Act staff at the Service Unit, Area, and Headquarters level who are available to help you deal with Privacy Act questions and problems. Do not use the web site to replace this staff or the advice and assistance they can provide. You are encouraged to use the information as a guide and to contact your Area Privacy Act Advocate or Service Unit Privacy Act Liaison whenever you are unsure about how to deal with a particular Privacy Act issue. When in doubt, always consult with the Area Privacy Act Advocate before you release records protected by the Privacy Act.

Special thanks go to the IHS Area Privacy Act Advocates and Liaisons who served as technical consultants and editors for this information. Their valuable input and suggestions have helped to make this a more user friendly web site.

The navigation bars on the left hand of every page are provided to assist you in locating the information you need.

Comments and suggestions from users of this IHS Privacy Act Web site are invited. All such correspondence should be addressed as follows:

IHS Privacy Act Officer
Twinbrook Metro Plaza, Suite 450
12300 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, MD 20852
(Bus) 301-443-1116
(Fax) 301-443-2316

Please email questions or comments to william.tibbitts@ihs.gov .