Diversity

Diversity at the IU Kokomo Health and Wellness Center is defined broadly to include group differences (based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, for instance) and individual differences, including communication style, career experience, and other variables. Diversity is about valuing the similarities and differences among individuals.

IU Non-Discrimination Policy

IU Kokomo Campus Civility Statement

Expectations

• Appreciate differences of peoples' styles, cultures, gifts, and skills. Be willing to learn from others' points of view.
• Implement the four steps of the F.A.I.R. approach:
  • Feedback - giving and receiving appropriate feedback
  • Assistance - providing and asking for assistance when needed
  • Inclusion - ensure everyone feels included
  • Respect - demonstrate appropriate respect and regard for others
• Be understanding - acknowledge that there can be differences between Western and other cultures' healthcare values and practices
• Be empathetic - be sensitive to the feeling of being different
• Showing patience - understand the potential differences of the concept of time and immediacy
• Show respect:
  • Understand the importance of culture as a determinant of health
  • The existence of other world views regarding health / illness
  • The adaptability and survival skills of our clients
  • The influence of religious beliefs on health
  • The value of bilingual / bicultural staff
• Be trustworthy - convey a commitment to safeguard our customers' well-being.

Abuse

It is the responsibility of all IU Kokomo Health and Wellness Center employees to protect children and endangered adults from possible abuse or neglect by reporting concerns to the appropriate authorities in order to ensure the person’s safety. Remember that the batterer may frequently accompany the client; therefore, the client may be reluctant to give information regarding the real reason for injury. Anyone who makes a good faith report, based on the evidence they have, cannot be prosecuted for doing so and the identity of the person making the report is confidential. Reports of abuse of independent adults are voluntary.

One of the responsibilities of health care providers is to create a protective environment for all IU Kokomo students and employees. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) states that circumstances arise where health information may need to be shared to ensure the client receives the best treatment and for other important purposes, such as for the health and safety of the client or others. The Rule is carefully balanced to allow uses and disclosures of information—including mental health information—for treatment and these other purposes with appropriate protections. The HIPAA Privacy Rule permits a covered entity to disclose PHI, including psychotherapy notes, when the covered entity has a good faith belief that the disclosure: (1) is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of the client or others and (2) is to a person(s) reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat. This may include, depending on the circumstances, disclosure to law enforcement, family members, the target of the threat, or others who the covered entity has a good faith belief can mitigate the threat. The disclosure also must be consistent with applicable law and standards of ethical conduct.

Title IX and IU’s Sexual Misconduct Policy prohibit sexual misconduct in any form, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, and dating and domestic violence. If you have experienced sexual misconduct, or know someone who has, the University can help.

If you are seeking help and would like to speak to someone confidentially, you can make an appointment with:
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) 765-455-9364 (counseling services)

It is also important that you know that Title IX and University policy requires the staff of the center to share any information brought to their attention about potential sexual misconduct, with the campus Deputy Title IX Coordinator or IU’s Title IX Coordinator. In that event, those individuals will work to ensure that appropriate measures are taken and resources are made available. Protecting client and student privacy is of utmost concern, and information will only be shared with those that need to know to ensure the University can respond and assist.

We encourage you to visit stopsexualviolence.iu.edu to learn more.

Social Media

• Sharing any private or confidential information through blogging or social networking sites on the Internet is a breach of patient confidentiality and a violation of IU Kokomo Health Center policies, procedures and applicable law, including HIPAA. Any of these violations will be considered Academic Misconduct and subject to applicable procedures under the IU Student Code of Conduct.
• Violators are subject to immediate discipline, up to and including termination. Any of these violations committed by students involved in classroom or internship experiences will be considered Academic Misconduct and subject to applicable procedures under the IU Student Code of Conduct.
• Any known or suspected activity MUST be reported to Kim Mossburg and the IU Kokomo Chief of Staff, Sarah Sarber.
• Do not take pictures of patients without a healthcare purpose and a written consent from the patient on file in the medical record.
• Do not post patient pictures or information about patients on any Internet forums or social networking sites (i.e. personal email, Facebook, Twitter, professional association blogs, newspaper blogs, etc.)
• Do not post any pictures of patients received from the patient or their family.
• Do not text patient information using personal devices.
• Do not discuss patient information on social networking sites.

HIPPA Information

Protecting patient privacy and maintaining a secure environment is everyone’s job! This includes an obligation to report data breaches and security concerns to Kim Mossburg and IU Kokomo Chief of Staff, Sarah Sarber. Employees should feel comfortable knowing that IU Kokomo may not intimidate, threaten, coerce, discriminate against or take retaliatory action when employees file complaints. Violation of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules will be subject to IU Kokomo disciplinary procedures, including the possible loss of computer system privileges and/or termination of employment. Illegal acts involving IU Kokomo computer resources may also be subject to prosecution by state and federal authorities, fines and jail sentence.

Alternatively, any data breaches, security concerns, or potential HIPAA Violations can be reported to the IU Bloomington Privacy Officer at 317-278-4521.

HIPAA Privacy & Security Compliance at Indiana University

Smoking and Tobacco Use

Please review the Indiana University Tobacco Policy for full details on smoking and tobacco use on IU property.

Indiana University Tobacco Policy

Policy on Emailing and Medical Record Documentation

Guidelines for Emailing Protected Health Information

Until further notice, protected health information will not be emailed by the Indiana University Kokomo Campus Health and Wellness Center.

Medical records are kept in a secured area. These records are protected under HIPAA.

Patients are responsible for taking any paper copies of their own medical records requested to their medical provider. Once the copies are given to the patient, it is no longer the responsibility of the IU Kokomo Campus Health and Wellness Center.