Confidentiality
UHC recognizes and supports patients' rights to confidential, quality care. Our staff are legally and ethically committed to ensuring your confidentiality. All staff, both permanent and temporary, sign agreements to that effect.
The practices and operations regarding confidentiality and privacy utilized by the UHC staff are informed and guided by law (including the Michigan Mental Health Code, HIPAA, and Michigan Medicine’s Notice of Privacy Practices), by our ethical standards, and our professional standards (via our accrediting bodies).
Our staff cannot release any protected and privileged information to professors, advisers, parents, or concerned friends without your consent. Confidentiality also prohibits staff from confirming that you have scheduled or attended appointments or sessions without your explicit permission.
If you disclose information about sexual misconduct, including assault, to a staff member at UHC, Wolverine Wellness, SAPAC, Athletics Counseling, or CEW+ Counseling, they are NOT obligated to file a report to U-M’s Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office. Many staff on campus are federally defined individuals with reporting obligations, but these staff listed above are not. Concerns about confidentiality should not prevent you from seeking the care you need.
There are, however, a few narrow exceptions to confidentiality or disclosure of records from UHC, including:
- If you are a student majoring in a professionally regulated area (e g., Law, Medicine, Nursing, etc.) or if your work requires government security clearance (e.g., Department of Defense); those regulatory boards may ask you to authorize disclosure of your UHC records
- If we consider a student-client to be a threat to self or others
- To protect children or minors from current potential abuse
- If court ordered by a judge in a current proceeding
- If you are under 18, we are obligated to release health records (except those related to highly sensitive information such as mental health records, or records containing HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol, sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy and/or birth control information) to your parents or guardian if they request them
How can I request my UHC health records?
You can request copies of your records to be released in several ways. Please note you will need to complete this process each time you want information released--there is not a blanket authorization option.
- Utilize the patient portal (learn more about accessing your portal here) by completing the request form here.
- You can also navigate to this form in the portal by going to “Menu” in the upper left corner and then selecting “Medical Record Request Form.”
- On the next page, select the form listed on the second bullet, which mentions UHS (eventually this will read "UHC"). You can also reach the form directly (you will be prompted to log into the portal) here.
- Complete the UHC Release of Information form for the release of medical information and the UHC CAPS Release of Information form for the release of counseling information. (Student athletes should complete the U-M Athletics Release of Information form.) The form(s) must be printed and you must sign by hand--electronic signatures are not acceptable. You can submit in three ways:
- Email a scanned copy with handwritten signature to UHC-ROIRequest@med.umich.edu
- Send a fax with handwritten signature to 734-936-3063
- Deliver the form in person or mail to our office:
- University Health & Counseling
Suite 0140
207 Fletcher St.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1050
Attn: Health Information Management
- University Health & Counseling
- For further information, call HIM at 734-936-3275 or email UHC-ROIRequest@med.umich.edu
- Please note: radiology images should be requested directly from the radiology team by calling 734-764-8302; images will be put on a CD to be picked up or mailed.
How can I request my medical records from another provider be sent to UHC?
It is helpful to have your medical records transferred to UHC so your health care provider knows exactly what medication or treatment was prescribed. Complete the UHC Release of Information form and share it with your provider. It may take several weeks for us to receive your records, so please plan ahead.
How can I give a family member authorization to discuss my medical information with UHC?
If you would like to allow a family member or others to discuss your medical information with UHC staff, you may complete the Authorization for Verbal Communication of Protected Health Information form. This form does not expire but you may revoke the authorization, in writing, at any time.
When you request and provide a release of information, you should be making an informed decision about the nature and terms of the release. Signing the release should always be your choice.
Portal Proxy Access
You may choose to give someone proxy access to your patient portal once your portal is set up. They can request this access by going to myuofmhealth.org/MyChart-PRD and selecting the blue “Request Proxy Access” button on the lower right side of the page.
Does UHC have access to health records from Michigan Medicine?
Yes, UHC and Michigan Medicine share an electronic health record. However, when it comes to releasing information, UHC and Michigan Medicine are separate. We each release our own records. Information on requesting your records from Michigan Medicine is available here.
How can I share information about my health history, besides vaccinations?
If you want information on file, please hand-carry a hard copy to your first appointment with a clinician (do not send in advance).
How can I share information about my vaccination history?
Vaccination information should be submitted by completing the history form in your Student Portal via Vax Viewer. You will receive information on this process in emails from the Health Response team. More information is available on the Health Response site.
Are parents notified during an emergency?
If the situation is life-threatening, next-of-kin is notified. Local emergency rooms follow the same protocol. As a general rule, if a student is seen at UHC for an urgent or less-emergent problem, a parent may be contacted if the student wants and gives permission for parental involvement at the time of their visit.
What about obtaining a durable power of attorney?
Generally, we recommend that students take the lead on their own health care. UHC is a good place for students to learn about health care systems and advocate for their own needs. Our staff are well-trained in helping college students navigate this process. We encourage parents and students to speak together about the students’ health care plans and enable students to act independently.
However, we do accept legal documents such as a durable power of attorney (POA) and are happy to include these as part of the patient record. Having a POA on file allows us to speak with the POA so long as it is still in effect. We generally verify this with the student before speaking with their POA because a patient can revoke the power of attorney at any time, for any reason and they are not required to notify the named individual of the change in status. In emergencies, we are allowed to breach confidentiality without either a POA legal document or a release on file any of these. Learn more about advance directives and durable power of attorney here.
If I am a minor (under age 18), what should I do to receive care at UHC?
Minor patients (under the age of 18) must have a "consent to treat" form signed by their parent or guardian on file prior to receiving services. You can bring your signed form to first appointment or email a copy to UHC-Health-Info-Mgt@med.umich.