For Patients & Families

Before your first visit, we'll ask you to review our Notice of Privacy Practices document, which describes how Dana-Farber will handle your personal health information, our duty to protect the confidentiality of your health information, and your rights regarding your health information. We will ask you to sign the last page of the Notice of Privacy Practices document, which we will keep on file.

You can download the full version of our Notice of Privacy Practices document.
Aviso de Prácticas de Privacidad (en español).

Some of the ways we work to protect patient privacy:

• Every discussion and consultation by Dana-Farber staff about a patient is conducted in a discreet and confidential manner. Personal or medical details of a patient's condition or treatment are not casually disclosed to others, nor are such discussions conducted in public areas.
• Respect and common courtesy, such as knocking before entering a patient's room, is our standard practice.
• When we consult with patients, we make every effort to ensure that the discussion is conducted in a confidential manner. Details of a patient's condition or treatment are only disclosed to those who have a need to know.
• Patients have the right to know what role any observer may have in their care, and also the right to request that the observer leave.
• Medical records are kept secure at all times. Only authorized staff members can view your medical record.
• Family or household members, even close relatives, cannot see your medical record without your authorization (except in special circumstances, as defined by state and federal law).

The privacy of your medical information is further protected by federal guidelines known as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

If you have questions about the privacy of your medical records, please contact Dana-Farber’s Health Information Services department at 617-632-6593 or email DFCIAskInfoSecurityandPrivacy@dfci.harvard.edu.