Most of what keeps a person's care on track happens between visits: a new concern passed to the right provider, a record that is already there when the next appointment starts, a lab drawn close to home. Here is how the four Hope Health Network practices keep care connected between appointments, what federal privacy rules allow, and what a community agency needs before it can receive updates.
One chart, shared with consent
The practices keep one chart, shared with the patient's consent, so a provider at one practice can see what another has already done. All four practices share one Medical Director and one West Ashley office.
Passing a concern to the right practice
A patient seeing a primary care provider who mentions trouble sleeping or a low mood can be referred inside the network to Hope Behavioral Medicine. A patient in addiction treatment who has no regular primary care provider can be referred to Hope Medical Associates. The patient does not start over with a new intake line; the same referral process routes the request.
Visits that fit the patient's week
Mental health care is available by video anywhere in South Carolina. Some primary care and addiction medicine services are often able to be delivered through a hybrid model combining video visits with an in-person exam at our West Ashley office when indicated.
Hope Addiction Medicine provides medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders. Treatment typically begins with an in-person assessment, followed by weekly in-person or virtual visits before moving to a monthly schedule, and each plan is tailored to the patient.
Routine labs and drug screens can be done at a lab of your choice, and vitals can be checked close to home through local clinical monitoring support where available.
What the privacy rules allow
Under 45 CFR 164.506, a provider may use and share health information for its own treatment, payment and health care operations, and may share it for another provider's treatment of the patient, without a separate authorization. Substance use treatment records covered by 42 CFR Part 2 work differently. A patient may sign one consent for all future uses and disclosures for treatment, payment and health care operations, and under 42 CFR 2.33 that consent stays in effect until the patient revokes it in writing.
Need to Refer a Patient?
One phone call routes to the right practice.
When an agency wants updates
A caseworker, employer, shelter or congregation that wants to hear how care is going needs the patient's written permission first. For most health information that means an authorization meeting 45 CFR 164.508, which names the information, who may share it, who receives it, the purpose, an expiration date or event, and the patient's signature and date. For substance use treatment records, the consent has to meet 42 CFR 2.31.
How to refer
You do not need to choose a practice; we route each referral to the right one. The referral line and secure form are on our referral page, our Hope Virtual Care page explains which services work by video, and our overview of the four practices introduces each one.
We typically contact the patient within two business days of a faxed referral, and initial evaluations are often able to be scheduled within a week of the request. If the patient needs to be seen sooner, call us.
Our practices are not an emergency service, and the referral form is not monitored for emergencies. For someone in crisis, call or text 988, and in immediate danger, call 911.
This article explains these rules in general terms. It is not legal advice.
Sources: 45 CFR 164.506, uses and disclosures for treatment, payment and health care operations; 42 CFR 2.33, uses and disclosures permitted with written consent; 45 CFR 164.508, uses and disclosures for which an authorization is required.
This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not create a patient–provider relationship. Every situation is different, so see a provider who can evaluate yours and develop a plan of care. Any medication discussed here may not be right for you: the right choice depends on your diagnoses, other health conditions and current medicines, so take medication only as directed by the provider managing your care. If you are ever in doubt about an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The practices keep one chart, shared with the patient's consent, so a provider at one practice can see what another has already done. Substance use treatment records also follow 42 CFR Part 2.
Yes. A primary care patient who mentions poor sleep or a low mood can be referred to Hope Behavioral Medicine, and a patient in addiction treatment without a primary care provider can be referred to Hope Medical Associates.
Routine labs and drug screens can be done at a lab of the patient's choice.
Only with the client's written permission: an authorization that meets 45 CFR 164.508 for most health information, or a consent that meets 42 CFR 2.31 for substance use treatment records.
Mental health care is available by video anywhere in South Carolina. Some primary care and addiction medicine services are often able to be delivered through a hybrid model combining video visits with an in-person exam at our West Ashley office when indicated.