Electronics & Privacy Policy
(cuz the lawyer makes us do it)
Your privacy is important to us, and we are committed to safeguarding the privacy of your information. This Electronics and Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information through our website and electronic communications. By using our website, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect several types of information from and about users of our website, including:
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Personal Information: Information such as your name, email address, phone number, or other details you provide through contact forms, scheduling appointments, or submitting inquiries.
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Usage Information: Information about how you use the website, including IP addresses, browser type, pages viewed, and the time and date of your visit.
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Cookies: We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us understand your preferences and improve the website’s performance.
2. How We Use Your Information
We may use the information we collect from you in the following ways:
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To communicate with you about appointments, services, or inquiries.
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To personalize your experience on our website and improve our services.
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To manage electronic communications in compliance with HIPAA for secure patient information handling (as described further below).
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To ensure compliance with legal obligations such as health regulations and data privacy laws (HIPAA, GDPR, etc.).
3. HIPAA Compliance and Electronic Communications
We use secure, HIPAA-compliant systems to manage emails, phone calls, texts, and teleconferencing to ensure the confidentiality of your personal health information (PHI). These platforms include Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, etc.), Google Voice, and Google Meet.
While we take every precaution to protect your information, it is important to note:
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Non-HIPAA compliant communications: We discourage the use of non-HIPAA compliant communication platforms (e.g., general email, website forms) for sharing sensitive health information. If you choose to use these methods, please be aware that there may be some risks to privacy.
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Cybersecurity risks: Despite encryption and secure systems, there is always a risk of cyberattacks, hacking, or other security breaches beyond our control. We employ advanced encryption to protect your data, but we cannot guarantee complete security.
4. Data Security
We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information:
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All electronic records are stored in encrypted, secure systems, which comply with HIPAA regulations.
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Paper records, if any, are stored securely in locked facilities.
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Electronic communications, including emails, phone calls, and text messages, are stored securely but are not considered part of your official health record unless explicitly stated.
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Recording of sessions for training and quality purposes may be conducted. These recordings are stored securely but are not included in your medical record unless specified.
5. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, unless a longer retention period is required by law. In accordance with healthcare regulations, patient records are retained for at least [Insert retention period based on relevant laws].
6. Third-Party Services
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to outside parties, except in the following cases:
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When using trusted third-party services (e.g., cloud storage, billing services) that assist in the operation of our website and services, provided these parties agree to keep this information confidential and comply with data protection laws.
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If required by law or in response to legal requests or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our users or others.
7. Your Rights and Choices
You have the following rights concerning your personal information:
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Access: You may request access to your personal information or a copy of your health record.
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Correction: You may request corrections to any inaccuracies in your information.
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Deletion: You may request that your personal data be deleted, subject to legal and healthcare record retention requirements.
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Restrictions: You may request restrictions on how we process your data, especially in terms of sensitive health information.
Please contact us at [Insert Contact Information] for any inquiries related to your data rights.
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and other tracking technologies to:
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Enhance your experience on our website.
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Analyze website traffic and usage patterns. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect your ability to use some features of the website.
9. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Electronics and Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Any changes will be posted on this page, with the date of the most recent revision at the top.
10. Contact Information
If you have any questions about this Electronics and Privacy Policy, please contact us at: legal@psychologyprofs.com.