PRIVACY STATEMENT
COMMITMENT
We are committed to protecting your privacy. The following outlines how
your information is used and protected, in accordance with the Health
Insurance and Accountability Act - HIPAA.
WHAT INFORMATION IS COLLECTED
1. Personal Information You Choose to Provide. This may be related to your current dilemma.
2. Registration Information
When you register for any of our services you will provide us information about yourself.
Credit Card Information (Through PayPal) When using our services, you may need to give personal information and authorization for payment purposes. For example, you may need to provide the following information:
-Name
-Mailing address
-Email address
-Credit card number and any necessary identifying information for payment
-Credit card billing address
-Business and home phone number
*NOTE* TRANQUIL COUNSELING NOR ITS ASSOCIATE COUNSELORS HAVE ACCESS TO CREDIT CARD INFORMATION. ALL CREDIT CARD INFORMATION IS HANDLED AND STORED BY PAYPAL.
ELECTRONIC SECURITY
Every effort is made to ensure privacy of electronic communications (emails
and chat). We use the latest technology in safety, (e.g. a secure network,
data encryption through SSL - Secure Sockets Layer, firewall protection,
and password protection).
RECORDS OF COMMUNICATIONS
Information provided through emails or chat sessions are saved as part of a
medical record. Printed information is saved in a locked cabinet.
DISCLOSURE FOR LEGAL PURPOSES
We may disclose information when legally compelled to do so. For
example, when we believe that the law requires it or for the protection of our
legal rights. We may also disclose account information when we have reason
to believe that disclosing this information is necessary to identify, contact or
bring legal action against someone who may be violating our Terms of
Service.
LIMITATIONS OF CONFIDENTIALITY
Although laws vary from state to state, the following are generally
considered to be exceptions to confidentiality, and may be required, by law
to be reported:
1. If there is suspected abuse to a child or elderly.
2. The proper authorities may need to be notified in the event that a
client makes a credible threat to himself or herself, or to another
person (this includes fatal diseases).
3. Information may be ordered (through subpoena or court order) for
legal purposes or court cases.
LINKS ON OUR WEBSITE
We are not responsible for the practices employed by Web sites linked to or from our Web site or the information or content contained therein. Often links to other Web sites are provided solely as pointers to information on topics that may be useful to the users of our Web site.
Please remember that when you use a link to go from our Website to another
web site, our Privacy Policy is no longer in effect. Your browsing and
interaction on any other web site, including web sites, which have a link on
our Website, is subject to that Web site's own rules and policies. Please read
over those rules and policies before proceeding.
AGE RESTRICTIONS
Services are available only to those over the age of 18.
CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
We reserve the right to make changes to this policy and to make these
changes effective for information that we have already collected about you.
You have a right to a copy of this policy and may contact us to obtain a
printed version.
RIGHTS
You have the following rights, as a client:
1. The right to Inspect and copy your record (you do not have the right to
inspect notes, which are not part of your medical record). To request
a copy, you must submit a written request - please note, there may be
a fee for the costs involved in copying or mailing your records. In
addition, your request may be denied, in the event of limited
circumstances or special situations.
2. The right to request an amendment to your record. *see footnote
3. The right to accounting of disclosures that we have made about you
for treatment, payment, etc.
4. The right to request restrictions on the information we release.
5. The right to request confidential communications.
6. The right to a copy of this policy.
For more information about HIPAA standards, you may visit their
website at http://www.hipaa.org
*Right to amend - If you believe health information we have about you is
incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. To
request an amendment, complete and submit a clear statement of the
amendment you are requesting. We may deny your request for an
amendment if it is not in writing or does not include a reason to support the
request. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend
information that:
We did not create or is not part of the information that we keep.
Is not part of your medical record.
Even if we deny your request for amendment, you have the right to submit a
written addendum with respect to any item or statement in your record you
believe is incomplete or incorrect. If you clearly indicate in writing that you
want the addendum to be made part of your medical record we will attach it
to your records and include it whenever we make a disclosure of the item or
statement you believe to be incomplete or incorrect.