Needles & Tea
Privacy Statement and Terms of Use for Websites and Mobile Applications
Last updated: February 15, 2021
Thank you for visiting Needles and Tea. We are committed to protecting the privacy of all visitors to our websites and mobile applications. We wrote this privacy statement to help you understand what information we collect, how we use it, what choices you have, and other important information regarding the use of information collected through our websites and online services. Needles & Tea are referred to in this privacy statement, collectively, as “Needles & Tea” “Needles and Tea” “we,” “us,” or “our.”
If you have any questions or comments about this privacy statement or the ways in which Needles & Tea uses the information we collect online, please do not hesitate to contact us using the contact information provided at the bottom of this statement.
Scope & Application
This privacy statement applies to information collected through our website. This privacy statement also applies to information shared with us by our approved partners and other third-party sources.
This privacy statement does not apply to (i) information collected from you either offline or through websites and other online services that do not display or link to this privacy statement, including third-party websites to which our online services may link, or (ii) information that would be considered “Protected Health Information” under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Collection and Use of Information
When you view and/or interact with our website, we may collect and combine information about you, how you engage with our website, and the devices you use to view and/or interact with our website for the legitimate purposes described below. This includes information you provide to us in connection with your use of the website and information collected automatically when you view and/or interact with our website.
Some of the information we collect may be personally identifiable information, which includes, but is not limited to, information like your name, email address, postal address, or phone number. We do not collect information that would personally identify you unless you choose to provide it or as otherwise provided in this privacy statement. You can access and browse our website at any time without providing any personally identifying information.
Information You Provide to Us
We collect information you provide directly to us, such as when you create or modify your account or user preferences, sign up for a newsletter, contact us, respond to a survey, or otherwise communicate with us. This information may include your name, email address, phone number, postal address, insurance information, personal health information (however this does not rise to the level of “Protected Health Information” protected by HIPAA), survey responses, user content stored or entered into the forms found in our website, and other information you choose to provide through use of our website.
The information you provide to us will be used to (i) set up your account (if applicable); (ii) if you elect to receive information from us, provide you with such information; (iii) improve the website; (iv) respond to your inquiries; and/or (v) fulfill any other purpose for which you provided it.
We will not use the information you provide for any purposes other than as described in this privacy statement or explained to you at the point at which the information was collected.
Information Collected Automatically
We may automatically collect additional information about your visit to our website, including pages you visit, your geographic location based solely on your Internet Protocol (IP) address, promotions with which you interacted, and other behaviors. This information is collected for the purpose of improving your overall visit to our website. The data may also be used to provide interest-based content for communications for which you have opted in.
We may also gather certain information automatically, including but not limited to, IP addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), operating system, date/time stamp, mobile location and device type, and/or clickstream data. This information may be collected via cookies, web beacons, and/or similar technologies that help us serve you better, for example, by making your interactions with our website faster or more personalized. The information we collect automatically through these technologies may be linked to other information we collect about you.
When interacting with our services within social media, we may obtain information stored within social media or authorized by you to be collected by us within such social media. This information may include your contact information, email address, friend information, friends and pages with whom you have an association, and other information stored within social media.
Information Collected by Third-Party Tools
We may also use certain third-party products or services (“Third-Party Tools”), such as Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google, in order to better understand the use of our website. These Third-Party Tools may collect information such as how often users visit our website, what pages they visit, and the websites which referred you to our website. Further, the Third-Party Tools may use the data collected to track and examine the use of the website, to prepare reports on its activities, and to share them with other related services. The Third Party Tools, to the extent they serve advertising, may also use the data collected on the website to contextualize and personalize ads on their own advertising networks. Each Third-Party Tool’s ability to use and share information it collects about your visits to the website is restricted by its own privacy policies and terms of use. Additional information about the Third-Party Tools we use can be provided by contacting us as set forth below.
Sharing of Information
We may share the information described above as set forth in this privacy statement or as otherwise described at the time such information is collected from you. We will not sell, rent, or swap this information, nor will we authorize any of our service providers or business partners to use this information for their own commercial purposes without your permission.
Information Shared by Us
· Service Providers. In the course of doing business, we employ other companies and individuals to perform a variety of functions on our behalf. For example, we may provide information as necessary to companies that host our website or send communications on our behalf. These service providers may have access to information about you if it is needed to perform their functions for us, but they are not authorized by us to use or disclose such information except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or to comply with legal requirements, and they are required to maintain the information in confidence.
· Legally Required. We reserve the right to disclose information if required to do so by law or by a regulatory authority. We may also disclose information as part of an investigation or enforcement action relating to improper or illegal conduct in connection with our website or other products, including, without limitation, any situations that may potentially involve threats to the safety or privacy of any person or misuse of our website.
· Aggregated and Non-Identified Data. We may maintain and use aggregate data or other non-identified information (i.e., data that does not identify a specific individual), such as usage statistics, device data, online traffic patterns, and user feedback. In addition to using this information for the purposes discussed in this privacy statement, we may disclose such aggregated or non-identified data to third parties without restriction.
Security
The security of your information is important to us. We take precautions to protect your information by implementing safeguards to protect the information we collect. But you should keep in mind that no website or Internet transmission is ever completely secure or error-free. PLEASE NOTE: The safety and security of your information also depends on you. We urge you to take steps to keep your private information secure, such as choosing strong passwords and never sharing your password with anyone else. If you create or receive a password in connection with website access, please notify us promptly if you believe your password security has been breached, and remember to log off of the website before you leave your computer or mobile device.
The website may offer opportunities to communicate through email. Because normal email is not encrypted, the possibility exists that unauthorized individuals may intercept email messages. Needles & Tea and affiliates are not responsible for the privacy and security of email messages except those stored in our system.
Third-Party Links
Occasionally, at our discretion, we may include or offer third-party products or services on or linked to our website. These third-party websites have separate and independent privacy policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked websites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our website and welcome any feedback about these websites. We also encourage the following disclaimer when links are provided: “You are being redirected to a website outside of Needles & Tea. Needles & Tea is not responsible for any aspect of the external website.”
COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)
We do not knowingly collect or use any personally identifiable information from children (defined by COPPA as minors younger than 13) on our website. We do not knowingly allow children to communicate with us or use any of our website. If you are a parent and become aware that your child has provided us with information, please contact us using one of the methods specified herein, and we will work with you to address this issue.
California and Delaware “Do Not Track” Disclosures
California and Delaware law require us to indicate whether we honor “Do Not Track” settings in your Web browser concerning targeted advertising. At this time, there is no worldwide uniform or consistent industry standard or definition for responding to, processing, or communicating “Do Not Track” signals. Thus, like many other websites and online services, we do not currently respond to any “Do Not Track” browser requests.
California Privacy Rights
Under California law, California residents have the right to request in writing from businesses with whom they have an established business relationship: (a) a list of the categories of personally identifiable information—such as name, email, and mailing address, and the type of services provided to the customer—that a business has disclosed to third parties (including affiliates that are separate legal entities) during the immediately preceding calendar year for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes; and (b) the name and address of all such third parties. To request the above information, please email us at: tina@needlesandtea.com with a reference to California Disclosure Information. Please note that we are only required to respond to each customer once per calendar year.
Visiting needlesandtea.com from Outside The United States
Needles & Tea is located in the United States. The services described within the website are directed only at residents in the United States. If you are visiting the website, or any part thereof, from outside of the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, or processed in the United States and maintained on computers or servers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the privacy laws may not be as protective as those in your jurisdiction. If you are located in the European Economic Area, you may have additional rights, including the right to access, correct, erase, restrict processing of, and object to processing and profiling of your information, and to complain to a supervisory authority within your jurisdiction. By using any portion of our website, you understand and consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and those third parties with whom we share it as described in this privacy statement.
Our Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic is dedicated to providing service with respect for human dignity. Protecting your privacy and your healthcare information is fundamental in the course of our relationship. This notice will remain in effect until it is replaced or amended by changes in law. We gather personal information and health information in several ways. This information is used for treatment, payment and healthcare operations:
• Information we receive from you;
• Information we receive from other healthcare providers; and
• Information we receive from third party payers.
You should be aware that during the course of our relationship with you we will likely use and disclose health information about you for the treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.
You may authorize us to use protected health information for any purpose or to disclose your health information to any personal representation you choose by submitting the authorization in writing.
Marketing
Needles & Tea treats all information we receive from visitors as confidential and do not use the information for any purpose other than to fulfill our obligations to them. We keep visitor information secure at all times, and prevent the misuse and unauthorized disclosure of it by our employees or any third parties.
The Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic office will not use your health information for marketing communications without your written authorization. However, this office may send birthday cards, newsletters and appointment reminders, by telephone calls, or mail.
Disclosure
The Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic office may use or disclose your protected health information when required by law.
Patient Rights
1) Upon written request you have the right to access, review or receive copies of your healthcare records. There is a copy fee of $20. Please allow 10 working days for processing.
2) Upon written request you have the right to receive a list of items this office disclosed about your healthcare information.
3) You have the right to request that this office place additional restrictions on disclosure of your Protected Health Information.
4) You have the right to request that we amend your Protected Health Information; the request must be in writing.
5) You have the right to receive all notices in writing.
If you have any questions, complaints or want more information, please contact us:
Tina Chin-Kaplan, LAc
Clinic Director
2447 Santa Clara Ave., Suite 209
Alameda, CA 94501
415-640-2341
Send written complaints to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services at:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Telephone: (202) 619-0257
Toll Free: (877) 696-6775
Acceptance of These Terms
This privacy statement is incorporated into and subject to the Terms of Use that display or link to this privacy statement. Each time that you view and/or interact with our website, you signify that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the Terms of Use, which incorporate this privacy statement. If you do not agree to the terms of this privacy statement or the use of your information as set forth in this privacy statement, please do not use our website. Your continued use of our website subsequent to changes in this privacy statement will signify your acceptance of the changes.
Updates
We reserve the right to modify this privacy statement at any time. All updates will be posted on this page, so please review it periodically.
Reservation of Rights
By viewing and/or interacting with our website, you consent, and we reserve the right, to have the data we collect from you be used as described in this privacy statement. Additionally, you consent, and we reserve the right, to have the data we collect from you be used in ways that are consistent with the then-current disclosed privacy statement regardless of when your data was collected (e.g., we can use your data in ways that are consistent with the current disclosed practices, but which may not be entirely consistent with the previously disclosed practices when your information was originally collected).
If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy statement or if you have any questions, you should contact us immediately via email at tina@needlesandtea.com.
Last updated: February 15, 2021
