Carolina Blue Skies Counseling

01

Information Collection and Use

We collect information about visitors to our Site so that we can provide an experience that is responsive to our users' and customers' needs. We do not collect medical information or credit card information through our Site.

Our Site may use forms in which you give us contact information (including your name, address, telephone number, and email address) so you can request information or support. We receive and store any information you enter on our Site, or give us in any other way, including through email, telephone, or other communications within our customer services department. You do not need to give us any personal information to use our Site.

We will not sell, share, trade or otherwise use any information you provide unless you expressly provide written permission for such use.

We will not sell, share, trade or otherwise use any medical information under any circumstances. If you require medical information, you must request it from us directly via a Medical Release form.

We may also collect non-personally identifiable information about you, such as your use of our websites, communication preferences, aggregated data relative to your services, and responses to promotional offers and surveys. We may use or disclose aggregate information only where no individual is identified, for purposes including: compiling aggregate statistics to improve the website; developing, maintaining and administering the website; and following up on comments and messages you submit.

Please note: to better safeguard your information, do not include any credit card information in your electronic communication unless specifically required by us. This Site and our Services may contain links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such sites.

02

Security

This Site has security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse or alteration of the information under our control. Where our Site allows you to enter sensitive information, we encrypt the transmission of that information using secure socket layer technology (SSL).

We may at times provide information about you to third parties to provide various services on our behalf, such as providers who process credit card payments. We will only share information about you that is necessary for the third party to provide the requested service. These companies are prohibited from retaining, sharing, buying, selling, storing or using your personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.

We follow generally accepted standards to protect personal information both during transmission and once we receive it. No method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

03

Google Analytics and Cookies

We may use a tool called "Google Analytics" to collect information about use of this Site, such as how often users visit the Site, what pages they visit when they do so, and what other sites they used prior to coming to this Site. Google Analytics collects only the IP address assigned to you on the date you visit this Site, rather than your name or other identifying information.

Google Analytics plants a permanent cookie on your web browser to identify you as a unique user the next time you visit this Site. This cookie cannot be used by anyone but Google, Inc. The information generated by the cookie will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States.

We use the information received from Google Analytics only to improve services on this Site. We do not combine the information collected through Google Analytics with personally identifiable information.

Google's ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics about your visits to this Site is restricted by the Google Privacy Policy. You can prevent Google Analytics from recognizing you on return visits by disabling the Google Analytics cookie on your browser.

04

Collection and Use of Personal Information of Children Under Age 13

We are committed to protecting the online privacy of children. In accordance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA"), we will not knowingly collect any personally identifiable information from children under the age of thirteen (13) without first obtaining parental consent.

Prior to providing any personally identifiable information, children under the age of thirteen (13) must have a parent or legal guardian complete and return a Parental Consent Form to:

Email: jeanette@carolinablueskiescounseling.com

Mail: Carolina Blue Skies Counseling · P.O. Box 3993 · Mooresville, North Carolina 28117

The consent form states that the child's parent or legal guardian, by his or her signature, consents to the collection and transfer of the child's personally identifiable information. Consent may be revoked by completing a "Revocation of Parental Consent Form" and sending it to the email or physical mailing address above.

It is also our intention to adhere to the Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) Guidelines on Internet advertising. We encourage parents and guardians to supervise and join their children in exploring cyberspace.

05

Transfer of Data Abroad

If you are visiting this Site from a country other than the country in which our servers are located, your communications with us may result in the transfer of information across international boundaries. By visiting this Site and communicating electronically with us, you consent to such transfers.

06

Compliance with Laws and Law Enforcement

We cooperate with government and law enforcement officials and private parties to enforce and comply with the law. We will disclose any information about you to government or law enforcement officials or private parties as we, in our sole discretion, believe necessary or appropriate to respond to claims and legal process (including subpoenas), to protect our property and rights or the property and rights of a third party, to protect the safety of the public or any person, or to prevent or stop activity we consider to be illegal or unethical.

To the extent we are legally permitted to do so, we will take reasonable steps to notify you if we are required to provide your personal information to third parties as part of a legal process.

07

Changes in Our Practices

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. If we decide to change our Privacy Policy, we will post those changes to this Privacy Policy and any other places we deem appropriate, so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it.

If we make material changes to this Policy, we will notify you here, by email, or by means of a notice on our home page, at least thirty (30) days prior to the implementation of the changes.

08

Correcting, Updating and Removing Personal Information

You may alter, update or deactivate your account information or opt out of receiving communications from us at any time by contacting us:

Email: Jeanette@CarolinaBlueSkiesCounseling.com

Mail: Carolina Blue Skies Counseling · P.O. Box 3993 · Mooresville, North Carolina 28117

We will respond to your request for access or to modify or deactivate your information within thirty (30) days.

09

Medical Privacy Notice

This Section describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed by us and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

A. Who Will Follow This Notice?

Health care practitioners who treat you at any of our locations, including employees, volunteers, and members of our workforce, all departments and operating units of our organization, all medical practices operated by us, and our business associates.

This Section refers to your "medical information" — all information that identifies you and relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition, including information about payment and billing for the health care services you receive.

B. Our Pledge Regarding Medical Information

We understand that your medical information is personal, and we are committed to its protection. We create a record of the care and services you receive to ensure that we are providing quality care and to comply with legal requirements. We are required by law to give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, to follow the terms of this Privacy Notice, and to notify you following a breach of the privacy or security of your unsecured medical information.

C. How We May Use and Disclose Medical Information About You

i

For Treatment. We may use your medical information so that we and other health care providers may provide you with medical treatment or services. Different health professionals may share your medical information to coordinate the different services you need.

ii

For Payment. We may disclose your medical information so that treatment and services you receive may be billed to a third party, such as your health plan, and to obtain prior authorization.

iii

For Healthcare Operations. We may use and disclose your medical information for internal operations, such as business management, administrative activities, legal and auditing functions, and insurance-related activities.

iv

Health Information Exchange. We may participate in a Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) which arranges for the electronic exchange of health information among health care providers. You have the right to request that your information not be included in this exchange.

v

Individuals Involved in Your Care. We may release your medical information to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care, or to someone who helped pay for your care.

vi

Notification. We may release your medical information to notify a family member, personal representative or another person responsible for your care of your location, general condition, or death, or for certain disaster relief purposes.

vii

Contacts. We may contact you to provide appointment reminders, information about treatment alternatives, or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

viii

Worker's Compensation. We may release medical information about you for worker's compensation or similar programs which provide benefits for work-related injuries or illnesses.

ix

Mental Health Information. State laws create specific requirements for the release of mental health records. We will obtain your specific authorization to release mental health information when required by these laws.

x

Drug & Alcohol Treatment Records. Specific rules apply to the release of certain drug and alcohol program records, and we will obtain your specific authorization to release those records as required by Federal regulation 42 CFR, Part 2.

xi

Miscellaneous. We may use or disclose your medical information without your prior authorization for public health purposes, abuse or neglect reporting, health oversight audits or inspections, research studies, funeral arrangements, organ donation, and emergencies. We may also disclose information when required by law in response to law enforcement requests, military or national security purposes, or to avoid a serious health threat.

xii

Other Disclosures. Other uses and disclosures not described above will be made only with your written authorization. We will not use or disclose your medical information for marketing purposes unless we have a signed authorization from you. You may revoke your authorization at any time unless we have already relied on it.

E. Your Rights Regarding Medical Information About You

Right to Inspect & Copy

In most cases you have the right to inspect or receive a copy of your medical information when you submit a written request.

Right to Amend

If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you have the right to request an addendum be added to your record.

Right to an Accounting

You have the right to a list of instances where we disclosed your medical information other than for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

Right to a Paper Copy

If this notice was sent to you electronically, you have the right to a paper copy. Contact us in writing to request one.

Right to Request Restrictions

You may request in writing that we not use or disclose your medical information except when specifically authorized by you, when required by law, or in an emergency.

Right to Restrict Health Plan Disclosures

You may request that we restrict disclosures to a health plan when you have paid out of pocket in full for a health care item or service.

F. Changes to this Notice

We reserve the right to change this Section at any time. Changes will apply to medical information we already hold, as well as new information after the change occurs. We will post a copy of our current notice within our facilities and on our website.

G. Complaints and Requests

If you have questions about this notice or want to discuss a problem, please contact Carolina Blue Skies Counseling at 704.928.9501.

If you believe your privacy has been violated, you may file a complaint with our organization or with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Information about how to file a complaint may be found at www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

10

Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this Site, or your dealings with this Site or our Services, please contact us:

Mailing Address

Carolina Blue Skies Counseling
P.O. Box 3993
Mooresville, North Carolina 28117

Phone

704.928.9501

Email

Jeanette@CarolinaBlueSkiesCounseling.com

Privacy Policy