Dr. Joel’s ENT Clinic Privacy Policy

Introduction

Dr. Joel’s ENT Clinic, located at Rose Gardens 85, Pongummood, Medical College PO, Thiruvananthapuram, India, (“Clinic”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy of our patients (“you” or “your”). This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our clinic, use our website, or interact with us in any other way.

Information We Collect:

We collect various types of personal information about you through different channels, including:

Personal Information:

  • Demographic Information: Name, address, date of birth, phone number, email address, emergency contact information, gender, marital status, occupation, and insurance information.
  • Medical Information: Medical history, diagnosis, treatment details, medications, allergies, and laboratory results.
  • Financial Information: Payment information, insurance details, and billing statements.

Website Usage Data:

  • IP address, browser type, operating system, access times, pages viewed, and other information obtained through website cookies and analytics tools.

Social Media Interactions:

  • Information you share when you interact with our social media accounts, including comments, messages, and posts.

How We Use Your Information:

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

  • Provide Medical Services: Diagnose and treat your medical condition, communicate with you regarding your care, and maintain your medical records.
  • Billing and Insurance: Process payments, verify insurance coverage, and submit claims.
  • Appointment Scheduling and Reminders: Schedule appointments, send reminders, and confirm necessary details.
  • Website and Online Services: Operate and improve our website and online services, personalize your experience, and respond to your inquiries.
  • Compliance with Legal Requirements: Report mandatory information to government agencies as required by law.
  • Internal Operations and Improvements: Conduct internal audits, analyze data for efficiency improvements, and manage risks.
  • Research and Development: Conduct research studies with your consent, anonymizing your data where appropriate.

Sharing Your Information:

We share your personal information only in the following ways:

  • Healthcare Providers: Share your medical records with other healthcare providers involved in your care, with your written consent.
  • Insurance Companies: Share your medical and billing information with your insurance company to process claims.
  • Government Agencies: Report mandatory information to government agencies as required by law, such as public health reporting.
  • Third-Party Service Providers: Share your information with trusted service providers who assist us with website management, billing, data analysis, marketing, and other business operations. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data and maintain confidentiality.
  • Legal Requirements: Disclose your information when required by law or to comply with legal process, such as court orders or subpoenas.
  • Emergencies: Share your information in emergency situations to protect your health or the safety of others.

Data Security:

We implement commercially reasonable physical, technical, and administrative security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. This includes using secure servers, encryption technologies, access controls, and employee training.

Data Retention:

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide you with healthcare services, comply with legal requirements, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When no longer needed, we securely dispose of your information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Your Rights:

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Access: Request access to your personal information and obtain a copy.
  • Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Erasure: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and operational requirements.
  • Restriction: Request restriction on the processing of your information.
  • Objection: Object to the processing of your information for marketing purposes.
  • Portability: Request transfer of your information to another controller.

To exercise these rights, please contact us . We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe, as mandated by Indian law.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your online activity. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect some functionalities of our website.

Links to Other Websites:

Our website may contain links to other websites not owned or controlled by us. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of such websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each website you visit.

Children’s Privacy:

We understand the importance of protecting the privacy of children, especially in the healthcare context. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under 18 through our website or during appointments. If you are a parent or guardian and you believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. We will take steps to verify your relationship to the child and delete any personal information we may have collected from them, subject to legal and operational requirements.