Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 1, 2024

Introduction

Welcome to Michael Schreiber, Psychiatric Mental Health Services –  Brookline. We value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services in compliance with Massachusetts and federal laws.

Information We Collect

Personal Data

We collect various types of personal data, including but not limited to:

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Financial information (for payment processing)
• Health information
• User content (if applicable, e.g., messages sent through contact forms)

Non-Personal Data

We may also collect non-personal data such as:

• Browser type
• Operating system
• IP address
• Pages visited
• Cookies and usage data

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data to:

• Provide and manage our healthcare services
• Process payments
• Communicate with you about your care or transactions
• Respond to your inquiries and requests
• Comply with legal obligations

We use non-personal data to:

• Analyze website traffic and usage
• Improve our website and services
• Develop new services

Your Rights

As a patient and website user, you have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct any inaccuracies in your data
• Request deletion of your personal data (where applicable)
• Request portability of your data
• Opt-out of marketing communications
• Know whether we have disclosed your personal information to any third parties for direct marketing purposes
• Request and obtain from us, once a year and free of charge, information about the personal information (if any) we disclosed to third parties for direct marketing purposes in the preceding calendar year

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Us” section.

Opting Out

We respect your right to make choices about the ways we collect, use, and disclose your information. This section describes mechanisms for you to exercise that right:

A. General Opt-Out Rights

1. Marketing Communications: You have the right to opt out of receiving marketing communications from us. To exercise this right, you can:
   1. Click the “Unsubscribe” link in any marketing email we send you
   2. Email us at info@schreiberpsychiatricnpbrookline.com with the subject line “Opt Out of Marketing”
   3. Call us at (617) 730-8048 and request to be removed from marketing lists
2. Information Sharing: You can choose to opt out of certain information sharing practices. To do so:
   1. 1. Email us at info@schreiberpsychiatricnpbrookline.com with the subject line “Opt Out of Information Sharing”
      2. Write to us at 1330 Beacon Street, Suite 258, Brookline, MA 02446, specifying your opt-out request
      3. Cookies and Tracking: You can opt out of certain cookie and tracking technologies through your browser settings. Visit our Cookie Policy [Insert Link] for more information on managing your preferences.

B. Health Information Opt-Out Rights

As a healthcare provider, we are required to maintain certain health information to provide you with quality care and comply with legal requirements. However, you have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information:

1. Request Alternative Communications: You can ask us to communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
2. Restrict Information in Health Plan: If you pay for a service out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer.
3. Psychotherapy Notes: In most cases, we will obtain your authorization before using or disclosing psychotherapy notes.

To exercise these health information opt-out rights:

• Fill out an authorization form available at our office
• Submit a written request to our Privacy Officer at 1330 Beacon Street, Suite 258, Brookline, MA 02446

C. Limitations on Opt-Out

Please note that even if you opt out of certain information uses or disclosures, we may continue to use or disclose information as required by law or for other permitted purposes. For example, we may be required to disclose information in response to a court order or to protect the safety of our patients.

D. Opt-Out Process

When you submit an opt-out request:

1. We will acknowledge receipt of your request within 10 business days.
2. We will process your request as quickly as possible, typically within 30 days.
3. We will notify you once your opt-out preferences have been implemented.
4. You may modify or revoke your opt-out preferences at any time by contacting us.

Data Security

We implement various security measures to protect your personal data in compliance with Massachusetts data security regulations (201 CMR 17.00), including:

• Encryption of personal information transmitted over public networks
• Secure user authentication protocols
• Secure access control measures
• Monitoring of systems for unauthorized use or access
• Up-to-date firewall protection and operating system security patches
• Employee training on the proper use and protection of personal information

Massachusetts Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach involving your personal information, we will notify you in accordance with Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c. 93H). This notification will be made as soon as practicable and without unreasonable delay, consistent with the legitimate needs of law enforcement and any measures necessary to determine the scope of the breach and restore the reasonable integrity of our data system.

Health Information Privacy

As a healthcare provider, we are subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). For information about how we protect your health information, please refer to our separate Notice of Privacy Practices, which is available upon request.

Children’s Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you are a parent or guardian and believe we may have collected information about a child, please contact us.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small data files stored on your device. They help us understand how you use our website and improve your experience.

How We Use Cookies

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly
• Functional cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Analytical cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. For more detailed information about cookies and how to manage them, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any website you visit via links from our site.

Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. For medical records, we follow the retention requirements set forth by Massachusetts law and applicable federal regulations.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any material changes will be posted on this page and, where appropriate, notified to you by email or a prominent notice on our website. The revised policy will take effect immediately upon posting.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, would like to exercise your privacy rights, or need to report a privacy-related issue, please contact us at:

• Email: info@schreiberpsychiatricnpbrookline.com
• Phone: (617) 730-8048
• Address: 1330 Beacon Street, Suite 258, Brookline, MA 02446

Last Updated: October 1, 2024