Privacy Policy
Last Updated April 3, 2006
Notification of Change
The Information We Collect
Opting Out
Your California Privacy Rights
Correct/Update Your Profile
Aggregate Information
Cookies
Security of Your Information
Tell-A-Friend, Ecards and Personal Fundraising Pages
Links to Other Web Sites
Information from Children
Transmission of Health-Related Data
Welcome to the Easterseals Online Network, the Web site of Easterseals, Inc. (Easterseals headquarters) and participating Easterseals affiliates across the country.
Because Easterseals values the privacy of constituents visiting the Easterseals Online Network, users of the Easterseals Online Network have the right to manage their own personal information.
You can contact Easterseals for more information related to the privacy of the information you provide online:
Mail: 141 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 1400A, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-726-6200
Online: Click here to contact Easterseals via email. Your request will be answered within 2-3 business days.
Notification of Change
Easterseals reserves the right to change this policy at any time. Easterseals privacy policy will be kept up-to-date and clearly posted on our Web site.
The Information We Collect
On many pages of the Easterseals Online Network -- in particular when donating online, completing an action alert, registering for a special event, purchasing a product, or completing various feedback forms -- visitors are asked to list name, address, and other personal contact information. Information collected is specifically and knowingly provided by site visitors and may include name, email address, format preference (HTML vs. text), address, telephone number, interests and other similar information. Collecting this information helps Easterseals to better provide site visitors with relevant and useful content.
Easterseals has partnered with Convio, Inc. to power the Web content, email and transaction processing capabilities to serve our constituents and fulfill our mission on the Internet. Convio, Inc. is an Internet software and services company that provides online electronic Constituent Relationship Management (eCRM) solutions for nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions. Convio will not disclose your name or other personally identifiable information (such as your e-mail address or phone number) to any party other than Easterseals.
Neither Easterseals nor Convio store sensitive information such as credit card numbers. When an online transaction is completed through the Easterseals Online Network, such as a charitable contribution, credit card information is used solely for the purpose of completing that specific transaction and is not retained in the Easterseals or Convio database.
Easterseals will not sell, share or exchange personal contact information collected from this Web site with other organizations. If a user has a previous relationship with Easterseals through another channel (i.e., mail, phone), Easterseals will occasionally rent or exchange those names and addresses with other organizations as a way of providing extra funds to help support services. If you do not want to participate in this program, please let us know.
Visitors to the Easterseals Online Network are not required to share any personally identifiable information. Users who do not wish to share personal information when visiting the Easterseals Online Network can still access the Network's Web pages and the valuable information provided.
Opting Out
Easterseals provides site visitors with the opportunity to opt-out of receiving our online and offline communications.
If you would like to opt-out of receiving email communications please update your user profile. Email unsubscribe requests are processed immediately.
To discontinue the receipt of postal mail, please contact Easterseals. Shortly, Easterseals will be adding the capability to remove your name from our postal mailing list online. You'll need to register as user of the Easterseals Online Network. Please note: there is a 8-12 week lapse period due to the fact that a subsequent mailing may already be in production. If you do receive another mailing, please disregard it.
Your California Privacy Rights
To review a special notice for California residents only per California Privacy Law (SB27): Exchanging, Renting, Reselling Personal Information, please visit the "Your California Privacy Rights" section.
Correct/Update Your Profile
Easterseals offers the option to change and modify personally identifiable information. Upon your request, Easterseals will remove personally identifying information retained in organizational databases. If you are a registered user of this site, you can access your Easterseals profile and update your contact information and user preferences by clicking here.
Easterseals reserves the right to maintain information on users who have had their access to the Easterseals Online Network blocked.
Aggregate Information
Demographic and profile data (i.e., age, gender, browser usage) is also collected via the Easterseals Online Network. Easterseals uses such data to improve marketing and promotional efforts, statistically analyze site usage, improve content and product offerings and to customize site content, layout, and services. Additionally, this data may be shared with third parties on an aggregated basis. Easterseals does not share personally identifying information with third parties, except to a court or governmental agency if required by law and as stated above in the section titled "The Information We Collect."
Cookies
A cookie is a small text file a Web site places on a site visitor's computer hard drive. Its purpose is to let the site know when a user visits and to perform certain functions such as saving passwords and personal preferences.
Cookies help evaluate visitors' use of a Web site, such as what viewers want to see and what they never read. This information allows Easterseals to better focus online information and to concentrate on information people are using.
Your browser is probably set to accept cookies. If you would like to turn this feature off, you will need to change the settings of your Internet browser.
Security of Your Information
All credit card and personal profile information provided to Easterseals or our Internet software partner, Convio, Inc., is transmitted using SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption using Verisign as a payment gateway. SSL is a proven coding system that allows a browser to automatically encrypt, or scramble, data before it is sent.
Easterseals also protects account information by placing it on a secure portion of the Easterseals Online Network that is only accessible by certain qualified employees of Easterseals. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. Easterseals strives to protect your information, however cannot ensure or warrant the security of such information.
Tell-A-Friend, Ecards and Personal Fundraising Pages
If you elect to use the referral service to inform a friend about a page on the Easterseals Online Network, send an ecard, or raise funds for Easterseals by soliciting friends and family, you will be asked for the friend's name and email address. Easterseals will automatically send the friend a one-time email inviting them to visit the site. Easterseals stores this information to send this one-time email only. In addition, the contact information will be maintained solely for the future convenience of the individual who provided the information - to send subsequent ecards or fundraising reminders/updates.
Links to Other Web Sites
Easterseals has links to other Web sites outside of the Easterseals Online Network. Easterseals is not responsible for the content of any linked Web site, or any link contained in a linked Web site, or any changes or updates to such Web sites. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by Easterseals of that Web site.
In addition, please be aware that Easterseals is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other Web sites. Easterseals encourages you to read the privacy statements of each and every Web site that requests personal information from you.
Information from Children
Easterseals does not seek to collect personal information about children through the Easterseals Online Network. If a child submits information through any part of the Network, and Easterseals is aware that the user submitting the information is a child, the information is not used for any purpose, nor is it disclosed to third parties. Easterseals will comply with all regulations set forward by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). To learn more about COPPA, visit the Federal Trade Commission.
Transmission of Health-Related Data
Easterseals understands the sensitivity of collecting and using health-related data. Personally identifiable health-related data collected on the Easterseals Online Network will not be shared with entities other than Easterseals, Inc., and Easterseals affiliates. Any transfer of personally identifiable health-related data between Easterseals organizations will take place in a secure environment with access allowed only to certain qualified employees of Easterseals. Easterseals will comply with all regulations set forward by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). To learn more about HIPAA, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
Easter Seals Oregon
Notice of Privacy Practices
As Required by the Privacy Regulations Created as a Result of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
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Our Commitment to Your Privacy
If You Have Questions About This Notice
Ways We May Use and Share Your PHI
Use and Disclosure of Your PHI in Certain Special Circumstances
Your Rights Regarding Your PHI
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
Easter Seals Oregon promises to keep your Personal Health Information (PHI) private. When we work with you, we will have to write information down about the treatment and services we provide to you. The law says that we have to keep your health information private. The law also says that we have to give you this notice of what the law says about your personal health information and that we have to tell you how we keep your PHI private. Federal and state laws say that we have to follow the rules that we have in place at the time.
We realize that these laws are complicated, but we must provide you with the following important information:
- How we may use and share your personal health information.
- Your rights to keep your personal health information private
- How we plan to use your personal health information, including who we might have to share it with, and what the law requires us to do.
This notice applies to everything we write down and keep about your PHI. We are allowed to change some of the information in this Notice of Privacy Practices. If we have to change this notice, the new rules will apply to all the information we have about you from the past and any information we might get or keep in the future. We will post a current copy of this Notice in our client waiting area and on our web site (www.or.easterseals.com). We will not mail you a new copy if we change it. You can ask for a copy of the Notice any time you want.
If You Have Questions About This Notice
If you have questions about this notice, please use one of the following methods to contact us:
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Mail: |
Privacy Officer |
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503-370-8990 |
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Click here to send us an email. We will respond with 2-3 business days. |
Ways We May Use and Share Your PHI
The following describes the different ways in which we are allowed to use and share your personal health information without your written permission unless Oregon State law does not allow us to share the information.
- Treatment. We may use your PHI to treat you or for purposes related to your treatment. For example, we may share information with your doctor about your treatment progress or how you are doing. We may share your PHI with others who may help in your care such as another person in your family or the other parent. We may want to tell you about other treatments that are available to you or tell you about health-related benefits or services that might be of interest to you. Examples are support groups, parent education classes, community resources or durable medical equipment.
- Payment. We may use and share your PHI in order to bill and collect payment for the services you receive from us. For example, we may talk to your health insurer to confirm that you are eligible for benefits and what those benefits may be. We may also tell your insurer about details regarding your treatment so your insurance company can decide if they will pay for your treatment. We may use and share your PHI to obtain payment from other people or companies that may be responsible for such costs, such as family members. We may use your PHI to send you a bill for services and items.
- Health Care Operations. We may use and share your PHI to operate our business. Examples of health care operations would be measuring the quality of care you receive from us, using outside professional services, or carrying out cost-management and business planning activities for our practice. We may use and share your PHI to contact you to cancel or remind you of an appointment.
- Disclosures Required By Law. We will use and share your PHI when we are required to do so by federal, state or local law.
Use and Disclosure of Your PHI in Certain Special Circumstances
The following categories describe unique ways in which we may use or release your personal health information without your written permission.
- Public Health Risks. We may share your PHI with public health authorities, including Oregon Department of Human Services, that are allowed by law to collect information for the purpose of:
- Reporting suspected child abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
- Preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability.
- Notifying a person regarding potential exposure to a communicable disease.
- Notifying a person regarding a potential risk for spreading or contracting a disease or condition.
- Reporting reactions to drugs or problems with products or devices.
- Notifying a person if a product or device they may be using has been recalled.
- Health Oversight Activities. We may share your PHI with a health oversight agency. Activities allowed by law can include investigations, inspections, audits, surveys, licensure and disciplinary action. They may also include civil, administrative and criminal procedures or actions, or other activities necessary to monitor our compliance with civil rights laws and the health care system in general.
- Lawsuits and Similar Actions. We may use and share your PHI in response to a court order if you are involved in a lawsuit or similar proceeding. We may share your PHI in response to a subpoena or other lawful process by another party involved in the dispute. However, we will make an effort to inform you of the request prior to sharing the information.
- Law Enforcement. We may release PHI if asked to do so by law enforcement officials:
- Regarding a crime victim in certain situations, if we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement.
- Concerning a death we believe resulted from a criminal act.
- Regarding criminal conduct at our offices.
- In response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena or similar legal process.
- To identify/locate a suspect, material witness, fugitive or missing person.
- In an emergency, to report a crime (including the location or victim(s) of the crime, or the description, identity or location of the perpetrator).
- Serious Threats to Health or Safety. We may use and share your PHI to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of another individual or the public. In this case, we will only make disclosures to a person or agency able to help prevent the threat.
- Inmates. We may share your PHI to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials if you are an inmate or under the custody of law enforcement officials. These disclosures would be necessary: (a) for us to provide health care services to you, (b) for the safety and security of our organization, and/or (c) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of other individuals.
- Fundraising. We may send you fundraising solicitations for Easter Seals Oregon by mail. If you do not wish to receive such solicitations, you may choose to opt out of these mailings. To opt out, simply give us your name and address and we will kindly remove you from our fundraising list.
Your Rights Regarding Your PHI
- You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a particular manner or at a certain location. For instance, you may ask that we contact you at work, rather than home. Our practice will accommodate reasonable requests. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
- You may ask us to limit our use or disclosure of your PHI for treatment, payment or health care operations. For example, you may request that we share your PHI with only certain individuals involved in your care or the payment for your care, such as family members and friends. We are not required to agree to your request. However, if we do agree, we must honor that agreement except when federal or state law says otherwise, for instance, in emergencies, or when the information is necessary to treat you. You must make your request in writing. Your request must be clear and concise and must include what information you wish restricted. Your request must also include whether you are requesting to limit our practice’s use, disclosure or both and to whom you want the limits to apply.
- You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the PHI that has been created by our agency. You may not, however, inspect the following records: psychotherapy notes; information compiled for use in a civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding. You must submit your request in writing. Our practice may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing and other costs related to your request. Your request may only be for records created by our practice. Our practice may deny your request to inspect and/or copy in certain limited circumstances; however, you may have a right to have this decision reviewed.
- You may ask us to correct your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete, and for as long as the information is kept by or for our practice. Any amendment request must be made in writing. You must provide us with a reason that supports your request for amendment. In certain cases, we may deny your request for an amendment. If we deny your request, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us.
- You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any, of your PHI. This accounting applies to disclosures allowed by law for which we are not required to obtain your written authorization. This list will not include the times that information was shared for treatment, payment or health care operations. The list will not include information provided directly to you or family members or information that was shared with your authorization. You must submit your request in writing. All requests for an “accounting of disclosures” must state a time period and may not include dates before April 14, 2003. The right to receive this information is subject to certain restrictions. The first list you request within a 12-month period is free of charge. Our practice may charge you for additional lists within the same 12-month period. Our practice will notify you of the costs involved, and you may withdraw your request before you incur any costs.
- You are entitled to receive a paper copy of our notice of privacy practices. You may also obtain a current Notice from our website (www.or.easterseals.com).
- You have the right to file a complaint. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our practice or with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.
- You have the right to provide an authorization for other uses and disclosures. We will obtain your written authorization for uses and disclosures that are not identified by this notice or permitted by applicable law. Any authorization you provide to us may be revoked at any time in writing except to the extent that we have taken action in reliance upon it. After you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or share your PHI for the reasons described in the authorization. Please note we are required to retain records of your care.
To obtain a form for any of the above requests or if you have any questions regarding this notice or our health information privacy policies, contact us using one of the methods listed under If You Have Questions About This Notice.