Privacy Policy
1. Our Commitment to Privacy
Neurology and Pain respects the privacy of individuals who visit our website, communicate with our practice, or seek information about our services. We recognize that people looking for neurological care or pain management may be dealing with sensitive health concerns, and we take the responsible handling of personal information seriously.
This Privacy Policy explains how information may be collected, used, stored, disclosed, and protected through our website and related online interactions. It describes the types of information visitors may provide, the technical information that may be collected when they browse the website, and the choices that may be available regarding certain uses of their information.
For this policy, “Neurology and Pain,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to the organization responsible for operating https://neurologyandpain.org/. “You” and “your” refer to visitors and other individuals whose information we handle through the website.
This policy primarily addresses website privacy. It is not intended to replace a formal Notice of Privacy Practices governing patient medical records or protected health information. Where applicable, those records are subject to separate healthcare privacy obligations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and its implementing regulations. The practice should provide the appropriate Notice of Privacy Practices for its clinical services.
2. Scope of This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through the website, including information submitted through online enquiry forms, website communications, appointment enquiry features, and other online functions made available by Neurology and Pain.
It may also cover certain technical information collected automatically when you visit the website, such as browser information, device details, approximate location derived from technical data, website activity, and cookie or analytics information, depending on the tools used on the website.
This policy does not automatically govern information collected through every other channel. Information provided during a clinical appointment, by telephone, through a separate patient portal, or through an independent third-party platform may be subject to additional notices, consent forms, contractual terms, or privacy practices.
If a third-party service operates an appointment system, patient portal, payment feature, map, video consultation platform, or other linked function, you should review the privacy information provided by that service. We cannot independently control all information practices of third parties.
3. Personal Information We May Collect
The information we collect depends on how you interact with the website and what features are available. We aim to collect information that is reasonably relevant to the purpose of the interaction.
3.1 Information You Provide Directly
When you submit an online enquiry, request information, or contact the practice through a website feature, you may provide details such as your name, email address, telephone number, preferred contact method, and the contents of your message.
If an online form permits you to submit appointment-related information, you may also provide a preferred appointment time, the name of a provider, a general description of the service you are seeking, or other administrative details.
Please provide only information that is reasonably necessary for your enquiry. Unless the website expressly provides a secure and approved method for doing so, do not submit detailed medical histories, diagnostic reports, medication lists, insurance identifiers, Social Security numbers, payment card information, or other highly sensitive information through a general contact form.
3.2 Technical and Usage Information
When you access the website, certain technical information may be collected automatically by our website infrastructure or service providers. Depending on the configuration of the website, this information may include your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, operating system, device characteristics, referring website, pages viewed, time spent on pages, access timestamps, and interactions with website features.
We may use this information to understand how visitors use the website, identify technical problems, maintain website security, monitor performance, and improve navigation and content.
Technical information does not always directly identify an individual. However, some technical identifiers may be treated as personal information under applicable law, particularly when they can reasonably be linked to a person or combined with other information.
3.3 Communications and Feedback
If you send us an email, complete a feedback form, request assistance, or otherwise communicate with the practice through an online channel, we may retain the information you provide and relevant details about our response.
We use this information to address your enquiry, manage follow-up communications, maintain appropriate administrative records, improve our website, and respond to issues raised by visitors.
Please remember that ordinary email and standard website forms may not provide the same safeguards as an approved secure healthcare communication system. The availability of a contact form does not mean that it is suitable for sending confidential clinical information.
3.4 Information Collected Through Third-Party Tools
The website may use third-party services to support functions such as traffic measurement, security, maps, appointment enquiries, embedded content, or other features. If such tools are active, their providers may collect technical information or receive information when you interact with the relevant feature.
The nature of the information collected depends on the service, its configuration, and your browser or device settings. We encourage you to review the privacy notices of third-party providers where their services are used.
4. How We Use Personal Information
We may use information collected through the website for legitimate administrative, operational, communication, security, and website improvement purposes, subject to applicable law and any consent requirements.
These purposes may include responding to questions and information requests; communicating about a website enquiry; directing you to the appropriate practice contact or appointment process; maintaining and improving website functionality; monitoring website performance; detecting suspicious activity; protecting our systems and users; investigating technical errors; and complying with legal obligations.
Where you have provided information for a particular purpose, we will seek to use it consistently with that purpose, subject to applicable law. If we intend to use information in a materially different manner that requires consent or notice, we will take the steps required by law.
We do not intend for general website information to replace the practice’s clinical assessment process. Information submitted through an online form may be used for administrative triage or routing where such a process exists, but visitors should not assume that a message has been clinically reviewed unless the practice has expressly confirmed this.
5. Medical Information and Protected Health Information
Neurology and pain management can involve highly sensitive personal information. If you become a patient, the practice may collect and maintain medical information such as symptoms, medical history, diagnoses, examination findings, test results, treatment plans, prescriptions, referral information, insurance details, and billing records.
The handling of this information may be governed by a separate Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable healthcare privacy laws. Where HIPAA applies, protected health information is subject to specific rules concerning permitted uses and disclosures, individual rights, safeguards, and the responsibilities of covered entities and their business associates.
This website Privacy Policy is not a substitute for that formal notice and does not attempt to list every permitted use or disclosure of patient records. Patients should review the practice’s current Notice of Privacy Practices for information about treatment, payment, healthcare operations, disclosures required or permitted by law, individual rights, and complaint procedures.
A general website enquiry should not be assumed to have the same privacy protections or clinical handling procedures as information submitted through an approved patient portal or collected during care. Please use the practice’s designated secure communication channels for sensitive health information whenever available.
6. Cookies and Similar Technologies
The website may use cookies, pixels, tags, log files, or similar technologies, depending on its technical configuration and the services integrated into it. Cookies are small data files that a website may store on your device to support functionality, remember certain preferences, understand website usage, or help protect the website.
Where used, these technologies may support functions such as remembering user preferences, measuring page visits, understanding how visitors navigate the website, diagnosing technical issues, or evaluating the effectiveness of website content.
Some cookies may be essential to the operation or security of the website, while others may be associated with analytics or third-party features. The precise categories and purposes depend on the technologies actually deployed on the website.
You can often manage cookies through your browser settings, including blocking or deleting certain cookies. If you disable some cookies, particular website functions may not work as intended. Browser-based controls may not affect every type of tracking technology, and additional choices may be available through a cookie preference tool if the website provides one.
The practice should review the website’s actual cookie and tracking configuration before publication to ensure this section accurately describes the technologies in use.
7. Analytics and Website Performance
We may use website analytics or similar tools to understand general patterns of website use. Depending on the tools configured, analytics may record information such as pages visited, the sequence of page views, referring sources, approximate geographic information, browser or device characteristics, and interactions with website elements.
We may use aggregated or appropriately de-identified information to evaluate which content is useful, improve navigation, identify errors, assess performance, and make informed decisions about website development.
Analytics providers may process information on our behalf or under their own terms, depending on the service. We will take reasonable steps to configure tools appropriately and address applicable privacy obligations. Visitors should consult any relevant third-party privacy notice for additional information about the provider’s practices.
8. Advertising and Marketing Technologies
If advertising, remarketing, or social media tracking technologies are used on the website, those tools may collect certain browsing or device information to measure advertising performance or help deliver relevant promotional content. The specific information collected and the choices available to visitors depend on the technology and applicable law.
The practice should verify whether such technologies are active before publishing this section. We do not intend this policy to imply that Neurology and Pain uses a particular advertising network, tracking pixel, or remarketing service unless that use has been confirmed.
Where consent, notice, opt-out rights, or other restrictions apply to advertising-related data processing, we will address those requirements as applicable. You may also be able to manage certain advertising preferences through browser settings, device settings, or tools provided by the relevant advertising platform.
Sensitive health information requires particular care. Any use or disclosure of patient health information for marketing purposes must comply with applicable law and any required authorization or consent.
9. When We May Share Information
We do not treat the submission of information through our website as unrestricted permission to disclose it. We may share information in circumstances that are reasonably related to the purposes described in this policy, subject to applicable law and any necessary consent.
9.1 Service Providers
We may use service providers to host, maintain, secure, support, or analyze the website and to assist with administrative communications or other website functions. Depending on their assigned responsibilities, these providers may process information on our behalf.
We seek to use appropriate contractual, technical, and organizational measures where warranted by the nature of the service and applicable legal requirements. Where a service provider handles protected health information on behalf of a HIPAA-regulated entity, additional contractual and legal requirements may apply.
9.2 Healthcare Providers and Care-Related Services
If you become a patient, information may be shared with healthcare professionals, laboratories, pharmacies, referral providers, billing services, health plans, or other parties as necessary for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or another purpose permitted or required by applicable law.
The exact circumstances in which clinical information may be shared are addressed in the applicable Notice of Privacy Practices and other required patient documentation. This website policy does not replace those disclosures.
9.3 Legal Requirements and Protection of Rights
We may disclose information when we reasonably believe that disclosure is required by law, valid legal process, a court order, or a request from an authorized regulatory or government body. We may also disclose information where permitted or required to investigate suspected fraud, address a security incident, protect the rights or safety of individuals, or enforce applicable terms.
Where required by law, we will assess the validity and scope of the request and limit disclosure accordingly.
9.4 Business or Organizational Changes
If the practice undergoes a merger, restructuring, acquisition, transfer of assets, or similar organizational transaction, information may need to be reviewed or transferred as part of that process, subject to applicable confidentiality, privacy, and healthcare requirements.
Any such transfer will be handled in accordance with applicable law and any restrictions governing patient records or protected health information.
9.5 With Your Consent
We may disclose information for an additional purpose when you have provided valid consent or authorization, where such consent is required or appropriate under applicable law. You may be able to withdraw consent for certain future uses or disclosures by contacting us, although withdrawal will not necessarily affect processing already completed or disclosures that we are legally required or permitted to make.
10. Sale and Commercial Use of Personal Information
We do not intend to sell personal information submitted through the website in exchange for money. The practice should confirm this statement against its actual data practices and the technologies used by its website and service providers.
Certain laws define “sale,” “sharing,” targeted advertising, or similar activities more broadly than an ordinary cash transaction. Depending on the jurisdiction and the tools deployed, allowing third-party advertising or analytics technologies to receive browsing information may trigger additional disclosure or choice requirements.
Where applicable, we will provide the notices, consent mechanisms, or opt-out choices required by law. We will not use this section to imply that information is never disclosed to service providers or other parties in the circumstances described in this policy.
Protected health information is subject to separate restrictions, including requirements that may apply to marketing, authorization, and disclosure for commercial purposes.
11. Data Retention
We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, respond to enquiries, maintain appropriate administrative records, secure the website, resolve disputes, meet contractual requirements, and comply with applicable law.
Retention periods may vary according to the nature of the information, the purpose of collection, legal and regulatory obligations, operational needs, and whether the information forms part of a patient’s medical record.
12. Security Measures
We take reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, and disclosure. Depending on the information and systems involved, safeguards may include access restrictions, account permissions, security monitoring, software updates, secure hosting arrangements, staff procedures, and appropriate vendor controls.
No website, electronic storage system, or method of transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We therefore cannot promise absolute security, and you should exercise caution when sending information over the internet.
You can help protect your information by using secure devices, keeping your software updated, avoiding public or shared devices for sensitive communications where possible, and not sending confidential health information through general website forms unless the practice has expressly designated that channel for such use.
If you believe that information submitted through the website has been misdirected or accessed without authorization, please contact the practice using its verified contact details so the concern can be assessed.
13. Data Breaches and Security Incidents
If we become aware of a security incident involving information under our control, we will assess the incident and take reasonable steps to investigate, contain, and address it. Where notification is required by applicable law, we will provide notice to affected individuals, regulators, or other relevant parties in accordance with the applicable requirements.
The response will depend on the type of information involved, the circumstances of the incident, the potential risk of harm, and any legal obligations that apply. This section does not replace specific breach-notification duties governing protected health information or other regulated data.
14. Your Privacy Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, the type of information involved, and the laws that apply, you may have rights concerning your personal information. These rights may include requesting access to certain information, asking for corrections, withdrawing consent where processing relies on consent, requesting deletion where legally available, or exercising applicable choices relating to certain tracking and advertising activities.
Some rights are subject to legal exceptions, identity verification, record-retention obligations, or other restrictions. For example, information contained in a healthcare record may be governed by specific procedures and rights under applicable medical privacy law rather than the general website enquiry process.
To make a privacy request, contact the practice using the verified contact information published on the website. Please describe the request clearly and provide sufficient information for us to identify the relevant records and respond appropriately. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.
Do not include sensitive medical details or identification numbers in an ordinary email unless the practice has advised you to use that channel for the relevant purpose.
15. Children’s Privacy
The website is intended to provide general information about the practice and its services. Unless a specific feature states otherwise, the website is not designed to invite children to independently submit personal information.
If a parent or legal guardian contacts the practice on behalf of a child, the information provided may be handled for the purposes of responding to the enquiry or managing care-related administration, subject to applicable law and the practice’s relevant procedures.
If we become aware that personal information has been collected through the website in a manner that violates applicable law, we will assess the circumstances and take appropriate steps. Legal requirements concerning minors, parental authority, consent, and confidential healthcare services may vary by jurisdiction and by the nature of the care involved.
Parents or guardians with questions about information submitted through the website should contact the practice using its verified contact details.
16. Email, Text Messages, and Electronic Communications
If you contact us by email or through a website form, we may use the contact details you provide to respond to your enquiry. If you have opted into an available communication service, we may also use the relevant channel for the purposes described when you enrolled or gave consent.
Email and standard text messages may not be encrypted end-to-end and may be accessible to unintended recipients if an account, device, or number is compromised or incorrectly supplied. We cannot guarantee that every electronic communication will be delivered promptly or securely.
Please ensure that your contact information is accurate and notify the practice of changes where relevant. If you receive an unexpected message that appears to request sensitive personal or financial information, contact the practice through an independently verified channel before responding.
Where appointment reminders, informational messages, or marketing communications are offered, any applicable consent, opt-out, and communication preferences will be handled in accordance with relevant law and the terms presented for that service.
17. Third-Party Links and Embedded Content
Our website may link to third-party websites or display embedded content, including maps, videos, social media features, external resources, or online scheduling tools. When you interact with these services, the relevant provider may collect information directly from your device or browser.
We do not control the privacy practices of independent third parties and are not responsible for the content or security of websites we do not operate. A link to an external resource does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of its privacy practices, products, or services.
Before submitting information to a third-party website or using an embedded service, review its privacy notice and terms. If you have concerns about whether a particular feature is operated by Neurology and Pain or an external provider, contact the practice for clarification.
18. Social Media and Public Submissions
The practice may maintain social media accounts or use third-party platforms to share general information and communicate with the public. Information you choose to post publicly on these platforms may be visible to other users and handled under the platform’s own terms and privacy settings.
Please avoid posting confidential medical details, personal identifiers, or information about another patient in public comments or reviews. A public message should not be treated as a confidential clinical communication channel.
If the practice responds to a public comment, we will seek to avoid disclosing confidential patient information through that response. For private questions or care-related concerns, use the appropriate communication method provided by the practice.
19. International Visitors and Data Processing
The website may be hosted or supported by service providers whose systems are located in different states or countries. As a result, technical or enquiry information may be processed in a jurisdiction other than the one in which you reside, depending on the website’s infrastructure and service arrangements.
Privacy and data-protection laws differ between jurisdictions. Where applicable law imposes requirements concerning international transfers, disclosures, safeguards, or notice, we will address those requirements as applicable to the practice and its operations.
The practice should confirm the locations of its hosting providers and relevant service providers before making specific statements about where information is stored or transferred.
20. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in website functionality, data collection practices, service providers, legal requirements, or operational procedures.
When a revision is made, we will update the Effective Date at the beginning of this page. Where required by law, we will provide additional notice or obtain consent before implementing a material change.
We encourage visitors to review this policy periodically to remain informed about how website information may be handled. The version posted on the website will apply from its stated effective date, subject to applicable legal requirements.
21. Contact Us About Privacy
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to make a website privacy request, or have concerns about how information submitted through the website has been handled, please contact Neurology and Pain using the verified contact details published on the official website.
Practice Name: Neurology & Pain Management Center
Website: https://neurologyandpain.org/
Mailing Address: 350 Pine State St. Lillington NC 27546
Telephone: (910) 893 – 9700
For questions about patient medical records, protected health information, or rights under the practice’s formal Notice of Privacy Practices, please refer to that notice and contact the designated privacy representative. Please do not send urgent medical concerns or detailed confidential health information through a general website enquiry channel.
22. Additional Healthcare Privacy Notice
This Privacy Policy concerns website information and online interactions. It does not provide the full disclosures required for the use and disclosure of protected health information in clinical care.
If Neurology and Pain is subject to HIPAA, the practice should maintain and make available its applicable Notice of Privacy Practices, which explains how protected health information may be used and disclosed, the rights patients have regarding their information, the practice’s legal responsibilities, and how to raise a privacy complaint.
Where other federal or state privacy laws apply, the practice must also comply with those requirements. Nothing in this policy is intended to diminish a patient’s rights or excuse a legal obligation to protect personal information.
