Overview
Optimal Spine Chiropractic ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard information when you visit our website at optimalspinechiro.com or interact with us in person, by phone, or by email.
By using our website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our website.
Information we collect
Information you give us directly
We collect information you voluntarily provide, including when you:
- Submit the contact form on our website (name, email address, phone number, and message)
- Call or email our office
- Complete a new patient intake form, either online, by fax, or in person
- Schedule an appointment
Information collected automatically
When you visit our website, certain information is collected automatically by our hosting and analytics services, including:
- Your IP address and approximate geographic location
- Browser type and operating system
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- Referring website or search terms that brought you to our site
- Date and time of your visit
How we use it
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To respond to your inquiries and messages submitted through our contact form
- To schedule and confirm appointments
- To provide, maintain, and improve our chiropractic services
- To send you appointment reminders, follow-up communications, and health-related information relevant to your care
- To comply with legal and regulatory obligations
- To analyze website traffic and improve the user experience on our site
- To protect the safety and security of our patients, staff, and website
We will not use your personal information for any purpose incompatible with those listed above without first obtaining your consent.
HIPAA & health information
As a healthcare provider, Optimal Spine Chiropractic is subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Protected Health Information (PHI) — any information that could identify you and relates to your health, treatment, or payment — is handled according to our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
Please do not submit sensitive health information through the contact form on our website. That form is intended for general questions only. Health matters should be communicated directly with our office by phone at (410) 273-5351 or in person.
Our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is available at our office and describes in detail your rights regarding your medical records and how we may use and disclose your health information.
Sharing your information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:
- Service providers: We work with trusted vendors (such as our website host, scheduling software, and email provider) who process data on our behalf. These providers are contractually obligated to keep your information confidential and use it only to provide services to us.
- Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by law, court order, or governmental authority, or if we believe in good faith that such action is necessary to comply with legal obligations or protect our rights.
- Health care operations: We may share your health information with other treating providers or insurance companies as permitted and required by HIPAA and applicable law.
- Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of our practice, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.
In all other cases, we require your explicit consent before sharing your information.
Cookies & analytics
Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to improve functionality and understand how visitors use our site. We use the following types of cookies:
- Essential cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly. These cannot be disabled.
- Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website (e.g., pages visited, time on site). We may use tools such as Google Analytics for this purpose. Data collected is aggregated and anonymous.
You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of our website. To opt out of Google Analytics tracking specifically, you may install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Third-party links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including our social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) and Google Maps. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
Data security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Our website is served over HTTPS (encrypted connection), and access to sensitive records is restricted to authorized staff only.
However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. If you believe your information has been compromised, please contact us immediately at osc5351@yahoo.com.
Your rights
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and record-retention obligations
- Opt out of non-essential communications from us
- Lodge a complaint with a relevant supervisory authority
As a HIPAA-covered provider, you also have specific rights regarding your Protected Health Information as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the details below.
Children's privacy
Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through our website. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will promptly delete that information. Pediatric patient records are handled in accordance with HIPAA and Maryland state law, with parental consent obtained as required.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please reach out to us:
- Optimal Spine Chiropractic
- 998 Hospitality Way, Suite 103, Aberdeen, MD 21001
- Phone: (410) 273-5351
- Email: osc5351@yahoo.com