Overview
Sentara Healthcare is dedicated to protecting the privacy of its users. As a user of our websites and mobile applications, you will have access to comprehensive information that will help you to understand certain health conditions, find accurate, in-depth details about local services and providers, and take charge of your personal health.
Sentara wants you to feel as comfortable as possible when visiting our web and mobile applications and using the services it offers. This Privacy Statement tells you what information we collect, how we protect it and what choices you have about how that information is used. Your privacy refers to any information that is collected about you while interacting with the Sentara website and mobile applications.
Sentara may revise these terms at any time. We will endeavor to display changes if and when they occur, so that you may always know what information is being collected, how it is being used, and under what circumstances it is being disclosed. Please review this document periodically to be aware of any changes posted, because your continued use of our applications will indicate your approval of all changes.
We urge you to read the following Privacy Statement so that you will understand both our commitment to you and your privacy, and how you can participate in that commitment.
Mobile Apps for Patients
Our Sentara mobile applications for users , connect to servers and systems operated and maintained by Sentara in order to provide patients with secure, mobile access to health information in those servers and systems.
We will refer to our mobile applications for patients as "mobile apps" in this policy.
Collection of Information
By using our website and mobile apps, you consent to the collection and use of your information as discussed in this section.
Our website and mobile apps do not automatically collect personal information from your device without you voluntarily providing this information. However, some features offered on this website require you to register first and provide basic, personal information, such as but not limited to, your name, address, and phone number.
Sentara collects information that you volunteer through electronic forms, such as registration, contact us, appointment request and information request forms. For some transactions on our website and mobile apps, certain information is required to process your request. When information is requested from you, Sentara attempts to clearly indicate which information is required and which information is optional. Information collected to process specific transactions is only used for the specific service that you have chosen. However, you may also be offered opportunities to receive related or general information in the future from Sentara. In cases like these, Sentara will ask for your permission to contact you (see next section for more).
Overall, your information is used to maintain accuracy in our files, improve the content of this website, enhance Sentara products and services and to provide updates relating thereto.
How Sentara Uses Your Information
Sentara does not sell, trade, rent or share your personal information to organizations outside Sentara Healthcare and its affiliate companies unless required to do so by legal, judicial, or governmental proceedings.
Sentara reserves the right to store and use any information you voluntarily provide for marketing and communications specific to Sentara without additional notice. However, we will undertake commercially reasonable efforts to get your permission ("opt-in") for Sentara to contact you in the future. You may also have the option of requesting that Sentara not contact you ("opt-out").
Our Sentara mobile app may interact with your sensitive data to provide certain features, such as video visits or mobile appointment check-in. The first time you try to use any of these features, we will ask for your consent within the app and will only allow you to use a feature if you give consent. You do not have to provide consent if you do not want to allow our mobile app to interact with your data as requested. Our mobile app is developed by Epic Systems Corporation; please refer to Epic's Mobile Application Privacy Policy for Patients for more detailed information about the limited ways they may interact with your information to make your use of our mobile app possible.
Sentara may offer location-based check-in for in-person appointments or allow you to find healthcare providers near you. The first time you try to use any features that use your location, we will ask for your consent within the app and will only access your location if you give consent. You do not have to provide consent if you do not want to allow Sentara to use your location. We do not store your location data.
Your information is used to maintain accuracy in our customer files, improve the content of the app, enhance Sentara products and services and to provide updates relating.
We also collect non-personal information in aggregate that cannot be traced back to a specific individual. Such information is used to determine the number of visitors to our website, sources of traffic, and other key indicators of website usage to create a better experience for visitors to this website. This information does not identify you personally.
We receive internet protocol ("IP") addresses from all users because this information is reported by your web browser and device when you visit our web and mobile applications. We use your IP address to display information about Sentara locations and services near you.
A "cookie" is small text file placed on the hard drive or storage device on your computer when you visit our website, which stores information about your visit to our website. Some cookies only last for the duration of your visit. Other cookies remain on your computer after the end of each session and store information helpful to your experience. Every computer that accesses our website is assigned a different cookie by Sentara.
Cookies do not retain any personal information or protected health information on your computer. The cookies allow us to access information that we can then use to improve your browsing experience, such as providing you with customized pages based on your past viewing history on our website. Most web browser software can be set to reject all cookies. If you reject our cookies or otherwise disable the cookie feature on your web browser, certain functions and conveniences of our website may not work properly.
For Android Users – Required Google Play Disclosures for Certain Health Apps
Our mobile apps interact with your microphone only if you choose to use your microphone to navigate our mobile apps. Our mobile apps interact with your camera roll only if you choose to add a profile image to a profile in our mobile apps. This information is not used in connection with COVID-19.
Our mobile apps access, collect, use, and share your information (including video, audio, images, files, phone). We also prominently highlight these uses, describe the type of data being accessed, and obtain your consent for these purposes as you use our mobile apps.
Our mobile apps were not created specifically for the COVID-19 pandemic. They existed before the COVID-19 pandemic to allow you to access your health information on file. Sentara may allow you to access COVID-19-related vaccination information, laboratory test results, and documents with illness-related information using our mobile apps. You may choose if or how you want to access, display, or use the information – just like you can make those decisions about health information relating to other conditions, services, tests, or vaccinations.
Sentara may allow you to conduct telehealth appointments with healthcare providers. Our mobile apps provide the technical support for those appointments to happen.
Links to Other Websites
Sentara websites include links to other websites not associated with Sentara Healthcare. If you choose to visit another site, Sentara cannot assume responsibility for its content or information handling practices. We encourage you to review each site's privacy policy prior to entering into transactions with the respective site.
Security & Confidential Information
Sentara has taken the appropriate precautions to protect information sent over the Internet. Our website and mobile apps hashave security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse, and alteration of the information under our control. Sentara employs strict security measures to safeguard transactions that take place over the Internet. Any personal information is stored in a secure database and sent and received by a secure, encrypted Internet channel wherever possible.
Sentara provides several ways to contact us electronically throughout our website and mobile apps, including online forms and email. Please note that any information sent through email is unsecured. We recommend that you do not email sensitive personal health information or confidential information to Sentara or anyone else. Should you choose to provide information in this manner, you do so at your own risk. Please choose to contact Sentara by telephone for matters that require greater privacy and security.
Sentara has taken appropriate precautions to protect information sent via our forms to protect the loss, misuses or alteration of the information.
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