WestCare Health System www.westcare.org
Privacy Practices PDF Print E-mail

Privacy Practices

WestCare Health System's web site (www.westcare.org) does not contain, use or publish information about our patients. However as required by the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), we do provide our Notice of Privacy Practices for those patients who are interested in knowing more about how we use your Private Heathcare Information (PHI)and your rights under this law.

However this web site does provide various various email reminders for which visitors (who may or may not be a patient of WestCare) may subscribe. These reminders are voluntary and as such not bound by the HIPAA privacy regulations. For those visitors utilizing these reminder services and for all who visit this web site, the following Privacy terms will apply.

Terms of Service

The user consents to WestCare Health System's privacy policy by using the site. If the user does not agree with this policy, then please do not use our site.

Privacy Policy

Our company policy is not to collect personally identifiable information about users of our web site without their consent. Users demonstrate their consent for us to collect and retain this information by supplying us with this personally identifiable information at several points on our site. Personal information includes information that is provided by the user to WestCare Health System. We recognize the importance of protecting the user's personal information and we are committed to providing a secure, efficient online experience. The policies outlined below describe WestCare Health System's policies to protect the user's privacy.

Information Collection, Use, and Retention

WestCare Health System is the sole owner of the information collected on this site. We will not sell, share, or rent this information to others in ways different from what is disclosed in this statement. WestCare Health System collects information from users at several different points on our website. Personal information is not collected without the user's consent and awareness. WestCare Health System retains and uses only the information about the user that is required by law to administer WestCare Health System's business and provide a high-level of service to our patients and visitors. We retain this information no longer than necessary to meet these objectives.

Identifying Information Provided by the User

We request information from the user on several of our registration forms (all are optional use). In each form where personally identifiable information is requested, we strive to collect only that information which is deemed important to conclude that transaction successfully.

Log Files

We use IP addresses to analyze trends and administer the site. IP addresses are not linked to personally identifiable information. We count the number of visits and length of time spent per page so that we can determine what the viewer finds useful on our site.

Sharing Information

The information provided will NOT be shared with any other party, client, or third party service. It is our intent to keep your information private and only to be used to provide you services requested.

Restrictions on the Disclosure of Account Information
WestCare Health System provides information about user's accounts or other personally identifiable data to third parties only when: the user requests/requires it, the disclosure is required by law, or it is necessary to process a user-requested transaction.

Links to Other Web Sites

This web site may contain links to other sites. Please be aware that we at WestCare Health System are not responsible for the privacy practices of other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Web site.

Security

This website takes every precaution to protect the users' information. When users submit sensitive information via the website, this information is protected both online and off-line. We caution users to only send confidential information by using the encrypted forms provided on this site, by phone or by postal mail only. E-MAIL IS NOT CONSIDERED A SECURE WAY TO SEND INFORMATION OVER THE INTERNET. When our online forms asks users to enter sensitive, personally identifiable information, that information is encrypted (128 bit key) and is protected with the best encryption software in the industry - SSL. While on a secure page the lock icon on the bottom of web browser such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked, as opposed to unlocked, or open, when the user is just 'surfing.'

While we use SSL encryption to protect sensitive information online, we have established security measures in place to protect user information off-line. All of the user information, not just the sensitive information mentioned above, is restricted in our offices. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job related to your request are granted access to personally identifiable information.

Our offices have secured access to the buildings and equipment. Computers and computer terminals are password protected. Employees gain access to their computers and terminals by logging onto the system. Our employees must log off the system when they leave their computers.

All employees who encounter your personal information are kept up-to-date on our security and privacy practices. Any time new policies are added, our employees are notified and/or reminded about the importance we place on privacy, and what they can do to ensure our customers' information is protected.

Finally, the servers and any backup data where we store personally identifiable information on are kept in a secure environment.

Correction/Updating Personal information

A user's personally identifiable information (such as address, phone number, zip code) can be updated or corrected by phone, fax or postal mail.

Enforcement

WestCare Health System periodically reviews and audits processes and operations to ensure compliance with all laws pertaining to confidential use of information and collection practices. These reviews are related to consumer privacy, governmental regulations and are conducted by internal staff and auditors.

Notification of Changes

We reserve the right to change this policy at any time by posting any changes at this location (URL) so our users are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under certain circumstances, if any, how we disclose it.

General Inquiries

If you have any questions regarding this privacy statement, our security or our web site, contact us by email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write to us at WestCare Health System, Attn: Information Services, 68 Hospital Rd, Sylva, NC 28779.