Privacy Policy

At Desert Cities Allergy & Otolaryngology, your privacy and the protection of your personal health information are of the utmost importance. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, protect, and disclose your information when you visit our ENT and allergy clinic, use our services, or interact with our website. We are fully compliant with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and adhere to the highest standards of ethical medical care.

1. Information We Collect

We collect two types of information:

1. Personal Health Information (PHI):
   This includes information you provide during your visit or consultation, such as:

• Name, address, date of birth, phone number, and email
• Insurance information
• Medical history, diagnosis, treatment plans, and medications
• Visit records, lab results, and imaging

1. Non-Personal Information:
   When you visit our website, we may collect technical data like:

• IP address and browser type
• Device information
• Cookies and usage data for analytics purposes

This data helps us improve our website and services but does not identify you personally.

2. How We Use Your Information

Your information is used for the following purposes:

• To provide you with individualized ENT and allergy care
• To schedule and confirm appointments
• To process insurance claims and payments
• To provide treatment for allergies, sinusitis, rhinoplasty, tonsillitis, deviated septum, and other ENT concerns
• To deliver lab and diagnostic results
• To send you health reminders, appointment follow-ups, or treatment updates
• To improve clinical outcomes and optimize patient care
• To comply with legal obligations and medical regulations

We do not sell or share your PHI for commercial purposes.

3. Sharing Your Information

We may share your information under the following circumstances:

With Healthcare Providers:
To coordinate care with other providers, specialists, or diagnostic labs involved in your treatment.

With Insurance Companies:
To verify benefits, obtain pre-authorizations, or process claims for treatments like allergy testing, rhinoplasty, or balloon sinuplasty.

With Third-Party Service Providers:
For administrative support like billing, electronic health records (EHR), or IT systems. All vendors are HIPAA-compliant.

When Legally Required:
To comply with federal or state laws, court orders, subpoenas, or public health reporting requirements.

With Your Authorization:
We will not share your PHI for other purposes (such as marketing or research) unless you give us written permission.

4. Your Rights

As a patient of Desert Cities Allergy & Otolaryngology, you have the right to:

• Access your records:Request a copy of your medical file.
• Correct your records:Ask for corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request confidential communication:Receive communications in the manner you prefer (e.g., mail, email, phone).
• Limit disclosures:Request restrictions on how your information is shared.
• Get a list of disclosures:Receive a record of when and why your data was shared.
• Withdraw consent:Revoke any authorizations for future disclosures at any time in writing.

5. Protecting Your Information

We implement physical, administrative, and technical safeguards to protect your data:

• Secure electronic health record systems (EHR)
• Encryption of sensitive data
• Role-based access controls
• Ongoing staff training in HIPAA and data privacy
• Secure storage of physical documents

6. Online Communications

If you contact us through our website, your information is encrypted and protected through HIPAA-compliant platforms.

Please Note: While we take all precautions to secure your information, communication via email or forms may still carry some risk. Do not share sensitive medical information through unsecured channels.

7. Website Tracking and Cookies

When you visit our website, we may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. These tools allow us to understand how visitors interact with our content, which pages are most visited, and how users navigate the site. This helps us improve usability and provide content that is more relevant to your needs.

Cookies do not collect personal health information or identify you individually. You can choose to accept or decline cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect certain features of our website.

8. Marketing Communications

We may occasionally send informational emails or appointment reminders related to ENT and allergy services. You can opt out of non-essential communications at any time by following the unsubscribe link or contacting us directly.

We will never use or disclose your health information for marketing purposes without your express written consent.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our services are designed for adults and children alike, but we take extra care when handling data related to minors. Information collected about patients under the age of 18 is only obtained with verified parental or guardian consent and is used solely to provide medical treatment. We do not knowingly collect or store personal information from children without consent.

If you believe your child’s information has been improperly collected through our website or services, please contact us immediately to address the matter.

10.   Third-Party Links

We may work with third-party service providers, such as billing companies or electronic health record platforms, to support clinic operations. These providers may have access to your personal information solely for the purpose of performing services on our behalf. We require all partners to comply with strict confidentiality and data protection standards and sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) as required by HIPAA.

11.  Policy Updates

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy as necessary to reflect changes in law, technology, or clinic operations. When we update this policy, we will revise the “Effective Date” at the top of the page.

You are encouraged to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your data.

12.  Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact:

Desert Cities Allergy & Otolaryngology
Address: 39000 BOB HOPE DRIVE PROBT 202Ð
Phone: 442-324-2908 / 760-346-1788