Gout Specialists Network Privacy Policy

The Gout Specialists Network (GSN) is a new initiative of the Gout Education Society, Inc. (GES or “we”), which will provide physicians and patient users (“physician users,” “users,” “patient users”) with the ability to establish a network of, and access to, specialists authorized to treat under the American College of Rheumatology Guidelines (“Services”). To utilize and access the Services and https://gouteducation.org/gsn/ (“Site”), you agree to abide by the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Please read them carefully.

Non-physician users are not required to input any personal information into the Site. If you believe you have mistakenly submitted any information, please contact us.

By using the Site, you are also confirming that you have read and understand this policy, including how and why we use your information. If you do not wish to have us collect or process your personal information, you should not use the Services and should immediately cease use of this Site. You also understand that we use third-party services, providers, and apps, including WordPress.com (“WordPress”), Bluehost Inc. (“Bluehost”), Automattic Inc. (“Automattic”), Endurance International Group (“Endurance”), Constant Contact, Inc. (“Constant Contact”), Twitter, Inc. (“Twitter”), Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”), Google LLC (“Google”), Facebook, Inc. (“Facebook”), Havas PR (“Havas”) and other third party providers that may not be directly described in this Policy to deliver the Services. We are not responsible for the privacy policies, content, terms, etc. of these third parties.

You must be at least 18 years of age to use this website. The Services are not targeted or designed in any way to minors and any person under the age of 18 viewing or using the Services should only do so with parental supervision and control. You are responsible for any and all Services activity conducted by a minor. If you are the parent or guardian of a child whom you believe has disclosed personal information to us, please contact us at info@GoutEducation.org so that you may review the information submitted and have such child’s information deleted and removed from our systems.

By using the Services, you understand that GSN is operated in the United States. GES sees and can delete the information provided by you, but does not have its own servers. The Site is hosted by WordPress and Bluehost. Information is held on servers provided by WordPress and BlueHost, based in Orem, Utah, United States of America.

Contact details of the data controllers:

– WordPress.com (a subsidiary of Autommatic Inc.)

– Notice Address(es):

For US residents and residents outside of the Designated Countries (Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, and all countries located in Europe, including the UK and Republic of Ireland): Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110.

For residents in the Designated Countries: Aut O’Mattic A8C Ireland Ltd., Grand Canal Dock, 25 Herbert Pl., Dublin, D02 AY86, Ireland.

– Internet: https://www.automattic.com/privacy

– Phone: (877) 273-3049

– Online general mailbox available at https://www.automattic.com/contact/.

Bluehost Inc. (a subsidiary of Endurance International Group)

– Notice Address(es)

For US residents: Bluehost, ATTN: Legal Department, 1500 N Priest Drive, Suite 200, Tempe, AZ 85281 and Data Protection Officer, 10 Corporate Drive, Burlington, MA 01803, USA.

For EU residents: AppMachine B.V., Sophialaan 32, 8911 AE Leeuwarden, Nederland and Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, Postbus 93374, 2509 AJ DEN HAAG, THE NETHERLANDS.

– EU Phone: (+31) – (0)70-888 85 00

Email: legal@bluehost.com and privacy@endurance.com.

How your data is treated and transferred is detailed below.

1. Information Collected or Received

To use certain aspects of the Services you will need to enter, and we shall collect, a certain amount of personal information, which is detailed below. If you do not wish to transmit personal information, do not use the Services. There are also opportunities to opt out of the collection of certain information or transmissions, which you may take advantage of when available.

Use of the Site. While using, interacting with, participating in, or visiting the Site, physicians wishing to be part of the GSN must register and create a profile, as well as communicate other information from time to time through the Site to GES and/or GSN or its third party service providers. Such registrations and information may include Personal Information including but not limited to, your first and last name, professional description, photographs, content, email, billing address, phone number and/or credit or debit card information. Physician users are not required to, but have the option to include, the name of their practice as well as the full address, office hours, a short bio along with a photo, and links to published works. Physician users may also choose to be on the medical professional locator map, which will display their practice if a visitor searches for their zip code or nearby practice in their area.

You must not communicate the information of any person other than yourself. GES and GSN are the sole owners of the information collected and do not release, sell, or rent your Personal Information. Only third party service providers authorized by GES and GSN to aid in the provision of our Services see your information.

Profile. Physician users are required to make a username and password for their profile. Physicians are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the username and password, and are fully responsible for all activities that occur under their profile. GES and GSN are not responsible or liable for any such use. GES and GSN only store usernames and passwords for retrieval purposes and cannot access the individual characters of any password. GES and GSN do not share or sell any username or password information.

Public Information. Personal Information that physician users publish for the public portion of the Site may be available, via the internet, around the world. We cannot prevent the use or misuse of such information by others. Physician users control what information they share.

Protected Medical Information. No medical information is collected nor should be transmitted through this Site. GES and GSN do not transmit or input any Protected Health Information as defined by HIPAA privacy regulations through this Site. ALL MEDICAL INFORMATION SHOULD ONLY BE COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY TO YOUR PHYSICIAN. If you have transmitted any medical information or believe there to be a breach of HIPAA by GES or GSN, please contact us.

The only exceptions to our protection of Personal Information are (a) to comply with valid legal requirements such as a law, regulation, search warrant, subpoena or court order; or (b) a physical threat to you or others, a threat to homeland security, a threat to our system or network, or in any cases in which we believe it is reasonably necessary to investigate or prevent harm, fraud, abuse, illegal conduct or a violation or alleged violation of this Privacy Policy or other agreement we, or a third party, may have with you.

Newsletter and Resources. Physicians joining the GSN agree that by creating a profile and/or submitting your contact information you allow us to contact you or send you newsletters and other information via such contact information. If your Personal Information changes, you no longer desire to be contacted directly, or you no longer wish to use or access the Site or the Services, we encourage you to correct, update or remove the Personal Information the next time we email or call you. You may also opt to unsubscribe from any individual form of communication via the “unsubscribe” option provided in the communication. You can also contact us directly via the contact information provided at the conclusion of this Privacy Policy at any time.

Third-Party Service Providers. This Site contains third-party service providers and information and links that we do not control. We do not monitor, control, or endorse the information collection or privacy practices of any third parties. Third party service providers on the Site may also place, view, and/or use cookies, pixels, beacons, log files or other such technologies. GSN does not use any of the information collected via these technologies to identify you or collect your Personal Information nor does GES or GSN provide any information to third parties. Users of this Site are subject to the privacy policy of any third-party provider, when using a third-party service through the Site. Users should consult any third-party privacy policy and/or terms of use information. Most browsers accept cookies by default, however, you can attempt to disable cookies in your browser’s settings.

GES also uses independent third party service providers (such as marketing and advertising agencies) to aid in the carrying out of the Services. These service providers may also have access to information on the Site, and shall follow all procedures detailed in this Policy.

Data Storage. We, or the third-party Site and App providers, may use third party cloud storage providers such as Microsoft Remote Desktop or other providers to facilitate the functionality of our Services. The manner in which your information is used, stored, and disclosed is governed solely by the policies of such third-party service providers, and GES and GSN shall have no liability or responsibility for the privacy practices or other actions of any third-party site or service that may be enabled within the Service.

Control of Information. You are able to choose what information you provide and change your communication elections whenever you like. If you wish to have information removed from our databases at info@GoutEducation.org. You can only remove optional information without affecting the ability to use the Services. If you wish to have a copy of the data collected by us, you may contact us via the contact information stated at the bottom of this Policy.

We may send you communications via any of the contact information you provide us. Communications related to the functionality of the Services, transactions, or legal notices are required and you cannot opt out of them.

You may opt out of non-required communications such as notifications, newsletters, emails, etc.

You understand that changing your preferences or what information you share may affect your use of the Services.

Use of Information and Disclosure. As described above, we collect your information to carry out the Services. We use and share this information only for the following purposes:

To fulfill our obligations and provide the Services to you;
To perform any contractual requirements in our Terms of Use;
In any ways you have consented through our Site and/or Services;
To comply with a legal obligation, court order, subpoena, or in the defense of legal claims;
To prevent a threat to any person, or our system or network;
To third parties to the extent necessary to fulfill the Services or marketing on our behalf;
To contact you as described in this Agreement; and
As may be necessary in the public interest.

This policy only applies to information directly collected by GES or GSN. Information provided to other third parties through the Services is subject to their respective privacy policies. GES and GSN are not responsible for the privacy or security practices of any of the third parties, users, or other websites on the Internet, even those linked to or from the Site. You should read the privacy policies and terms of use of all parties you transmit information to. For the purposes of European law, third parties and other users are independent controllers of data, and therefore they are solely responsible for complying with all applicable laws, regulations, and their own policies relating to personal information.

Security. We take precautions to protect your information. Security of usernames and passwords is protected by secure server software (SSL). Payments on this Site are collected through PayPal, Inc. Financial data you input to consummate a transaction is processed by PayPal, Inc. and not GES or GSN. Only PayPal, Inc. receives your credit card number. GES does not gain access to or see your credit card number. All information collected via credit card and debit card transactions are subject to the terms of use and privacy policies of PayPal, Inc.

If there is a breach of GES or GSN that results in the release of usernames and passwords, GES and/or GSN will notify affected individuals. All breach notifications related to third party service and information providers are the responsibility of their respective third party owner or service provider.

Retention. GES and GSN will only keep your information for as long as necessary to carry out the Services. GES and GSN will only retain information after you have indicated you no longer wish us to use the information to the extent necessary to comply with legal obligations. GES does not control how long third-party service providers hold your information.

Updating this Policy. GES may update this policy from time to time. We suggest you regularly check this Policy for any such updates. We will also advise you when we make changes via the contact information you have provided us. Your continued use of the Services after such notification constitutes your consent to the updated Policy.

If you have any questions regarding privacy or this Privacy Policy, you may contact us at:

info@GoutEducation.org
(412) 456-4300

This Policy was last updated January 2021.