At Norwich Memorial Hospital, we are committed to safeguarding the privacy of our patients, visitors, and users of our website. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you visit our website or use our services. By accessing our website or utilizing our services, you agree to the terms and practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide you with the best possible healthcare experience. The information we collect is necessary to ensure that we can meet your medical and service needs. This information is generally categorized into two types: Personal Information and Non-Personal Information.

Personal Information

Personal information refers to any data that can identify you directly, such as:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • Health information (medical history, treatment plans, etc.)

We collect personal information when you register for services, make appointments, contact us, or use certain features of our website. This information is used to ensure accurate medical records, respond to inquiries, and provide medical services.

Non-Personal Information

Non-personal information includes data that cannot be used to identify you personally. This information is typically collected automatically when you visit our website and may include:

  • IP address
  • Browser type
  • Operating system
  • Referral source (e.g., search engine, website)
  • Pages visited and duration of visit

Non-personal information helps us improve the functionality and user experience of our website by analyzing trends and user preferences.

2. How We Use Your Information

The information we collect is used for various purposes related to providing healthcare services, improving our website, and maintaining security. Specifically, we use your personal information for:

  • Providing medical services: We use your personal and health information to offer medical care, including scheduling appointments, processing payments, and managing your medical records.
  • Communication: We may use your contact information to inform you about your healthcare services, respond to your inquiries, send appointment reminders, and provide updates on your treatments.
  • Website functionality: We use non-personal information to improve our website’s performance, such as analyzing user activity to optimize content and navigation.
  • Marketing and promotions: With your consent, we may use your information to send you newsletters or promotional materials about health services, events, and offers that may be of interest to you.
  • Security and legal compliance: We use your information to protect against fraud, comply with legal requirements, and maintain the security of our website and services.

3. How We Protect Your Information

We are committed to protecting the confidentiality and security of your personal information. We use industry-standard security measures to safeguard your data, including:

  • Encryption: All sensitive personal information, such as medical records and payment details, is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Access Control: We implement strict access control measures to ensure that only authorized personnel can access your personal information.
  • Secure Servers: Our website is hosted on secure servers that comply with data protection regulations to minimize the risk of unauthorized access, loss, or misuse of your information.
  • Ongoing Security Audits: We regularly conduct security audits and implement updates to our security protocols to address emerging threats.

While we take reasonable steps to protect your information, please note that no method of electronic transmission or storage is entirely secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data.

4. Sharing Your Information

We may share your information with third parties in the following circumstances:

  • Healthcare providers: We may share your medical information with other healthcare providers involved in your treatment, such as specialists, laboratories, or pharmacies, in order to provide comprehensive care.
  • Third-party service providers: We may work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in performing services related to our healthcare offerings, such as appointment scheduling, data analysis, and website management. These providers are required to adhere to strict confidentiality agreements and are prohibited from using your information for other purposes.
  • Legal compliance: We may disclose your information if required by law or if we believe that such action is necessary to comply with legal obligations, protect the rights or safety of Norwich Memorial Hospital, or respond to a legal process.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and other tracking technologies to enhance the user experience and analyze website traffic. Cookies are small data files that are stored on your device and allow us to remember your preferences and browsing activity. You can disable cookies through your browser settings, but please note that this may affect the functionality of certain features on our website.

6. Your Rights and Choices

As a patient or visitor, you have certain rights regarding your personal information:

  • Access to your information: You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and request corrections if necessary.
  • Opt-out of communications: If you no longer wish to receive marketing or promotional communications, you can opt out by following the unsubscribe instructions included in each communication or by contacting us directly.
  • Data retention: We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide services and fulfill legal requirements. After this period, we will securely delete or anonymize your information.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. If we make significant changes to how we collect, use, or protect your information, we will notify you by posting a notice on our website. The updated Privacy Policy will be effective from the date it is posted.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding our Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us.

We value your privacy and are here to assist you with any queries you may have.