By continuing to use the Stony Brook Medicine website, you are acknowledging and agreeing to all of the practices described here, as well as both our Legal/Disclaimer and Notice of Privacy Practices, which are incorporated herein by reference. Please read this policy carefully.
To provide services that you request, and this commitment of privacy explains our online information practices. This website. should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from a physician or healthcare professional. Healthcare information obtained from this website could be misinterpreted or inappropriate for your condition. If you have a question about your health, we urge you to consult a physician or other healthcare professional directly.
Information Collection, Use and Disclosure
Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) obtains information from online visitors to fulfill online requests, and to inform them of programs and events. SBM has implemented procedures to safeguard the integrity of its information technology assets, including, but not limited to, authentication, authorization, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. These security procedures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day operations of this website as part of our continuing commitment to the security of electronic content as well as the electronic transmission of information.
Any information collected voluntarily from our website visitors will be used to develop or improve our programs and services. The information is not sold to any third-party marketing companies. However, we may use certain tracking technologies and pixels as described in the section below, “How We Use Cookies, Pixels and other Tracking Technologies,” which may collect some types of personally identifiable information for our website users.
The types of information we may collect from you include:
- Account Information, such as your name, email address, password, postal address, phone number, date of birth and any other information you choose to provide.
- Transaction Information, such as your health insurance information and limited payment information from you, such as payment method and payment card information; however, we do not collect or store full payment card numbers and all transactions are processed by our third-party payment processor.
- Information about Others, such as the names and the contact information of your providers, your proxies, and any dependents under your care.
- Supplier and Vendor Information, such as the names and contact information of our business partners.
- Educational and Professional Background, such as your employment history, cv, and academic history, when you apply for a job, research grant, or fellowship.
- Health Information, such as your past and present medical condition, medication information, and treatment history. For example, our Apps may collect COVID vaccination status, COVID test results and associated encounter information from you or your providers affiliated with Stony Brook Medicine.The App may also provide functionality for you to upload a copy of your COVID vaccination card. Our limited use of COVID-related information and other health information is in accordance with our Notice of Privacy Practices.
- Other Information You Choose to Provide, such as when you participate in a survey, assessment, contest, promotion or interactive area of the Services or when you request technical or customer support.
Information Collected Automatically
When you access our website or use SBM Services, we may automatically collect information about you may include:
- Log Information: Or servers automatically record certain log file information, such as yourInternet Protocol (“IP”) address, operating system, browser type and language, referring URLs, access times, pages viewed, links clicked and other information about your activities on the Services.
- Mobile Device Information: Information about the mobile device you use to access or use the Services, including the hardware model, operating system and version, unique device identifiers, mobile network information and information about your use of our Apps. With your consent, we may also collect information about the precise location of your device and access and collect information from certain native applications on your device (such as your device’s camera, photo album, microphone, storage and phonebook applications) to facilitate your use of certain services. For more information about how you can control the collection of location information and/or our access to other applications on your device, please see “Your Choices” below.
- Information Collected by Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies: We and our service providers use various tracking technologies, including cookies and web beacons, to collect information about you when you interact with our Services. Cookies are small data files stored on your hard drive or in device memory that help us improve the Services and your experience, see which areas and features of the Services are popular, and count visits. Web beacons are electronic images that may be used in the Services or emails and help deliver cookies, count visits and understand usage and campaign effectiveness.
- Analytics Services: We may allow others to provide analytics services on our behalf. These entities may use cookies, web beacons and other technologies to collect information about your use of the Services and other websites, including your IP address, web browser, pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked and conversion information. For example, we use analytics partners (such as Google Analytics) to help us analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, deliver advertising and content targeted to your interests on the Services and other websites and better understand your online activity.
Links to Other Websites
As a convenience, we have included links to other internet websites not managed by Stony Brook Medicine. SBM does not review, control or take responsibility for the accuracy of content on these websites. The websites we link to are owned and controlled by other organizations or parties. Their Privacy and Security Policies may differ from Stony Brook Medicine's policies. Linking to other websites not managed by SBM does not imply endorsement or credibility of the service, information, or product(s) offered. SBM assumes no liability related to a user’s use on any linked websites. Your access to and use of these websites, including the information, services or products, is solely at your own risk. Similarly, if a third party provides a link to our website, it does not necessarily reflect an official relationship with that third party.
How We Use Cookies, Pixels and other Tracking Technologies
The technologies we use for this automatic data collection may include:
- Cookies (or browser cookies). We and our service providers may use cookies, web beacons, and other technologies to receive and store certain types of information whenever you interact with our Sites through your computer or mobile device. A cookie is a small file or piece of data sent from a website and stored on the hard drive of your computer or mobile device. On your computer, you may refuse to accept browser cookies by activating the appropriate setting on your browser, and you may have similar capabilities on your mobile device in the preferences for your operating system or browser. However, if you select this setting you may be unable to access or use certain parts of our Sites. Unless you have adjusted your browser or operating system setting so that it will refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you direct your browser to our Website or use our App.
- Pixels and Web Beacons. Pages on our Sites, or our e-mails, may contain small electronic files known as web beacons (also referred to as clear gifs, pixel tags, and single-pixel gifs) that permit us, for example, to count users who have visited those pages or opened an e-mail and for other related Sites statistics (for example, recording the popularity of certain. Sites content and verifying system and server integrity). We use this information to assist us in improving our user experience.
- Google Analytics. Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. ("Google") to collect certain information relating to your use of our Sites. Google Analytics uses cookies, which are text files placed on your computer, to help our Sites analyze how users use the Sites. You can find out more about how Google uses data when you visit our Sites by visiting "How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services" (located at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites). We may also use Google Analytics Advertising Features or other advertising networks to provide you with interest-based advertising based on your online activity. For more information regarding Google Analytics please visit Google's website, and pages that describe Google Analytics, such as https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/.
- Do Not Track Signals. Some web browsers permit you to broadcast a signal to websites and online services indicating a preference that they "do not track" your online activities. At this time, we do not honor such signals. However, we do not track your online activities on or across third party websites or other online services for any purpose, including advertising.
If you’d like to disable these tracking pixels, there are several ways in which you can prevent your data from being collected by tracking pixels: - Set browser and email settings to be as restrictive as possible such that external graphics are only supported after permission, and HTML emails are not supported. Appropriate firewall settings can also be used to do this.
- Some browser extensions can be used to make tracking pixels visible (such as PixelBlock, uBlock Origin, HTTPS Everywhere).
For more information about how targeted advertising works, you can visit the Network Advertising Initiative’s
(“NAI”). You can opt out of specific third-party targeted advertising by visiting the settings pages of those third parties, such as:
- FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/settings/?tab=ads
- GOOGLE: https://www.google.com/settings/ads/anonymous
How we use the information we collect
In addition to the uses described above, we use the information we collect for things like:
- Optimizing the performance and user experience of our sites;
- Operating, evaluating, and improving our business;
- Providing healthcare services;
- Marketing and advertising products and services, including by inferring your interests from your interactions with our websites and newsletters and tailoring advertisements, newsletters, and offers to you (both on our websites and on other websites) based on your interactions with us in our stores and online interests;
- Sending you email newsletters;
- Conducting research and analysis;
- Communicating with you about your account, special events, and surveys; and
- Establishing and managing your accounts with us.
If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our Notice of Privacy Practices
Security
Whether you are visiting the Stony Brook Medicine site or one of our clinical locations, we use reasonable security measures to protect the confidentiality of personal information under our control, and we limit access to it. We use a variety of information security controls to protect your online services. SBM sites use encryption technology, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), to protect your personal information during data transport. SSL protects information you submit via our website, such as ordering information including your name, address, and credit card number. That being said, Stony Brook Medicine cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us, and you do so at your own risk. We have taken reasonable steps to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of personally identifiable information (PII) that you may provide. You should understand, however, that electronic transmissions via the internet are not necessarily secure from interception, and so we cannot absolutely guarantee the security or confidentiality of such transmissions.
Phishing Scam Awareness
Phishing is a technique used by online thieves to try to get you to disclose your personally identifiable information under false pretenses. Phishing scams begin with email messages that appear to come from popular websites or websites that you trust. These messages may include logos similar to your bank or credit card company’s logos. If you get an email message asking for personally identifiable information, do not reply or click on the link in the message.
Stony Brook Medicine will never request an online visitor to provide personal, health or financial information by email. Additional tips and resources regarding online safety can be found within the AARP Cyber Safety Handbook (PDF) or the OnGuardOnline website. The handbook also has a number of useful tips regarding shopping safely on the Internet, handling junk email and protecting your computer.
Protecting Children
The Stony Brook Medicine website is not designed to attract children under the age of 13. Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) does not target children for the collection of information online and does not knowingly collect personally identifying information from anyone under the age of 13 unless we first obtain written and verifiable permission from the child's parent or legal guardian. Stony Brook Medicine encourages parents and guardians to monitor their child’s online activities.
Policy Modifications
Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) reserves the right to change this policy at any time, without advance notice. However, if Stony Brook Medicine makes any material changes to this policy, we will notify you by posting a notice on our website. Please review this policy periodically to keep informed of any changes or updates.
How to Contact Us
Any questions or complaints with respect to this Privacy Policy should be directed to the compliance hotline at (631) 444-5796 or email your request including your name and date of birth to HIPAA@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
Ownership
All pages within this website and any material available for download are the property of Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates. The content on www.Stonybrookmedicine.edu is provided
to you without charge for your informational purposes only. This website offers educational information on our organization, its services, healthcare related issues, and links to additional resources. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, medical diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician if you have any questions regarding a medical condition.
Acceptable Use
SBM hereby grants you a non-exclusive license to use the website solely for your personal, non-commercial use. Any unlawful use of this website or use inconsistent with these terms and conditions is prohibited and will result in an automatic termination of such license.
By submitting a telephone number to Stony Brook Medicine, you agree that a representative of Stony Brook Medicine, or a third party acting on its behalf, can contact you at the number you provide, potentially using automated technology (including texts/SMS messaging) or a pre-recorded message.
User Conduct
When using our website, you shall not post or send to or from either the website:
- content for which you have not obtained all necessary consents
- content that is discriminatory, obscene, pornographic, defamatory, liable to incite racial hatred, in breach of confidentiality or privacy, which may cause annoyance or inconvenience to others, which encourages or constitutes conduct that would be deemed a criminal offense, give rise to a civil liability, or otherwise is contrary to the law in any applicable jurisdiction where our website is being used
- content which is harmful in nature including, and without limitation, computer viruses, Trojan horses, corrupted data, or other potentially harmful software or data.
We will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requiring us to disclose the identity or other details or any person posting materials to our website in breach of this Section.
No Medical Advice
All health and health-related information contained within this web site is intended to be general and/or educational in nature and should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a health care professional for help, diagnosis, guidance and treatment. The advice is intended to offer only general information for individuals to discuss with their health care provider. It is not intended to constitute a medical diagnosis or treatment or endorsement of any particular test, treatment, procedure, or service. Reliance on information provided at this site is at the user’s risk. Your health care provider should be consulted regarding matters concerning the medical condition, treatment and needs of you and your family.
Disclaimer of Liability:
University Hospital at Stony Brook does not warrant the content of this website and specifically disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all warranties, express or implied, of any kind or nature whatsoever. Furthermore, Stony Brook Medicine Center will not be liable to you for any damages, claims, demands or causes of action, direct or indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive, as a result of your use of this website or any information you obtain from it.
Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold us, our officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, licensors, and suppliers, harmless from and against any claims, actions or demands, liabilities and settlements including without limitation, reasonable legal and accounting fees, resulting from or alleged to result from, your use of and access to the website or your violation of these Terms or your violation of any third party right, including without limitation any trademark, copyright or other proprietary or privacy right.
General
These Terms, together with the Notice of Privacy Practices , other terms or legal notices published by us on the website, and any other applicable agreements, shall constitute the entire agreement between us concerning use of the Site. If any provision of these Terms is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction,
the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of these Terms, which shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any term shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term, and our failure to assert any right or provision under these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
Terms of Use
By accessing and using this site, you as the user, agree to these terms and conditions. If you do not agree to all of these terms and conditions, do not use this site. Stony Brook Medicine has the right to change the terms and conditions of use at any time without notice to you. In using this site, you agree to any changes in the terms and conditions of use.
Last Updated: January 2, 2024