Legal Information

On this page: Terms of Service, Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Effective Date: 9/23/2024

Welcome to the Whidbey Nurse website (also referenced as “whidbeynurse.com”). By accessing or using this website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you disagree with any part of these terms, please do not use the website.

1. About Whidbey Nurse

Whidbey Nurse is a legal entity registered in Island County, Washington State. This website provides informational content about nursing services provided by Barbara Neal, RN, in the Whidbey Island and greater Puget Sound area.

2. Website Use

2.1 Age Restriction: While there are no technical restrictions on accessing this website, the content is intended for individuals aged 18 and older.

2.2 Content Updates: Whidbey Nurse maintains a read-only blog and other informational pages that may be updated periodically.

2.3 Medical Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Whidbey Nurse is not responsible for any loss or damage incurred due to the application of information found on this website.

2.4 Intellectual Property: All content on this website is either owned by Whidbey Nurse or licensed for use by Whidbey Nurse. This includes, but is not limited to, text, graphics, logos, images, software, and other digital media.

2.5 External Links: This website may contain links to external sites that are not operated by Whidbey Nurse. Whidbey Nurse has no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

3. User Interactions

3.1 No User Accounts: Currently, this website does not offer user account creation, comments, or allow user-generated content to be stored or uploaded.

3.2 Patient Portal: For patient communication and information exchange, whidbeynurse.com provides a link to a separate HIPAA-compliant Patient Portal operated by Practice Better. This portal is not part of the Whidbey Nurse website, and has its own terms of service and privacy policy.

4. Changes to Terms

Whidbey Nurse reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. Whidbey Nurse will post the date of the most recent changes at the top of this page. Your continued use of the website after any modifications indicates your acceptance of the updated terms.

5. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please email barb@whidbeynurse.com.

6. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Washington State, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

7. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be unenforceable or invalid, such provision will be changed and interpreted to accomplish the objectives of such provision to the greatest extent possible under applicable law, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

By using the Whidbey Nurse website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.


Privacy Policy

Last Updated: September 23, 2024

Whidbey Nurse is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines Whidbey Nurse’s practices concerning the collection, use, and protection of data when you visit whidbeynurse.com.

Information Collected

Google Analytics is used to collect non-personally identifiable information about your visit to the Whidbey Nurse website. This includes:

Usage Data:

  • Pages visited
  • Time spent on each page
  • Interactions with site elements (clicks, scrolls, etc.)
  • Navigation paths through the site

Device Information:

  • Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)
  • Operating system
  • Browser type and version
  • Screen resolution

Network Information:

  • IP address (typically anonymized)
  • Internet Service Provider (ISP)
  • Network location

Referral Information:

  • Source of traffic (search engine, social media, direct, etc.)
  • Search terms used to find the site (if applicable)

Temporal Data:

  • Timestamp of visit
  • Frequency of visits
  • Duration of sessions

Geographic Information:

  • Country
  • Region/State
  • City (approximate)

User Behavior:

  • New vs. returning visitors
  • Frequency and recency of visits

Site Performance:

  • Page load times
  • Site speed

Custom Events:

  • Specific interactions defined by Whidbey Nurse (e.g., button clicks)

How Cookies Are Used

This website uses cookies delivered through Google Analytics to collect the aforementioned data. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help Whidbey Nurse analyze how users interact with this site.

Data Retention

User-level data and event data collected through Google Analytics are retained for 14 months. Age, Gender, and Interest Data are stored for 2 months. This data is stored on Google’s servers.

How Your Information Is Used

The collected data is used to:

  • Ensure website reliability
  • Improve usability
  • Maintain security
  • Identify trends that may lead to changes resulting in improved client services

Data Sharing

Whidbey Nurse does not share the collected data with any third parties.

Your Rights and Choices

You can opt-out of data collection or request deletion of your data in the following ways:

  1. Use the Google Analytics Browser opt-out add-on
  2. Block cookies on whidbeynurse.com
  3. Use privacy-focused browsers or extensions such as Ghostery
  4. Contact barb@whidbeynurse.com to request data deletion (additional information may be required)

Data Protection Measures

While whidbeynurse.com does not store personal data directly, security measures such as the following are employed:

  • HTTPS encryption for all website traffic
  • Wordfence security technology to protect against attacks
  • Strong password policies and two-factor authentication for administrative website access

Data Breaches

In the unlikely event of a data breach, the situation will be assessed. As no personal information is currently collected or stored directly on whidbeynurse.com, there may be limited action required. However, Whidbey Nurse will comply with all applicable laws regarding breach notifications.

Marketing Communications

Whidbey Nurse currently does not send newsletters or marketing emails. If this changes in the future, this policy will be updated, and opt-in mechanisms for such communications will be provided.

Do Not Track Requests

Please note that this website does not currently respond to “Do Not Track” (DNT) signals from browsers.

Healthcare Information and PHI

whidbeynurse.com is an informational website only. Whidbey Nurse would like to ensure that all users understand that:

  • This website does not collect, store, or transmit any Protected Health Information (PHI) as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
  • All content on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice or a substitute for professional medical consultation.
  • For patient-specific information, medical advice, or to access your personal health records, please use Whidbey Nurse’s HIPAA-compliant patient portal served by “Practice Better.”
  • “Practice Better” is a separate, third-party Electronic Health Record (EHR) and patient/provider management system that is used to securely interface with patients and manage PHI in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
  • Any PHI you provide directly through “Practice Better” is subject to their privacy policy and terms of service, which adhere to HIPAA requirements.

All users are encouraged to review the privacy policy and terms of service for “Practice Better” before using their platform to share any personal health information. If you have any questions about how your PHI is handled, please contact barb@whidbeynurse.com or refer to the “Practice Better” privacy policy.

Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. Users will be notified of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the “Last Updated” date.

Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact barb@whidbeynurse.com and allow 48 hours for a response.

By using whidbeynurse.com, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.