Dr. M.A. Emick and Associates is sensitive to protecting your privacy. The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to let you know how we handle information received from you electronically, as well as to inform you of the risks involved in electronic communication. Keep in mind that changes may be made to this Privacy Policy without notice, and it is your responsibility to review those changes prior to using the website or communicating with us electronically. By continuing to use the website or communicate electronically, you consent to any changes to our policy or terms of use.

During your visits to our website, remember that the medical and health information presented here is intended to be general in nature, and should not be viewed as a substitute for professional advice. Please consult with a health care professional for all matters relating to personal medical and health care issues.

Scope & Application

This privacy policy applies to information collected through this website, mobile apps or online or mobile-enabled technology or digital tools (collectively, our “Online Platforms”). This privacy policy also applies to information shared electronically with us by other healthcare providers, insurance companies and governmental agencies.

Certain health and medical information about you is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and applicable state law. This information may be provided by you online or offline, or may be collected by us from other methods such as through a referral from another health care provider. We use and protect covered health and medical information as required by HIPAA and applicable state law. In the event of any conflict between our HIPAA Notice of Policies and Practices and this Privacy Policy, the terms of our HIPAA Notice of Policies and Practices shall control.

Security of Information

You can access and browse our Online Platforms at any time without providing any personally identifying information. We do not collect information that would personally identify you unless you choose to provide it.

The security of your information is important to us. We take all necessary and legally required precautions to protect the information we collect. But you should keep in mind that no website or internet transmission is ever completely secure or error-free. The safety and security of your information also depends on you. We urge you to take steps to keep your personal information safe, such as choosing strong passwords and never sharing your password with anyone else. If you create or receive a password in connection with online service access, please notify us promptly if you believe your password security has been breached, and remember to log off the online service before you leave your computer or mobile device.

The Online Platforms offer opportunities to communicate with us via email. Dr. Emick and her affiliates are not responsible for privacy of email messages except those sent from and stored in their systems. If you wish to keep your information completely private, you should not use email to communicate with us. Keep in mind,

  • Because your personal email is not likely encrypted, the possibility exists that unauthorized individuals may intercept email messages.
  • It is possible that your email could be viewed inappropriately by another internet user.
  • Misaddressing your email may result in others intercepting, altering, forwarding or using the information without authorization.
  • If you receive email at work, your employer may have the right to save and read your email; similarly, your internet service provider may have the right to save and read your email.
  • If you share your email account, others may view your emails.
  • Email can be used unknowingly to spread computer viruses.

Collection and Use of Information

As used in this Privacy policy, personal information does not include information protected under HIPAA or applicable state laws, which is protected as described in the section “Scope & Application” above. We collect and combine information about you and how you engage with our Online Platforms for the legitimate purposes described below. This includes information you provide to us in connection with your use of the Online Platforms, as well as information collected automatically when you view and interact with our Online Platforms.

Personally Identifiable Information

We do not collect information that personally identifies you unless you choose to provide it to us (for example, when you create or modify your account or user preferences, contact us, submit forms, or otherwise communicate with us electronically). This information may include your name, email address, phone number, postal address, insurance information, personal health information (which, to the extent it is considered Protected Health Information under HIPAA, shall be subject to the HIPAA Notice of Policies and Practices linked above), user content stored or entered into the forms found in our Online Platforms, and other information you choose to provide through use of our Online Platforms. The information you provide to us will be used to create your account (if applicable), respond to your inquiries, and to fulfill any other purpose for which you provided it. We will not use your information for any reason other than as described in this privacy policy or explained to you at the point at which the information was collected. The personal information you submit is shared only with those people in our organization who need this information to respond to your question or request, and as otherwise permitted by law to allow us to operate our business or to comply with applicable laws.

Non-Personally Identifiable Information 

We collect information that does not personally identify you for various purposes (for example, website usage, traffic patterns, site performance and related statistics based on our tracking record of your visits to our website). We may utilize certain Third-Party products or services (“Third-Party Tools”), such as Google Analytics, and WordPress and Square Dashboards, in order to better understand the use of our Online Platforms. These Third-Party Tools may collect information such as how often users visit our Online Platforms, what pages they visit, their geographic location (based solely on their IP address), date and time stamps, financial transactions, and the websites that referred users to our Online Platforms. Further, the Third-Party Tools may use the data collected to track and examine the use of the Online Platforms and to prepare reports on its activities and share them with other related services. The Third-Party Tools may also use the data collected on the Online Platforms to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network. The Third-Party Tool’s ability to use and share information it collects about your visits to the Online Platforms is restricted by each of its own privacy policies and terms of use. Additional information about the Third-Party Tools can be provided by contacting us as set forth below.

Your Control Over Information

You have available to you a variety of tools to manage cookies and similar technologies that collect information related to your use of the Online Platforms, including web browser controls to block and delete cookies or adjust your tracking preferences. For cookies and similar technologies used on mobile apps for applicable targeted advertising activities, follow the steps provided by your mobile device platform provider (Apple, Android or others) to opt out of having your information collected and used by digital marketing groups.

Please note, disabling, removing or blocking cookies may turn off some of the features of our Online Platforms that make your experience more efficient, and some Online Platforms may not function properly. If you opt out of having your information collected and used by digital marketing groups for interest-based advertising purposes, you will continue to receive ads, but such ads will not be tailored to your specific interests based on web viewing data collected from your device over time and across unaffiliated websites.

Sharing of Information

We may share the information described above as set forth in this privacy policy or as otherwise described under the following circumstances:

  • In the course of doing business, we engage the services of other companies and individuals to perform a variety of functions on our behalf. For example, we may provide information as necessary to companies that host our Online Platforms or send communications on our behalf. These service providers may have access to information about you if it is needed to perform their functions for us, but they are not authorized by us to use or disclose such information except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or to comply with legal requirements, and they are required to maintain the information in confidence.
  • We reserve the right to disclose information if required to do so by law or by a regulatory authority. We may also disclose information as part of an investigation or enforcement action relating to improper or illegal conduct in connection with our Online Platforms or other products, including, without limitation, any situations that may potentially involve threats to the safety or privacy of any person or misuse of our Online Platforms.
  • We may maintain and use aggregate data or other non-identified information (i.e., data that does not identify a specific individual), such as usage statistics, device data, online traffic patterns and user feedback to improve our Online Platforms.

Third-party links

Our website contains links to other websites that are not managed or controlled by us. These links are provided for your convenience only. We do not review, endorse or take responsibility for the content of these other websites. These Third-Party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. If you choose to access such sites, you are subject to the privacy policies of those sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our site and welcome any feedback about these sites.

COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)

We do not knowingly collect or use any personal information from children (we define “children” as minors younger than 13) on our Online Platforms. We do not knowingly allow children to communicate with us or use any of our Online Platforms. If you are a parent and become aware that your child has provided us with information, please contact us, and we will work with you to address this issue.

Do Not Track Disclosure

At this time, there is no worldwide uniform or consistent industry standard or definition for responding to, processing or communicating Do Not Track signals. Thus, like many other websites and online services, we do not currently respond to any Do Not Track browser requests.

Visiting the Online Platforms from Outside the United States

Our office is located in the United States. If you are visiting the Online Platforms, or any part thereof, from outside the United States of America, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored or processed in the United States and maintained on computers or servers located outside your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the privacy laws may not be as protective as those in your jurisdiction. By using any portion of our Online Platforms, you understand and consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and those third parties with whom we share it as described in this privacy policy.

Acceptance of These Terms

Each time that you use our Online Platforms, you signify that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by the Terms of Use, which incorporate this privacy policy. If you do not agree to the terms of this privacy policy or the use of your information as set forth in this privacy policy, please do not use our Online Platforms. Your continued use of our Online Services subsequent to changes in this privacy policy will signify your acceptance of the changes.

Reservation of Rights

By using our Online Platforms, you consent, and we reserve the right, to use the data we collect from you as described in this privacy policy. Additionally, you consent, and we reserve the right, to use the data we collect from you in ways that are consistent with the then-current disclosed privacy policy regardless of when your data was collected (i.e., we can use your data in ways that are consistent with the current disclosed practice but which may not be entirely consistent with the previously disclosed practices when your information was originally collected).

Printing or Downloading Information

Unless otherwise stated, you may print or download information from our website for personal, noncommercial use only. You must, however, identify the source of the material and include a statement that the materials are protected by copyright law.

Website Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

Dr. M.A. Emick and Associates

1332 Teasley Lane

Denton, Texas 76205