Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

**Effective Date: September 8, 2023**

Protecting your personal information is important to us. This Privacy Policy applies to the Metabola website and Obesity Medicine & Metabolic Wellness Center (“Metabola,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). It explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information obtained through our website.

By using this website, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

## Information We Collect

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you contact us, submit a patient or referral form, request information, schedule a consultation, or otherwise interact with our website.

This information may include:

- First and last name
- Mailing address
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Date of birth
- Employer and job title
- Demographic information, such as age or gender
- Insurance information
- Information included in messages, patient forms, or referral forms
- Other information you choose to provide

Please do not submit medical information through a general contact form unless the form specifically requests it.

## How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect to:

- Respond to questions and requests
- Provide information about our services
- Process patient intake and referral forms
- Schedule consultations or appointments
- Communicate with patients, prospective patients, and healthcare providers
- Operate, maintain, and improve our website
- Protect the security and integrity of our website
- Comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements
- Send service-related or promotional communications, where permitted by law

We may also collect additional personal or non-personal information when reasonably necessary to provide our services.

## Sharing Information With Third Parties

We do not sell, rent, or lease personal information or customer lists to third parties.

We may share information with service providers that assist us in operating our website, communicating with users, processing forms, maintaining our systems, or delivering requested services. These providers may use personal information only as necessary to perform services on our behalf and are expected to protect its confidentiality.

We may also disclose information when we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to:

- Comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, or legal processes
- Protect the rights, property, or safety of Metabola, our patients, website users, or the public
- Detect, prevent, or investigate fraud, security incidents, or unlawful activity
- Enforce our agreements and policies
- Respond to an emergency involving an immediate risk of harm

## Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:

- IP address
- Browser type
- Device type
- Operating system
- Referring website
- Pages visited
- Access dates and times
- General website interaction information

We may use this information to operate the website, maintain service quality, understand website usage, improve performance, and protect against security threats.

## Cookies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, remember preferences, understand website activity, and improve your experience.

A cookie is a small text file stored on your device by a website. Cookies cannot run programs or deliver viruses to your device.

Most browsers accept cookies automatically. You can change your browser settings to reject or remove cookies. However, disabling cookies may prevent some website features from functioning correctly.

## Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure.

Information transmitted through our website may be protected using Secure Sockets Layer (“SSL”) encryption. However, no internet transmission, wireless network, or electronic storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of information submitted through the website.

## Requests to Access or Delete Information

Subject to applicable law and certain exceptions, you may request access to or deletion of personal information we maintain about you.

After receiving and verifying a request, we may:

- Delete eligible personal information from our records
- Ask applicable service providers to delete eligible personal information from their records

We may retain information when reasonably necessary to:

- Complete a transaction or provide a requested service
- Maintain medical, business, or legal records as required by law
- Perform a contract or fulfill an ongoing business relationship
- Detect and prevent security incidents, fraud, or unlawful activity
- Identify and repair errors
- Exercise or protect legal rights
- Comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, or legal obligations
- Support research conducted in accordance with applicable legal and ethical requirements
- Establish, exercise, or defend legal claims

Certain medical records may be subject to separate retention requirements and may not be eligible for deletion.

## Children Under 13

Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through the website.

If you are under 13, please do not submit personal information through this website without permission from a parent or legal guardian.

## Email Communications

We may contact you by email regarding appointments, requested services, administrative notices, confirmations, announcements, surveys, or other relevant communications.

Where permitted, we may also send promotional communications. You may unsubscribe from marketing emails by using the unsubscribe link included in those messages. You may continue to receive non-promotional communications related to appointments, services, transactions, or legal requirements.

Email may not always be secure. Please avoid sending sensitive medical or financial information through ordinary email unless specifically instructed to do so through a secure method.

## Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the content, security, or privacy practices of those third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

## Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. When changes are made, we may post the revised policy on this website and update its effective date.

Your continued use of the website after an updated policy is posted constitutes acknowledgment of the revised policy, to the extent permitted by law.

## Contact Information

If you have questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, please contact:

**Obesity Medicine & Metabolic Wellness Center**
901 East Indian Street
Midland, Michigan 48640

**Email:** info@metabolacenter.com
**Telephone:** (989) 941-3290