Effective Date: January 1st, 2025

At Dr. Bruce Hoffman, Psychologist, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in a secure and responsible manner. This Privacy Policy outlines the types of personal information we collect, how we use it, and the steps we take to protect your privacy. By using our services, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal information to provide you with the best possible care and service. The types of information we may collect include:

Personal Identification Information: This includes your name, contact information (such as phone number, email address), date of birth, and emergency contact details.

Health Information: This includes your medical and psychological history, mental health assessments, treatment plans, progress reports, and any other relevant information related to your therapy or treatment.Billing Information: For insurance billing and payment processing, we may collect billing information such as insurance provider details, policy numbers, and payment methods.

2. How We Use Your Information

The personal information we collect is used for the following purposes:

To provide you with psychological and therapeutic services.

To manage and schedule appointments, and communicate with you regarding those appointments.

To process payments and handle billing, including filing insurance claims if applicable.

To improve the quality of our services and tailor them to your needs.

To comply with legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements related to mental health services.

3. Confidentiality and Security of Your Information

We take the confidentiality of your personal information seriously. All personal and health information is treated with the utmost care, and we use industry-standard practices to protect it.

Our confidentiality practices include:

Secure Communication: We utilize secure channels for communication and documentation, including encrypted email and password-protected systems.

Access Control: Only authorized staff have access to your personal and health information. We have strict protocols in place to protect against unauthorized access or disclosure.

Compliance with Legal and Ethical Standards: As required by law and ethical guidelines, we may disclose your information if there is a risk of harm to you or others, or as required by court order.

4. Sharing Your Information

We will not share your personal or health information with third parties without your consent, except in the following situations:

Healthcare Providers: We may share your information with other healthcare providers or specialists involved in your care if necessary to provide treatment.

Insurance Companies: If you are using insurance for payment, we may share relevant information with your insurance provider for billing purposes.Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, such as to comply with a subpoena or court order, or if there is a concern about potential harm to yourself or others.

5. Your Rights Regarding Your Information

You have certain rights concerning your personal information, including:

Access: You have the right to request access to the personal and health information we have on file for you.

Correction: You have the right to request corrections to any inaccuracies in your personal or health information.

Deletion: You have the right to request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal and ethical restrictions related to recordkeeping.

Opt-Out: You can choose to opt out of communications from us, such as marketing or non-urgent appointment reminders.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided below.

6. Cookies and Website Usage

If you visit our website, we may use cookies to collect data on how the site is used. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that help us improve your user experience. You can adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies, but doing so may affect the functionality of certain features on our website.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal and health information for as long as necessary to provide services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Once the retention period expires, your information will be securely destroyed or anonymized.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will post the revised policy on our website with the updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

9. Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

Dr. Bruce Hoffman, Psychologist

Phone: (646) 321-7931

By using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to this Privacy Policy. We value your trust and are committed to ensuring that your personal information is handled with the utmost care and security.