HIPAA Policy

1. NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES — HIPAA

Effective Date: May 14, 2026

Spine & Joint Center Fort Lauderdale (“we,” “us,” “our,” or “the practice”) is committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of your health information. This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) and your rights regarding that information.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT

When you use our appointment scheduling form or contact us, we collect:

• Name and contact information (email, phone number)
• Service inquiry (type of chiropractic service)
• Appointment preferences
• Additional health-related notes or requests you provide

This information is classified as Protected Health Information (PHI) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) when it relates to your health condition or treatment inquiry.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

Your information is used solely to:

• Confirm and schedule your chiropractic appointment
• Contact you regarding your appointment (via your preferred method)
• Provide administrative reminders
• Maintain appointment records for clinical continuity

WE DO NOT

• Sell your health information to third parties
• Share your information with marketing firms or data brokers
• Use your information for advertising or remarketing
• Disclose your information on social media or public channels
• Use your information for any purpose beyond appointment administration

DATA RETENTION

We retain appointment form data for three (3) years following your last appointment, as required by Florida chiropractic regulations and HIPAA record-keeping standards. After three years, your information is securely destroyed.

SECURITY

Your information is protected by:

• Encrypted transmission (HTTPS/SSL)
• Secure email forwarding through Google Workspace with Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
• Access restricted to Dr. Douglas Kellerman, DC and Dr. Michael F. Petrie, DC only
• No storage on public servers or unsecured databases

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to:

• Access your appointment records by written request
• Correct inaccurate information
• Request a restriction on uses and disclosures
• Revoke this authorization in writing at any time
• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

COMPLAINTS

To file a complaint regarding our privacy practices:

1. Contact us at (954) 561-4700 or info@spineandjointcenterfortlauderdale.com
2. Contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr

CONTACT US

For questions about this Notice or your privacy rights:

Spine & Joint Center Fort Lauderdale 410 NE 44th St, Oakland Park, FL 33334 Phone: (954) 561-4700 Email: info@spineandjointcenterfortlauderdale.com

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We reserve the right to modify this Notice at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting to our website. Your continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of updated terms.