Privacy Policy
Kennedy Psychiatric - Effective Date: April 2, 2026
1. Introduction
Kennedy Psychiatric ("the Practice," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we handle information gathered through kennedypsychiatric.com (the "Website").
Important Clinical Distinction: This Website is a tool for information and initial inquiry. It is not a patient portal. Once a physician-patient relationship is established, your information is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and our internal Notice of Privacy Practices, which provides stricter protections for your Protected Health Information (PHI).
2. Information We Collect
We collect information only to facilitate your request for care or to improve the Website experience.
Inquiry Information: If you contact us via our web form, email, or phone, we collect your name, contact details, and any information you choose to share.
PRMS Warning: Please do not include sensitive clinical details or "protected health information" in initial web forms or standard emails, as these channels are not fully encrypted.
Automatic Data (Log Files): To ensure the Website functions correctly, we collect standard data such as your IP address (anonymized), browser type, and the pages you visit.
3. How We Use and Share Information
We use your information strictly for clinical operations and legal compliance.
To Initiate Care: We use your contact details to respond to your inquiry and schedule evaluations.
Website Analytics: We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors find us. Because we have a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) in place and utilize IP Anonymization, your identity is protected from being tracked for advertising purposes.
No Third-Party Marketing: We never sell, rent, or share your data with third parties for marketing or "data mining." We only share information with trusted service providers who support our clinical operations (like our secure EHR) or when required by law (e.g., a court order).
4. Security and Data Integrity
We utilize industry-standard security protocols to protect your data. However, the "Doctor-Patient Relationship" and the full weight of HIPAA protections begin only after your initial evaluation and the signing of our formal "Consent to Treat" documentation.
Any clinical information sent via the Website prior to that point will be maintained in accordance with New York and California medical record-keeping standards.
5. Your Rights (California and New York)
Under the CCPA (California) and New York privacy guidelines, you have the right to:
- Request Access: Know what personal data we have collected about you.
- Request Deletion: Ask us to delete personal data collected through the Website (subject to medical record retention laws).
- Non-Discrimination: We will never provide a different quality of care based on your exercise of these privacy rights.
To exercise these rights, contact appointments@kennedypsychiatric.com.
6. Children's Privacy
Our Website is intended for adults and professionals. We do not knowingly collect information from individuals under the age of 18.
7. Emergency and Crisis Policy
This Website and its contact forms are not monitored for crisis intervention. If you are in immediate danger:
- Call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.
- Call or Text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).
- Text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line).