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Privacy Policy


The Society of Hospital Medicine(SHM) is committed to protecting the privacy of its members and customers. Below describes the information we collect from our web sites and digital products such as our mobile applications, how we use it and your rights in connection with such use.

 

What personal information do we collect?

Information you provide to us:

When you sign up for our services, we ask you for information such as:

  • Your name and contact information (phone, mailing address, email)
  • Date of birth
  • Education and professional information such as medical school, residency training information, specialty, type and size of practice
  • Information you post to online forums or in our customer support channels
  • Purchasing and payment information
  • Authentication data (your username and password)
  • Author and peer review information

When you use our websites/online services without signing in, you will not be able to access certain restricted content and features. A small amount of information is still collected automatically, though, for us to personalize your experience and to learn about the usage of our websites and online services so we can make improvements. This information includes:

  • Information about the device(s) you use to access our websites, such as operating system, web browser and mobile device manufacturers
  • Location information
  • Information about service usage, such as the amount of time you spend on each page

This information is necessary for us to provide you services. If you do not provide this information we would not be able to provide services to you.

Information we collect about you:

When you use our services, we use cookies and similar technologies to collect information about your location, your activities on our websites and services, and information about your device. This is described in more detail in the section Cookies and Other Technologies below. The information includes:

  • Location Information: Information about your estimated location which may be deduced by various technologies including: IP address.
  • Activity data: This includes information, such as the time and date of your request; the internet address of your computer; the browser and operating system you are using; the page which you are viewing; and the previous page that you visited (the referrer)
  • Device Information: Information about the device you are using such as hardware model, operating system, application version number and browser, mobile network information, IP addresses, user names, real names, email addresses and other custom properties.

If you have logged into password-protected areas of our web sites, we also record your username.

 

Cookies and Other Technologies

SHM web sites send all visitors a cookie (small computer file) that contains a unique serial number. Each time our web server receives a request for a page, it checks to see if the cookie is present, which enables us to determine the traffic patterns of visitors as well as to identify repeat visitor traffic.

Advertising

We and our third-party providers use the information collected by cookies and other technologies as described above, to understand how to make our website and services more available and user-friendly to our customers and members as well as to provide you with advertising that may be of interest to you. We use Google Ads and other similar third-party vendors to display an advertisement on the Google search results page, another site in the Google Display Network, or other third-party sites. Other Third-party vendors use cookies to serve ads based on users' past visits to www.hospitalmedicine.org, www.the-hospitalist.org, and other SHM sites. Learn how you can opt out of such advertising. We do not serve interest-based advertising to users who identify as EU residents. If you are an EU resident you will be served with generic advertisements.

Functional Cookies

SHM web servers send cookies to facilitate interaction between your web browser and the SHM’s web servers. For example, the Store uses cookies to keep track of items to be included in your order. Our single sign-on (SSO) system uses cookies to enable the convenience of allowing you to log into one SHM site and then automatically be logged into another SHM site. We or our third-party providers also use cookies and other technologies to display messages and links to previous visitors who haven't completed a task on our site, for example using the committee application form. Learn how to opt out of cookies.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics may set cookies on your browser or mobile device or read cookies that are already there. Google Analytics may also receive information about you from apps you have downloaded, that partner with Google. We do not combine the information collected through the use of Google Analytics with personally identifiable information. Google’s ability to use and share information collected by Google Analytics about your visits to the Services to another application which partners with Google, is restricted by the Google Analytics Terms of Use and the Google Privacy Policy. Please review those and see www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/ for information about how Google uses the information provided to Google Analytics and how you can control the information provided to Google. To prevent your data from being used by Google Analytics, you can download the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on for Google Analytics which can be found at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/.

 

How We Use Your Information

We process your information for the following purposes as necessary to provide the services to you and perform our contract with you:

To process transactions. SHM uses personal information such as name, physical address, telephone number, email address and company/institution to engage in interactions with you, including contacting you about your order, subscription, meeting participation or membership. We use financial/credit card and payment information to process your order and may need to share some of this information with delivery services, credit card clearing houses, and other third parties to complete the transaction.

To provide support or other services. SHM may use your personal information to provide you with support or other services that you have ordered or requested. SHM may also use your personal information to respond directly to your requests for information, including registrations for newsletters, meetings or courses, or other specific requests, or pass your contact information to the appropriate SHM distributor or reseller for further follow-up related to your interests.

To provide information based on your needs and respond to your requests. SHM may use your personal information to provide you with notices of new product releases and service developments.

To enable you to interact with others on online forums. Some services available on the websites permit you to participate in interactive discussions, post comments, or other content to our online Member Forum, HMX, or otherwise engage in networking activities. Some of these services are moderated; all communications may be accessed for technical reasons (for example, for improvements or fixes). SHM does not control the content that users post to these forums. You should carefully consider whether you wish to submit personal information to these forums and tailor any content you submit appropriately and in accordance with the relevant terms of use.

To administer products. SHM may contact you if you purchase products to confirm certain information about your order (for example, notifying you of a shipment). We may also use this information to confirm compliance with licensing and other terms of use and may share it with your company/institution if this is necessary for proper functioning of the product or service.

We process your information for the following purposes as part of our legitimate interest in the improvement and marketing of our services as well in the security of our services.

To assess usage of SHM products and services. SHM may track your usage of SHM products and services to determine your level of usage, and those usage statistics may be made available to SHM’s content licensors and your company/institution if we are contractually obligated to do so.

To communicate with you about a meeting, conference, or event. We may communicate with you about a meeting, conference, or event hosted by SHM or one of our local chapters. This may include information about the event's content, event logistics, payment, updates, and additional information related to the event. SHM may contact you after the event about the event, subsequent iterations of the event and related events. Please note that SHM conference, meeting or event organizers, exhibitors, and other third parties may directly request your personal information at their conference booths or presentations. Providing your information to them is optional, and you should review their privacy policies to address your particular needs and concerns about how they will treat your personal information.

To consider you for an SHM Fellows Designation or an SHM award. SHM may use personal information, such as your name, education, work history and volunteer activities to consider you for Fellows designations or for an SHM award. SHM may need to share this information with your nominators, references, judges, and other parties involved in evaluating your eligibility. You may opt out of such sharing by contacting us at shm@hospitalmedicine.org. Please note that this will prevent you from being evaluated, being classified in a higher class or receiving an award.

To assist in your participation in SHM activities. SHM will communicate with you, if you are participating in certain SHM activities, such as SHM conferences or authoring or reviewing SHM content. SHM may send you information, such as newsletters related to those activities. Learn how to opt out of these communications.

To update you on relevant SHM benefits, programs, and opportunities. SHM or selected third parties may communicate with you regarding relevant SHM benefits, programs and opportunities available to you through your membership(s) with SHM. Learn how to opt out of these communications.

 

How We Share Your Information

We share your information with our service providers, in connection with a business transaction, to comply with the law and to protect our legal rights. The legal basis for this is our legitimate interest in providing our services, complying with the law and protecting our rights and those of others. We apply appropriate safeguards for this sharing of your information as described below.

To engage with service providers. We share your personal data with third parties in connection with services that these individuals or entities perform for or with SHM. These third parties are restricted from using this data in any way other than to provide services for SHM or for the collaboration in which they and SHM are contractually engaged (for example, hosting an SHM database or engaging in data processing on SHM's behalf, or mailing you information that you requested, as well as operations and maintenance contractors). These third parties’ access to your personal information is limited to the information reasonably necessary for them to perform their services for SHM and they are obligated to keep your data secure and not use or disclose your personal information for any purpose other than providing products and services.

To protect SHM content and services. We use your information to prevent potentially illegal activities and to enforce our terms and conditions. We also use a variety of technical systems to detect and address anomalous activity and to screen content to prevent abuse, such as spam. These efforts may, on occasion, result in a temporary or permanent suspension or termination of some functions for some users.

To comply with legal requirements and to protect your rights. SHM may release personal information to third parties: (1) to comply with valid legal requirements such as a law, regulation, search warrant, subpoena or court order, including to meet national security or law enforcement requirements; or (2) in special cases, such as a physical threat to you or others. In the event that we are legally compelled to disclose your personal information to a third party, we will notify you unless doing so would violate the law or court order.

In the context of business reorganization. SHM will share your information if we are involved in a merger, acquisition, consolidation, change of control or sale of all or a portion of our assets or if we undergo bankruptcy or liquidation.

 

How You Can Control Your Information

Online interest-based advertising: You can manage or turn off ad personalization by Google by accessing your ad settings while logged into your Google account.

Cookies: You may use the SHM's web sites without accepting cookies. The "Help" function in your web browser explains how to manage cookies while using the Internet. Please note, however, that some services, such as the SSO system, will not work if your browser will not accept cookies.

Email promotional communications:

To delete your name from our email contact lists or update your subscription preferences, you can change the preferences within My Account (www.hospitalmedicine.org/login), by contacting Member and Customer Service directly at: www.hospitalmedicine.org/contact  or by clicking the "unsubscribe" link found in every email sent to you.

Removal from Member Directory: To request exclusion from the SHM Member Directory, please submit your request via: https://www.hospitalmedicine.org/datarequest

 

Security and e-Commerce

All of our websites are delivered via standard secured HTTPS protocols, ensuring that your data is safely encrypted. Our secure server certificate is issued by Network Solutions, L.L.C. All of our databases and systems storing any personal information are governed by a Data Protection Policy and we routinely ensure that our systems remain secure in accordance with privacy and security standards.

Our secure server enables you to transmit a credit card number to us with confidence. We strictly adhere to current Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) and routinely verify this compliance.

 

Your Rights Under EU Data Protection Laws

If EU data protection laws apply to our processing of your information, you are entitled by law to access, correct, amend, or delete personal information about you that we hold. A list of these rights is below.

You can control the information we have about you and how we use it in several ways. If you are a registered user, you can review, revise, and correct the personal data that you have provided to SHM directly via your “My Account Page” upon log in, or by contacting Member and Customer Service directly at: shm@hospitalmedicine.org. You can request that data be deleted or make another request in connection with the rights below by contacting us via https://www.hospitalmedicine.org/datarequest.

In the event that we refuse a request under rights of access, we will provide the individual with a reason as to why. Individuals in the EU have the right to complain as outlined in the "Complaints" section.

A list of your rights is below:

  • Right of access – the right to request a copy of the information that we hold about the you.
  • Right of rectification – the right to correct data that we hold about you that is inaccurate or incomplete.
  • Right to be forgotten – in certain circumstances you can ask for the data we hold about you to be erased from our records.
  • Right to restriction of processing – where certain conditions apply to have a right to restrict the processing.
  • Right of portability – the right to have the data we hold about you transferred to another organization.
  • Right to object – the right to object to certain types of processing such as direct marketing.
  • Right to object to automated processing, including profiling – the right to not be subject to the legal effects of automated processing or profiling. We do not currently engage in any automated processing or profiling of individuals we know reside in the EU.

 

How Long We Keep Your Information

You can request that we delete your account by contacting us at https://www.hospitalmedicine.org/datarequest. If you choose to delete your account, we will begin the process of deleting your account from our systems.

We retain your information after you request such deletion for longer periods for specific purposes to the extent that we are obliged to do so in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and/or as necessary to protect our legal rights or for certain business requirements. For example, when we process your payments, we will retain this data for longer periods of time as required for tax or accounting purposes. Some of the specific reasons we would retain some data for longer periods of time include:

  • Security, fraud and abuse prevention – i.e. to protect you, other people, and us from fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access.
  • Financial record-keeping - when you make a payment to us we are often required to retain this information for long period of time for purposes of accounting, dispute resolution and compliance with tax, and other financial regulations
  • Complying with legal or regulatory requirements – to meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request, as required to enforce our terms of service, including investigation of potential violations
  • Direct communications with us - if you have directly communicated with us, through a customer support channel, feedback form, or a bug report, we may retain reasonable records of those communications.

Even if you delete your account, keep in mind that the deletion by our third-party providers may not be immediate and that the deleted information may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time. For any privacy- or data-protection-related questions, please contact us.

 

Processing in the United States

SHM transfers, processes and stores information about you on servers located in the United States. Therefore, your information may be transferred to, stored, or processed in the United States or other countries outside of the EU, whose data protection, privacy, and other laws may not provide the same level of protection as those in your country of residence. For example, government entities in the United States and other countries may have certain rights to access your personal information. If we transfer your information outside of the EU in this way, we will take steps to ensure that appropriate security measures are taken with the aim of ensuring that your privacy rights continue to be protected as outlined in this policy. By using our Websites or our services, you agree that the collection, use, transfer and disclosure of your personal information and communications will be governed by the provisions of this Privacy Policy.

 

External Links

Please note that some of the links within SHM web sites and digital products connect to other web sites. Once you leave any SHM web site or digital product and enter another web site (whether through an advertisement, co-brand, service or content link), be aware that any information you disclose on or through those sites is not subject to this privacy policy. SHM does not endorse and is not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party web sites to which we may link. You acknowledge that such other web site locations are not under the control of SHM and agree that SHM shall not be responsible for any information or other links found at any linked site. SHM provides such links only as a convenience to you and has not tested any software or verified any information disclosed on or through such sites. You should always review the privacy policy for those sites to understand how they treat your personal information.

 

Protecting Children's Privacy

You must be 18 years or older to use our Services. We do not knowingly accept personal information from any child under the age of 16. If it is brought to our attention that we have inadvertently received personal information from a child under 16, we will immediately remove all personal and identifiable information from our records or seek parental consent as may be required.

 

Questions and Complaints

If you have any questions or complaints about our privacy practices, please contact Member and Customer Service directly at: shm@hospitalmedicine.org

If you reside in the EU, in the event your concerns in connection with how we process your information are not addressed you can file a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority in the country of your residence.

 

Changes

We change this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we update this Privacy Policy, we will notify you by posting the revised Privacy Policy on our website and will always indicate the date the last changes were published. Your continued use of the Services after the changes have been made will constitute your acceptance of the changes. Please therefore make sure you read any such notice carefully. If you do not wish to continue using the Services under the new version of the Privacy Policy, please cease using the Services.