Effective Date: January 1, 2025

At Dr. Cristin Mathew’s orthopedic practice, your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you visit our website. By using this website, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

DEFINITIONS
"Protected Content" shall be defined as all intellectual property that appears on or comprises this Website, including but not limited to all text, images, graphics, logos, videos, designs, interfaces, software, code, data, audio content, medical information, educational materials, trademarks, service marks, and trade names, all of which are protected under United States and international intellectual property laws.
A "Permitted Use" shall be defined as viewing the Website's content through standard web browsers for personal, non-commercial, and educational purposes only, without any modification, reproduction, distribution, transmission, or creation of derivative works.
"Prohibited Activities" shall be defined as any unauthorized copying, scraping, data mining, reverse engineering, decompiling, disassembling, or any other activity that extracts, modifies, or misappropriates any content or functionality of this Website.
"Personal Information" shall be defined as any information that can identify an individual person, including but not limited to an individual's name, address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, social security number, insurance information, medical history, or any other information that is protected under applicable privacy laws.
"Non-Personal Information" shall be defined as any data that cannot directly identify an individual person, including but not limited to browser type, device information, operating system, IP address, cookies, tracking pixels, web beacons, and usage data that is collected through automated means.

INFORMATION COLLECTION AND USAGE
This Website collects, stores, and processes information about Users in accordance with this Privacy Policy, all applicable federal and state laws, and HIPAA regulations where applicable. By accessing or using this Website, you expressly consent to the collection and processing of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.
We may collect and process Personal Information which includes your contact information such as your name, address, telephone numbers, and email addresses. This Personal Information may also include demographic information such as your age, gender, and occupation, as well as medical information including your medical history, current conditions, and medications. We may also collect and store your insurance information and any communications you have with our office.
We may additionally collect Non-Personal Information through automated means, which includes your device identifiers, browser type and version, operating system, IP address, geographic location, website usage data, the website that referred you to our Website, any search terms you used to find our Website, and your navigation patterns and interactions with our content.
USE OF COLLECTED INFORMATION
We utilize the information we collect for essential operations, which includes maintaining and improving Website functionality, analyzing Website usage and performance, detecting and preventing security incidents, debugging and repairing Website errors, and customizing your user experience.
We also use the collected information for communication and services, which includes responding to your inquiries and requests, providing educational materials, sending administrative notifications, processing appointment requests, and maintaining records of our communications with you.
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
We maintain strict controls over the disclosure of collected information and will share such information only as required by law, to comply with legal obligations, to protect rights and safety, with your express consent, or with service providers who are bound by strict confidentiality agreements.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. Any third-party service providers who receive information from us are bound by confidentiality obligations and must implement appropriate security measures. These service providers may only use the information for specified purposes and must return or destroy all information upon completion of their services.
We may share your personal data with third parties only under the following specific and limited circumstances: when required by law or legal process; when necessary to protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property; when needed to enforce our terms of service; when required by legitimate medical purposes with appropriate authorization; or when you have given explicit consent. Any sharing of information will be done in compliance with all applicable privacy laws, including HIPAA where applicable.
COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES
This Website utilizes cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your user experience, analyze website traffic patterns, and improve overall functionality. A cookie is a small text file that is stored on your device which enables us to recognize your preferences and maintain certain information about your online activities. We may employ both session cookies, which expire when you close your browser, and persistent cookies, which remain on your device until they expire or you delete them.
Our Website may use various categories of cookies including strictly necessary cookies for Website operation, functional cookies that remember your preferences, analytical cookies that help us understand user behavior, and targeting cookies that may be used for marketing purposes. You maintain the ability to manage cookie settings through your browser preferences; however, please be aware that disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of our Website.
DATA SECURITY AND PROTECTION
We implement and maintain comprehensive administrative, technical, and physical security measures that are designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These security measures are regularly reviewed and updated to address new technological developments and operational needs. Our security protocols include encrypted data transmission, firewalls, access controls, and employee training on data protection practices.
Despite our implementation of security measures, we must inform you that no method of electronic transmission or storage over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information using commercially acceptable means, we cannot ensure or warrant the absolute security of any information you transmit to us.
INFORMATION RETENTION
We maintain and retain your personal information for the period necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, to comply with our legal obligations, to resolve disputes, and to enforce our agreements. The specific retention period varies depending on the type of information, our legal obligations, and legitimate business needs. When personal information is no longer needed, it will be securely deleted or anonymized in accordance with our data retention protocols.
YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS
You possess certain rights regarding your personal information. You may have the right to restrict or object to certain processing activities, or to request the portability of your personal information, subject to applicable legal exceptions and requirements. To exercise any of these rights, to request a copy of your information, or to make corrections, please contact our office using the contact information provided below. We will respond to your request within the time period required by applicable law.
DATA MINIMIZATION AND PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION
This Website has been designed for educational and informational purposes. We discourage users from entering or submitting extremely sensitive or unnecessary personal information. While context is useful for the Practice, it is important to share only the necessary amount of information on this Website. 
Any sensitive personal or medical information should be shared directly with Dr. Cristin Mathew and the Practice during telephone conversations or in-person visits, not through this Website. This approach ensures your sensitive information is communicated through appropriate medical channels and maintains the highest level of privacy and confidentiality.
UPDATES TO PRIVACY POLICY
We reserve the right to modify, amend, or update this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, and other factors. When we make changes to this Privacy Policy, we will post the updated version on our Website with a revised effective date and, in cases of material changes, we may provide additional notice through the Website or via email. We strongly encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we collect, use, and protect your information.

CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have any questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us at:

Dr. Cristin Mathew

1045 Gemini Street

Houston, TX 77053

Phone: (281)335-1111