Privacy Policy

Bobby Buka, M.D., Professional Corporation d/b/a The Dermatology Specialists (“Dermatology Specialists” or “We”) operates a website located at https://thedermspecs.com/ which includes all related sub-domains, mobile versions, tools, and services (the “Website”). The Dermatology Specialists respects the privacy of its Website users and has developed this Privacy Policy to demonstrate its commitment to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes the information we collect, how that information may be used, with whom it may be shared, and your choices about such uses and disclosures. We encourage you to read this Privacy Policy carefully when using our Website or transacting business with the Dermatology Specialists. By using the Website, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

If you have any questions about our privacy practices, please refer to the end of this Privacy Policy for information on how to contact us.

1. Information Collection. In the operation of this Website and during the course of its business, Dermatology Specialists collects information that may be used to identify an individual or business, including, but not limited to, a first and last name, entity name, email address, a home, postal or other physical address, other contact information, title, birth date, gender, occupation, industry, personal interests, medical conditions or other information when needed to provide a service you requested.
   When you browse the Website you do so anonymously, unless you have previously indicated that you wish Dermatology Specialists to remember your login and password or you submit a contact form. We do not collect any information for the purpose of reselling or distributing that information. We may log your IP address (the Internet address of your computer) to give us an idea of which part of the Website you visit and how long you spend there. However, we do not link your IP address to any information unless you have logged in to our website. Like many other commercial websites, the Website may use a standard technology called a “cookie” to collect information about how you use the Website. Please go to “Cookies and Tracking Technology” below for more information.
2. Notification. When personal information is collected, we will inform you at the point of collection the purpose for the collection. Dermatology Specialists will not transfer your personal information to third parties without your consent. We will always give you the opportunity to “opt out” of receiving Dermatology Specialists’ direct marketing or market research information. This means we assume you have given us your consent to collect and use your personal information in accordance with this Policy unless you take affirmative action to indicate that you do not consent, for instance by clicking or checking the appropriate option or box at the point of collection. In some cases, when applicable, we will provide you with the opportunity to “opt in.” This means we will require your affirmative action to indicate your consent before we use your personal information for purposes other than the purpose for which it was submitted.
3. Cookies and Tracking Technology. A cookie is a small data file that certain Websites write to your hard drive when you visit them. A cookie file can contain personal information such as a user ID that the website uses to track the pages you’ve visited, but the only personal information a cookie can contain is any personal information you supply yourself. A cookie can’t read data off your hard disk or read cookie files created by other websites. Some parts the Website use cookies to understand user traffic patterns. We do this in order to determine the usefulness of the Website information to our users and to see how effective our navigational structure is in helping users reach that information.
   If you prefer not to receive cookies while browsing the Website, you can set your browser to warn you before accepting cookies and refuse the cookie when your browser alerts you to its presence. You can also refuse all cookies by turning them off in your browser, although you may not be able to take full advantage of the Website if you do so. You do not need to have cookies turned on to use/navigate through many parts of the Website, except access to certain of the Dermatology Specialists’ web pages require a login and password.
4. Information Sharing and Disclosure. Inside the Website, data is stored in controlled servers with limited access. Your protected health information (“PHI”) may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country where the Dermatology Specialists, its subsidiaries, affiliates or agents are located. Your personal information is never shared outside the Website without your permission, except under conditions explained below.
   1. For Treatment: We may use and disclose PHI for your treatment and to provide you with treatment-related health care benefits and services. For example, we may disclose PHI to doctors, nurses, technicians, pharmacists, or other personnel, including those who are involved in your medical care and need the information to provide you with medical care.
   2. For Payment: We may use and disclose PHI so that we or others may bill and receive payment from you, an insurance company or a third party for the treatment, products and/or services you received. For example, we may give your health plan information about you so that they will pay for your treatment. When appropriate, we may share information with a person who is involved in your medical care or payment for your care, such as your family or a close friend. Additionally, we may disclose PHI to your personal representative designated by you or any other person who has the authority by law to make health care decisions for you.
   3. For Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose PHI for health care operations purposes. We may use your PHI for quality assessment, auditing and customer service. We also may share information with other entities that have a relationship with you (for example, your health plan) for their health care operation activities. We may use and disclose PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment with us, are due for prescription refill, or have a prescription ready. We also may use and disclose PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives or health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
   4. Research: Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose PHI for research. For example, a research project may involve comparing the health of patients who received one treatment to those who received another, for the same condition. Before we use or disclose PHI for research, the project will go through a special approval process through an institutional review board or privacy board that has reviewed the research proposal and established protocols to ensure the privacy of your information. Even without special approval, we may permit researchers to look at records to help them identify patients who may be included in their research project or for other similar purposes, as long as they do not remove or take a copy of any PHI.
5. Special Situations
   1. As Required by Law: We will disclose PHI when required to do so by international, federal, state or local law.
   2. To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety: We may use and disclose PHI when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Disclosures, however, will be made only to someone who may be able to help prevent the threat.
   3. Business Associates: We may disclose PHI to our business associates that perform functions on our behalf or provide us with services if the information is necessary for such functions or services. For example, we may use another company to perform billing services on our behalf. All of our business associates are obligated to protect the privacy of your information and are not allowed to use or disclose any information other than as specified in our contract.
   4. Public Health Risks: We may disclose PHI for public health activities. These activities generally include disclosures to prevent or control disease, injury or disability; report births and deaths; report child abuse or neglect; report reactions to medications or problems with products; notify people of recalls of products they may be using; notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition; and notify the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient has been the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. We will only make this disclosure if you agree or when required or authorized by law.
   5. Health Oversight Activities: We may use or disclose your PHI to provide legally required notices of unauthorized access to or disclosure of your PHI.
   6. Data Breach Notification Purposes: We may use or disclose your PHI to provide legally required notices of unauthorized access to or disclosure of your PHI.
   7. Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose PHI in response to a court or administrative order. We also may disclose PHI in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute.
   8. Law Enforcement: We may release PHI if asked by a law enforcement official if the information is: (1) in response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process; (2) limited information to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person; (3) about the victim of a crime even if, under certain very limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain the person’s agreement; (4) about a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct; (5) about criminal conduct on our premises; and (6) in an emergency to report a crime, the location of the crime or victims, or the identity, description or location of the person who committed the crime.
   9. Coroners and Medical Examiners: We may release PHI to a coroner or medical examiner. This may be necessary, for example, to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death.
   10. Transfer of Records: We may release PHI to transfer your records as part of a sale of the pharmacy business when permitted by law.
6. Uses and Disclosures that Require Us to Give You An Opportunity to Object and Opt Out Of:
   1. Individuals Involved in Your Care or Payment for Your Care:  Unless you object, we may disclose to a member of your family, a relative, a close friend or any other person you identify, your PHI that directly relates to that person’s involvement in your health care. If you are unable to agree or object to such a disclosure, we may disclose such information as necessary if we determine that it is in your best interest based on our professional judgment.
   2. Disaster Relief: We may disclose your PHI to disaster relief organizations that seek your PHI to coordinate your care, or notify family and friends of your location or condition in a disaster. We will provide you with an opportunity to agree or object to such a disclosure whenever we practically can do so.
   3. YOUR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION IS REQUIRED FOR OTHER USES AND DISCLOSURES: The following uses and disclosures of your PHI will be made only with your written authorization:
      1. Uses and disclosures of PHI for marketing purposes; and
      2. Disclosures that constitute a sale of your PHI.
   4. Other uses and disclosures of PHI not covered by this Notice or the laws that apply to us will be made only with your written authorization. If you do give us an authorization, you may revoke it at any time by submitting a written revocation to the Dermatology Specialists and we will no longer disclose PHI under the authorization. But disclosure that we made in reliance on your authorization before you revoked it will not be affected by the revocation.
7. Your Rights. You have the following rights regarding PHI we have about you:
   1. Right to Inspect and Copy: You have a right to inspect and copy PHI that may be used to make decisions about your care or payment for your care. To inspect and copy this PHI, you must make your request, in writing, to The Dermatology Specialists, RIGHT TO INSPECT, 214 Sullivan Street, New York, 10012. We have up to 30 days to make your PHI available to you and we may charge you a reasonable fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request. We may not charge you a fee if you need the information for a claim for benefits under the Social Security Act or any other state of federal needs-based benefit program. We may deny your request in certain limited circumstances. If we do deny your request, you have the right to have the denial reviewed by a licensed healthcare professional who was not directly involved in the denial of your request, and we will comply with the outcome of the review.
   2. Right to an Electronic Copy of Electronic Medical Records: If your PHI is maintained in an electronic format (known as an electronic medical record or an electronic health record), you have the right to request that an electronic copy of your record be given to you or transmitted to another individual or entity. We will make every effort to provide access to your PHI in the form or format you request, if it is readily producible in such form or format. If the PHI is not readily producible in the form or format you request, your record will be provided in either our standard electronic format; or, if you do not want this form or format, a readable hard copy form. We may charge you a reasonable, cost-based fee for the labor associated with transmitting the electronic medical record.
   3. Right to Get Notice of a Breach: You will be notified upon a breach of any of your unsecured PHI.
   4. Right to Amend: If you feel that PHI we have is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for our office.
   5. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we made of PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment and health care operations or for which you provided written authorization.
   6. Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the PHI we use or disclose for treatment, payment, or health care operations. You also have the right to request a limit on the PHI we disclose to someone involved in your care or the payment for your care, like a family member or friend. For example, you could ask that we not share information about a particular diagnosis or treatment with your spouse. We are not required to agree to your request unless you are asking us to restrict the use and disclosure of your PHI to a health plan for payment or health care operation purposes and such information you wish to restrict pertains solely to a health care item or service for which you have paid us “out-of-pocket” in full. If we agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you with emergency treatment.
   7. Out-of-Pocket-Payments: If you paid out-of-pocket in full for a specific item or service, you have the right to ask that your PHI with respect to that item or service not be disclosed to a health plan for purposes of payment or health care operations, and we will honor that request.
   8. Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about health related matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you by mail or at work. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted. We will accommodate reasonable requests
   9. Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to a paper copy of this notice. You may request us to give you a copy of this notice at any time. Even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this notice.
8. Data Security. Your account information with the Dermatology Specialists is password-protected for your privacy and security. The Dermatology Specialists safeguards the security of the data you send us with physical, electronic, and managerial procedures. In certain areas of the Website, the Dermatology Specialists uses industry-standard SSL-encryption to enhance the security of data transmissions. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot ensure the security of the personal information you transmit to us, and so we urge you to take every precaution to protect your personal data when you are on the Internet. Change your passwords often, use a combination of letters and numbers, and make sure you use a secure browser.
9. Children and Privacy. The Website does not target and is not intended to attract children under the age of 18. The Dermatology Specialists does not knowingly solicit information from children under the age of 18 or send them requests for information.
10. Third Party Websites. The Website contains links to other websites. The Dermatology Specialists does not share your personal information with those websites and is not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to learn about the privacy policies of those companies.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy. The Dermatology Specialists will amend this policy from time to time. If we make any substantial changes in the way we use your personal information we will notify you by posting a notice on this Website.

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, our information handling practices, or any other aspect of the privacy and security of your personal information, please email us at complianceofficer@thedermspecs.com. You may also reach us by mail at Bobby Buka, M.D., Professional Corporation d/b/a The Dermatology Specialists, 214 Sullivan Street, New York, NY 10012, Attn Carlton Bonelli.