Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy

Certain provider searches, location information, insurance selections, Medicaid selections, and healthcare-provider preferences may potentially be considered consumer health data under some U.S. state privacy laws. On Pediatric Care Finder, that can include:

• Searches for pediatricians and other pediatric providers
• Provider specialty and subspecialty selections
• Insurance or Medicaid selections
• Location or ZIP-code-based healthcare searches
• WIC or Medicaid resource searches
• ZIP code, city, or precise device location used to find nearby health care
• Filters and preferences such as language, specialty, or accepting-new-patients status
• Providers you view, save as favorites, or contact through the site
• Information you type into contact, correction, or data request forms

Because these searches indicate an attempt to obtain health services, we treat them as consumer health data even when they do not identify you by name.

We aim to minimize the collection and storage of this information. Searches, filters, favorites, and recently viewed providers are kept on your own device wherever possible, and we do not maintain a server-side profile of your healthcare searches.

• Information you enter directly, such as a ZIP code or a provider name
• Search selections and filters you choose, including specialty, insurance, and Medicaid options
• Location information, only when you give your browser or device permission
• Technical information necessary to operate the service, such as IP address, device and browser type, and basic security logs
• Information you voluntarily submit through contact, correction, or privacy request forms

We collect consumer health data directly from you when you enter a ZIP code, choose filters, tap “Use my location,” save a favorite, view a provider, or submit a form. We also collect limited technical data (device type, browser, approximate region derived from your network) through our hosting and security providers.

Precise device location is collected only when you affirmatively tap “Use my location” and grant your browser’s location permission. You can decline and search by ZIP code instead, and you can revoke the permission at any time in your browser or device settings.

• To return nearby pediatricians, hospitals, WIC offices, and Medicaid resources
• To sort and filter results by distance, insurance, Medicaid, language, and specialty
• To remember preferences you choose (stored on your own device)
• To answer your questions, corrections, and privacy requests
• To keep the service secure, functional, and free of abuse

Pediatric Care Finder will process consumer health data only as reasonably necessary to provide the service requested by the user, maintain security, comply with law, and perform other activities disclosed in this policy or authorized by the user.

We do not use consumer health data for targeted advertising unless doing so is legally permitted and the required consent has first been obtained. We also do not use it for profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects, or to make decisions about your insurance, employment, or care.

Pediatric Care Finder does not sell consumer health data, and we do not exchange it for money or other valuable consideration. Because we do not sell it, we do not seek MHMDA “valid authorization” for sales. If that ever changes, we will update this policy and obtain your separate, signed valid authorization before any sale.

We transmit only the categories of information necessary for service providers to operate the website and return search results:

• Hosting, application, and database infrastructure providers — technical information such as IP address and request data
• Google Maps Platform and related Google services — ZIP code, search terms, and location or latitude/longitude information needed to render maps and look up places (see “Google Maps and location services” below)
• Public government registries we query on your behalf, such as the NPPES/NPI Registry and CMS data — location and specialty search parameters
• Security and error-monitoring providers — technical and diagnostic information
• Information you voluntarily submit in a form is received by us and by the infrastructure providers that store it

We may also disclose information if required by law or to protect rights and safety. We do not share consumer health data with data brokers, advertisers, or ad networks.

Pediatric Care Finder uses Google Maps Platform and related Google services to provide maps, locations, directions, provider information, and nearby search functionality. When these services are used, Google may receive information such as IP address, search terms, approximate or precise location when permitted by the user, and latitude/longitude information. Google’s handling of this information is governed by Google’s own privacy policies and applicable Google Maps Platform terms.

See the Google Privacy Policy and the Google Maps/Google Earth Additional Terms of Service. You can search by ZIP code instead of sharing precise location, and you can revoke location permission at any time in your browser or device settings.

We do not allow advertising networks, advertising pixels, or cross-site behavioral advertising technologies on this website, and healthcare search terms, provider profiles viewed, specialty selections, insurance or Medicaid selections, WIC searches, and precise location are not intentionally sent to advertising or analytics platforms.

Third parties that we do use — hosting, security, and mapping providers — receive information only as needed to deliver the pages and features you request. Google may, as an independent controller, use information it receives through Google Maps Platform in accordance with its own policies. Apart from that, no third party collects consumer health information through this website over time or across unrelated websites for advertising purposes.

Search terms, ZIP codes, filters, favorites, and recently viewed providers are stored on your own device and are deleted when you clear the site’s storage or your browser data. Server logs containing technical data are retained for a limited period for security and reliability. Messages and data requests you send us are kept only as long as needed to handle them and to keep records of compliance.

Whatever state you live in, you can ask us to:

• Access the consumer health data associated with you
• Correct that data
• Delete that data
• Withdraw consent to our collection and sharing of it, where applicable
• Provide information about data sharing, where required by applicable law
• Appeal a denial of any of these requests

Submit a request through our data request form or by emailing R.McCoy0@yahoo.com. We will respond to verified privacy requests within the time required by applicable law. In many cases this is within 45 days, although certain requests, including deletion requests in some jurisdictions, may require action sooner. There is no charge, and we will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights. An authorized agent may submit a request on your behalf with written permission.

If we deny your request, you may appeal by replying to our decision or emailing R.McCoy0@yahoo.com with “Appeal” in the subject line. We will respond in writing within the time required by applicable law, in many cases within 45 days. If your appeal is denied, Washington residents may contact the Washington State Attorney General at agportal.atg.wa.gov/complaints; Nevada residents may contact the Nevada Attorney General at ag.nv.gov.

We use encryption in transit, access controls, and least-privilege administrative access, and we limit the amount of consumer health data we store at all. No online service can guarantee complete security.

Access to consumer health data is restricted to the people who need it to operate or support Pediatric Care Finder, and to processors under contract that require them to protect the data and use it only for our documented purposes.

Pediatric Care Finder is designed for parents, guardians, and caregivers — adults searching on behalf of children. It is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect consumer health data directly from children.

If we materially change how we collect, use, or share consumer health data, we will post the revised policy on this page and update the effective date at the top. Where the change is material, we will also provide a prominent notice on the website — such as a banner or notice on the homepage — before or when the change takes effect, and, where required by law, we will obtain your consent before applying the change to previously collected data. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

See our Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Medical Disclaimer.

• Pediatric Care Finder
• Operated by: Randi A McCoy
• French Settlement, LA, United States
• R.McCoy0@yahoo.com