Privacy Policy

New Jersey Hearing Health Center

Effective Date: February 9, 2026
Last Updated: February 9, 2026

1. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services to you:

1.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you interact with our services, you may provide us with personal information, including:

• Contact Information: Name, mailing address, email address, phone number (including mobile number)
• Appointment Information: Preferred appointment dates and times, appointment history, cancellation or rescheduling requests
• Health Information: Information related to your hearing health, medical history, symptoms, and treatment preferences (protected under HIPAA)
• Insurance Information: Insurance provider, policy number, and billing information
• Communication Preferences: Your preferences for receiving communications, including SMS text messages
• Account Information: Username, password, and security questions if you create an online account

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website or use our online services, we may automatically collect certain information:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, unique device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, referring website, date and time of access
• Location Information: General geographic location based on IP address
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies (see Section 4)

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, including:

• Insurance providers and healthcare networks
• Referring physicians or healthcare professionals
• Service providers who assist us in operating our business
• Publicly available sources

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

2.1 To Provide Healthcare Services

• Schedule, confirm, and manage your appointments
• Provide hearing health assessments, consultations, and treatments
• Maintain your medical records and treatment history
• Communicate with you about your care and treatment options
• Coordinate care with other healthcare providers as necessary

2.2 To Communicate with You

• Send appointment reminders and confirmations via SMS, email, or phone
• Respond to your inquiries, questions, and requests
• Provide customer support and technical assistance
• Send important updates about our services, policies, or office operations
• Send educational information about hearing health (with your consent)

2.3 For Business Operations

• Process payments and manage billing
• Verify insurance coverage and process claims
• Improve our services, website, and customer experience
• Conduct internal research and analytics
• Maintain and improve the security of our systems
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements

2.4 For Marketing (With Your Consent)

• Send promotional materials about our services, products, and special offers
• Inform you about new services or hearing health technologies
• Invite you to participate in surveys or feedback opportunities

Note: You may opt out of marketing communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in our emails or by contacting us directly.

3. SMS Opt-In and Text Messaging

3.2 Types of SMS Messages

We may send you the following types of SMS messages:

• Appointment Reminders: Notifications about upcoming appointments
• Appointment Confirmations: Confirmations when you schedule or modify appointments
• Scheduling Requests: Invitations to schedule or reschedule appointments
• Important Updates: Time-sensitive information about appointment changes or clinic operations

3.3 Message Frequency

Message frequency varies based on your appointment schedule. You may receive up to 4 messages per month. Message and data rates may apply based on your carrier’s plan.

3.4 Opting Out of SMS Messages

You can opt out of SMS messages at any time by:

• Replying STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT to any text message
• Contacting us at (848) 279-8782 or info@njhearing.com
• Updating your communication preferences in your online account (if applicable)

3.5 Mobile Number Protection

We treat your mobile phone number with the same level of confidentiality as other personal information. We will not sell, rent, or share your mobile number with third parties for their marketing purposes without your explicit consent.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

4.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website. We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze website traffic, and understand user behavior.

4.2 Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function properly. These cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility.

Performance Cookies: Collect information about how visitors use our website, such as which pages are visited most often. This helps us improve our website’s performance and user experience.

Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences and choices (such as language or region) to provide a more personalized experience.

Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. We may use services like Google Analytics for this purpose.

4.3 Third-Party Cookies

We may allow third-party service providers to place cookies on your device for:

• Website analytics and performance monitoring
• Social media integration
• Advertising and marketing (if applicable)

4.4 Managing Cookies

You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

• View what cookies are stored and delete them individually or all at once
• Block third-party cookies
• Block all cookies from specific websites
• Block all cookies from being set
• Delete all cookies when you close your browser

Note: Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website and your ability to use certain features.

4.5 Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers include a “Do Not Track” (DNT) feature. Our website currently does not respond to DNT signals, as there is no industry standard for how to interpret DNT signals.

5. Data Security and Protection

5.2 Security Measures

Our security measures include:

• Encryption: We use SSL/TLS encryption to protect data transmitted between your browser and our servers
• Access Controls: Access to personal information is limited to authorized employees and service providers who need it to perform their duties
• Authentication: Strong password requirements and multi-factor authentication where applicable
• Network Security: Firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security monitoring
• Regular Updates: We keep our systems and software up to date with the latest security patches
• Employee Training: Our staff receive regular training on data protection and privacy practices
• HIPAA Compliance: We comply with HIPAA requirements for protecting health information

5.3 Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you and any applicable regulatory authorities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

5.4 Limitations

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

6. How We Handle Your Data

6.1 Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide you with our services
• Comply with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations (including HIPAA requirements)
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
• Maintain medical records as required by law (typically 7-10 years after last treatment)

6.2 Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your personal information in the following circumstances:

With Your Consent: We may share your information when you have given us explicit permission to do so.

Service Providers: We may share information with third-party vendors who help us operate our business, such as:

• SMS messaging platforms
• Appointment scheduling software providers
• Payment processors
• IT service providers
• Website hosting and analytics providers

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it for the purposes we specify.

Healthcare Providers: We may share your health information with other healthcare providers involved in your care, with your consent or as permitted by HIPAA.

Insurance Companies: We may share information necessary to verify coverage and process insurance claims.

Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, such as:

• In response to a subpoena, court order, or legal process
• To comply with regulatory requirements
• To protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of others
• In connection with fraud prevention or investigation

Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

6.3 We Do Not Sell Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

7. Mobile Information Sharing

7.1 How We Protect Your Mobile Information

We implement specific safeguards for mobile information:

• Limited Access: Only authorized personnel can access mobile phone numbers
• Secure Storage: Mobile numbers are stored in encrypted databases
• No Sale or Rental: We will never sell or rent your mobile number to third parties
• Service Provider Limitations: Our SMS service providers are contractually prohibited from using your mobile number for any purpose other than delivering our messages

7.2 SMS Service Provider Information

We use third-party SMS messaging platforms to deliver text messages to you. These providers:

• Are contractually bound to protect your information
• May only use your mobile number to send messages on our behalf
• Must comply with applicable privacy laws and regulations
• Are prohibited from sharing your information with other parties

7.3 Mobile Carrier Information

Your mobile carrier may have access to your SMS messages as part of providing cellular service. We are not responsible for your carrier’s privacy practices. Please review your carrier’s privacy policy for information about how they handle your data.

8. Your Privacy Rights

You have certain rights regarding your personal information. These rights may vary based on your location and applicable laws.

8.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
• Receive a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used format

8.2 Deletion

You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions such as:

• Legal obligations to retain medical records
• Legitimate business purposes
• Ongoing legal matters

8.3 Opt-Out Rights

You have the right to opt out of:

• SMS Messages: Reply STOP to any text message or contact us
• Email Marketing: Click the unsubscribe link in any marketing email
• Phone Calls: Request to be placed on our do-not-call list
• Cookies: Manage cookies through your browser settings

8.4 HIPAA Rights

If you are a patient, you have additional rights under HIPAA, including:

• Right to access your medical records
• Right to request amendments to your health information
• Right to an accounting of disclosures
• Right to request restrictions on use or disclosure of your health information
• Right to receive confidential communications

8.5 California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including:

• Right to know what personal information we collect and how it is used
• Right to delete personal information
• Right to opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

8.6 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 12. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law (typically 30-45 days).

9. Third-Party Services and Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications that are not operated by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party websites or services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites or services before providing them with your personal information.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 without parental consent.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to remove such information from our systems.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
• Post the revised policy on our website
• Notify you of material changes via email or SMS (if you have opted in)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us