Privacy Policy

Introduction

ShimSpine and ShimSpine.com are committed to honoring and respecting the privacy of individuals who use our website, services, and online resources. The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to explain what information we collect, how we use it, how it may be shared, and the choices available to users of this website.

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through ShimSpine.com and related online services controlled by ShimSpine. This Privacy Policy may be reviewed and updated from time to time to reflect current practices, technologies, legal requirements, and website functionality.

Collection of Personal Information

ShimSpine collects personal information only when it is voluntarily provided by a visitor or user for a particular purpose, service, or feature of the website.

The types of personal information we may collect include, but are not limited to:

Name;
Email address;
Phone number;
Website address, if submitted through a blog comment form;
IP address;
Comments, questions, or messages submitted through website forms;
Newsletter subscription information, such as an email address;
Other information voluntarily submitted through forms or communications with ShimSpine.

Personal information may be collected when you:

Submit a comment on a blog post;
Use the contact form on the contact page;
Subscribe to the newsletter or blog updates;
Send an email or other communication to ShimSpine;
Request information, submit feedback, or otherwise interact with the website.

Personal information voluntarily provided to ShimSpine is used only for the purpose for which it was submitted, unless another use is disclosed or permitted by law.

Blog Comments

When visitors leave comments on the ShimSpine blog, we may collect the information shown in the comment form, as well as the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help with spam detection, moderation, website security, and abuse prevention.

Comments submitted to the website may be publicly visible if approved and published. Visitors should avoid submitting private, confidential, sensitive, or medical information through blog comments.

Contact Forms

If you submit information through a contact form on ShimSpine.com, we use the information you provide to respond to your inquiry and provide information or assistance requested by you.

Visitors should not submit sensitive medical information, protected health information, or urgent medical requests through general website forms. If you are a patient or prospective patient and need to discuss medical care, appointments, test results, medical records, prescriptions, or other health-related matters, please contact ShimSpine directly through the appropriate patient communication method provided by the practice.

Newsletter Subscriptions

ShimSpine may offer a newsletter or blog subscription form. When you subscribe, we may collect your email address for the purpose of sending updates, articles, announcements, or other communications related to ShimSpine.

You may unsubscribe from newsletter emails by following the unsubscribe instructions included in the email or by contacting ShimSpine directly.

Use of Personal Information

ShimSpine may use personal information for the following purposes:

To respond to inquiries, requests, or messages;
To moderate and manage blog comments;
To send newsletter or blog updates, if requested;
To improve website functionality and user experience;
To maintain website security and prevent spam or abuse;
To comply with applicable legal, regulatory, or professional obligations;
To protect the rights, safety, and property of ShimSpine, website users, patients, and others.

Protection of Personal Information

ShimSpine takes reasonable steps to protect personal information submitted through the website. However, no website, email system, database, or online transmission method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

By using this website, you acknowledge that information submitted online may not be fully secure and that you should avoid submitting sensitive or confidential information through general website forms unless specifically directed to do so through a secure communication method.

Rights to Access, Correct, or Remove Personal Information

You may request access to personal information that ShimSpine maintains about you, request that inaccurate information be corrected, or request that personal information be removed, subject to applicable legal, regulatory, operational, and recordkeeping requirements.

To protect your privacy, ShimSpine may take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access to, correcting, or deleting personal information.

Retention of Personal Information

ShimSpine retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected, comply with legal or regulatory obligations, resolve disputes, maintain business records, protect website security, or enforce applicable policies.

Information submitted through comments, contact forms, or newsletter subscriptions may be deleted upon request unless retention is required or permitted by law.

Disclosure of Information to Third Parties

ShimSpine does not sell, rent, or trade personal information submitted through the website.

ShimSpine may disclose information when:

You have authorized the disclosure;
Disclosure is necessary to respond to your request;
Disclosure is required by law, subpoena, court order, regulation, or legal process;
Disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, safety, security, or property of ShimSpine, website users, patients, or others;
Disclosure is made to trusted service providers who assist with website hosting, security, analytics, email delivery, spam prevention, or other website operations.

Service providers are expected to use information only as necessary to provide their services and in accordance with their own legal and privacy obligations.

Collection of Non-Personal and Technical Information

ShimSpine may collect non-personal, technical, and usage information when visitors use the website. This may include browser type, device type, operating system, IP address, referral source, pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and other website usage data.

This information may be used for website analytics, security, troubleshooting, performance improvement, content improvement, and general business purposes.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

ShimSpine.com may use cookies, pixels, scripts, tags, embedded content, and similar technologies to support website functionality, analyze website traffic, improve user experience, prevent spam, display social media content, and measure marketing or advertising performance.

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by a website or third-party service. Some cookies are necessary for website functionality, while others help us understand how visitors interact with the website.

You may set your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being used. Disabling cookies may affect certain website features or functionality.

Google Analytics

ShimSpine.com uses Google Analytics to help analyze how users use the website. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect standard internet log information and visitor behavior information.

The information generated by Google Analytics may be transmitted to Google and used to evaluate visitors’ use of the website, compile reports on website activity, and provide other services relating to website activity and internet usage.

For more information about Google Analytics privacy practices, please visit:

https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=en

Google’s Privacy Policy is available at:

https://policies.google.com/privacy

Meta Pixel, Facebook Pixel, and Advertising Technologies

ShimSpine.com may use the Meta Pixel, formerly known as the Facebook Pixel, and related technologies provided by Meta Platforms, Inc. These technologies may help ShimSpine measure website activity, understand how visitors interact with the website, evaluate the effectiveness of online content or advertising, and provide relevant information or advertisements on Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

The Meta Pixel may collect information such as pages visited, actions taken on the website, browser information, device information, IP address, referral information, and other technical or usage data. This information may be transmitted to Meta and may be associated with information Meta already has, subject to Meta’s own privacy policy and user settings.

ShimSpine does not use the Meta Pixel to intentionally collect sensitive medical information or protected health information. Visitors should not submit sensitive medical information through general website forms, comment forms, newsletter forms, or other non-secure areas of the website.

For more information about Meta’s privacy practices, please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy

You may manage certain Meta advertising preferences here:

https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences

Facebook Widget and Embedded Social Media Content

ShimSpine.com may include a Facebook widget or embedded social media feature in the webpage sidebar to display recent posts or other content from ShimSpine’s Facebook page.

When you view or interact with an embedded Facebook widget, Meta may collect information about your browser, device, IP address, website visit, and interactions with the widget, even if you do not click on the widget. If you are logged into a Facebook or Meta account, Meta may associate your interaction with your account, subject to Meta’s privacy practices and user settings.

ShimSpine does not control Meta’s collection, use, or sharing of information through Facebook widgets or embedded social media features. Users should review Meta’s Privacy Policy for more information.

ShareThis and Social Sharing Tools

ShimSpine.com may use ShareThis or similar social sharing tools that allow visitors to share articles or website content through social media platforms. These services may use cookies or similar technologies to collect standard sharing and usage behavior information.

Use of these tools is subject to the privacy policies and terms of the applicable third-party provider.

Links to Social Media and Third-Party Websites

ShimSpine.com may contain links to third-party websites and social media platforms, including but not limited to:

Facebook;
YouTube;
X, formerly Twitter;
LinkedIn.

When you click a link to a third-party website or social media platform, you leave ShimSpine.com. These third-party websites operate independently from ShimSpine and may use their own cookies, tracking technologies, forms, data collection practices, and privacy policies.

ShimSpine is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, policies, or security of third-party websites or social media platforms. We encourage visitors to review the privacy policy of any website they visit.

Privacy policies for common third-party platforms used or linked by ShimSpine may be found here:

Your Choices Regarding Cookies and Tracking

Most browsers allow users to control cookies through browser settings. You may block, delete, or disable cookies through your browser. However, disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

You may also manage certain advertising and tracking preferences through the following resources:

Some browser settings, plug-ins, or privacy tools may also allow users to limit tracking technologies. ShimSpine does not control third-party browser tools or the practices of third-party platforms.

Medical Information and Protected Health Information

ShimSpine.com is intended to provide general information about ShimSpine, educational content, practice information, and ways to contact the practice. The website is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Visitors should not submit protected health information, sensitive medical details, or urgent medical requests through blog comments, newsletter forms, public-facing website forms, or other non-secure website features.

ShimSpine does not accept protected health information (PHI) through website forms, blog comments, newsletter subscription forms, social media platforms, or other public-facing website features. If you need to discuss medical records, appointments, treatment, prescriptions, billing, or any other health-related matter, please contact our office directly by telephone at 813-814-9251.

Children’s Privacy

ShimSpine.com is not directed to children under the age of 13, and ShimSpine does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through this website. If we become aware that information has been collected from a child under 13 without appropriate consent, we will take reasonable steps to delete such information.

ShimSpine does not use this website to display third-party paid advertising as a source of website revenue. However, ShimSpine may use analytics, tracking pixels, social media tools, or advertising-related technologies to understand website activity, measure marketing effectiveness, and communicate with relevant audiences on third-party platforms.

Liability of ShimSpine

ShimSpine does its utmost to provide trustworthy and reliable information. If you find any mistakes, please notify us as soon as possible, and we will make reasonable efforts to correct them.

Your use of ShimSpine.com is at your own risk. The website, including all content, software, functions, services, materials, and information made available through the website, is provided “as is,” without warranty of any kind.

In no event shall ShimSpine be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or other damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of the website, delay or inability to use the website, links to third-party websites, or information and services obtained through the website.

Applicable Laws

ShimSpine is committed to protecting personal information and complying with applicable United States privacy and data protection laws. Where required by law, ShimSpine will honor applicable rights relating to personal information.

Notice of Privacy Practices

ShimSpine may maintain a separate Notice of Privacy Practices describing how medical information may be used and disclosed and how patients may access this information.

Please download or review our Notice of Privacy Practices document as provided in the footer navigation for every page on this website.

Notice Informing Individuals About Nondiscrimination and Accessibility Requirements

Please download or review our Notice Informing Individuals About Nondiscrimination and Accessibility Requirements.

Printing or Downloading Information

Unless otherwise stated, you may print or download information from this website for personal, noncommercial use only. You must identify the source of the material and include any applicable copyright notice or statement that the materials are protected by copyright law.

Language of the Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy has been prepared in English. If any translation is provided for convenience, the English version will govern the relationship between you and ShimSpine. If there is any conflict between the English version and a translated version, the English version shall control.

Modifications to this Privacy Policy

ShimSpine may modify this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Modified” date. We recommend reviewing this Privacy Policy periodically.