Information Collection and Use
The Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine (CSOM) understands how important your privacy and safety are to you. In an effort to enable you to protect the privacy and security of your visits to our website, this privacy policy explains what information CSOM intends to accumulate, and how the AOA intends to collect, protect, and use this information.
By using the Coloradodo.org site, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy, so please read through it carefully. If you do not agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy, please exit this site immediately.
CSOM is the sole owner of the information collected on Coloradodo.org We will not sell, share, or rent this information to others in ways different from what is disclosed in this statement.
Personal Information Collection and Use:
“Personally, Identifiable Information” (PII) refers to any information that identifies or can be used toidentify or contact the person. This includes, but is not limited to, name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, and similar data.
CSOM does not collect PII about you except when you provide the information on a voluntary basis. CSOM collects the PII that you provide. The AOA may use the PII provided by you to conduct research, to improve this site, and to provide services to you. CSOM will disclose your PII to third parties when necessary, for the provision of services to you, for the protection of others, and when required by law.
Aggregate information is information in summary form that does not contain PII. CSOM uses and allows third parties to use aggregate information to aid in the development or implementation of programs, products and services.
Online Advertising;
Information about your visits to this site, such as certain pages you have viewed (but not your name, address, email address or other personal information) is used to serve ads to you while browsing online. Our sites use cookies, web beacons, or similar technologies placed on your computer to help present, better target, and measure the effectiveness of the advertisements served to you on our website or through affiliate advertising network providers. No personal information about you will be shared with any third-party advertisers. Some internet browsers may allow you to opt out of interest-based advertising. Please refer to the website you are visiting or your browser settings for more details.
You may opt out of receiving behavioral ads from third party advertisers who follow the DigitalAdvertising Alliance’s Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising by visiting the opt-out section of the DAA website: http://www.aboutads.info/choices/. You can also opt out of interest-based ads from third parties who are members of the Network Advertising Initiative (NIA): http://networkadvertising.org/choices.
Credit Card Account Information:
CSOM does not disclose credit card account information provided by its members and customers. When members and customers choose to pay using their credit cards, CSOM submits the information needed to obtain payment to the appropriate clearinghouse.
Cookies:
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s hard drive which allows organizations to collect non-PII about the user’s use of a site. Once the user closes the browser, most cookies simply terminate. If youlog in to the members-only area of Coloradodo.org, a short string of code is sent to your computer’s memory. This “session-based” cookie lets us know you already entered your password as you go todifferent pages on the site. If you do not use the password-protected parts of the site, you may block this session cookie and still use the rest of Osteopathic.org with no problems. If you register for DO Jobs Online, or DOCME online, a cookie will be set to recognize your preferences when you return to the site. If you block this cookie, you can still use the site. Colorado.org does use Google analytics to monitor website analytics.
Log Files:
CSOM uses IP addresses (i.e., information that identifies the location of computers or networks on theInternet that are accessing this website) to analyze trends, administer the site, track a user’s movementsthrough the site, and gather broad information for aggregate use. IP addresses are not linked to PII.
Links and Suggested Resources:
Coloradodo.org contains links to other sites. CSOM is not responsible for the privacy practices of other sites. This Privacy Policy applies solely to CSOM. Should you follow a link to another site, you are encouraged to review the privacy policy applicable to that website.
Surveys:
From time-to-time you may see a survey on Coloradodo.org. Participation in these surveys is completely voluntary and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information.
Notification of Changes:
In the future, the CSOM may make changes to this Privacy Policy. When we make changes or additions to our privacy policy, we will post the date of the update on the privacy statement. If you choose to reject any portion of this policy and have your PII removed from CSOM records, please notify the CSOM at the e-mail provided on the site.
For suggestions, compliments, or complaints regarding Coloradodo.org or this Privacy Policy, please email the CSOM at the email provided on the site.
CSOM Physician Data Policy
CSOM has promoted osteopathic medicine since 1978. CSOM is a major source of information about osteopathic medicine and the important role of osteopathic physicians in Colorado.
CSOM collects data on all osteopathic medical students and osteopathic physicians, including those who are not CSOM members. Osteopathic physicians are physicians who have graduated from medicalschools accredited by the AOA. Each physician’s record includes demographic information, osteopathicmedical school, postgraduate information, and current practice information. Demographic information includes gender, date of birth, mailing address and other contact information. Current practice information includes type of practice, self-identified specialty, licensure, and AOA board certification. Physicians may also ask the AOA to verify certain types of non-osteopathic postgraduate medical education, which then becomes part of their physician record.
The CSOM obtains educational information only from primary sources. It obtains demographic information from osteopathic medical schools. The CSOM also obtains address information from commercial sources and from other members of the osteopathic family, which includes osteopathic medical schools, state associations and specialty colleges.
The CSOM also collects data on those who are not DOs but who are members of the CSOM, such as auxiliary members and associate members.
While data verification and authentication are the CSOM Membership file primary purpose, CSOM shares limited information with other members of the osteopathic family, and licenses portions of its membership file to selected licensees. Both operate under carefully restricted information usage agreements. The AOA does not release home addresses to licensees when we have a business address. Licensees work with many health care related companies that offer a wide range of products and services for physicians and the larger medical community. They include:
Medical and professional journals
Drug recall and safety information
Continuing medical education programs
Physician credential verification services
Drug samples and pharmaceutical information
Medical equipment and supplies
Employment opportunities
General practice-related commercial offers of interest to physicians as consumers
Security:
CSOM takes every precaution to protect our information. We use SSL encryption to protect information online. We also do everything in our power to protect our database off-line. All information is restricted in our office. Employees must use password-protected screens when they enter the database. The server we store personally identifiable information on is kept in a secure environment. We obtain educational information only from primary sources and the ability to change any information in the Masterfile is restricted to a small number of employees.
Physicians may direct the CSOM:
- To exclude them from all of the following:
- The online CSOM Directory (including the members-only section)
- CSOM mailings
- Special publications
- Not to release contact information to affiliates or licensee. This option permits the CSOM to contact the physician, but the CSOM will not share any contact information with other members of the osteopathic family, or with its licensees, which is the basis for receiving most of their products and services, including journals, new product announcements, information about health hazards and information about drug recalls.
Not to release physician-provided information
This option means that the CSOM will not release any physician-provided information to licensees or other osteopathic organizations. This non-release includes physician-provided information used to announce drug recalls and health hazards, information given to state licensing agencies and agencies verifying credentials such as hospitals and physician groups. These physicians will also be excluded from the CSOM Directory and will not receive the JAOA or any CSOM special publications.
The CSOM invites you to contact the CSOM Executive Director at 720-550-6936 to change your contact status. These changes become effective immediately.