Last Updated: February 15, 2025

Thank you for choosing Gut Feelings Psychosomatic Medicine (“we,” “us,” “our”). We understand the importance of protecting your personal and medical information and are committed to maintaining the privacy and security of your data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information.

1. Information We Collect

Medical Information

• During initial consultations, we collect medical history and related health information. While a free consultation does not establish a doctor-patient relationship, all information shared is protected in accordance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.
• Once a doctor-patient relationship is established, all medical information is protected under HIPAA and stored in our secure Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.

Personal and Financial Information

• Contact information (name, email, phone number, address)
• Insurance information, including insurance carrier details and policy numbers
• Payment information, including credit card details
• Appointment scheduling data
• Demographic information
• Communications preferences

Website Usage Information

• Log data and analytics through Google Analytics (covered under a Business Associate Agreement)
• Device information and browser type
• IP address and location data
• Website interaction patterns

2. How We Use Your Information

Healthcare Services

• To provide medical care and services
• To process insurance claims
• To schedule and manage appointments
• To communicate about your care
• To maintain accurate medical records

Administrative Purposes

• To process payments
• To verify insurance coverage
• To send appointment reminders
• To respond to your inquiries
• To improve our services and website functionality

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties except as necessary to provide our services or as required by law. We may share your information with:

Healthcare Operations

• Your insurance provider for billing purposes
• Healthcare providers involved in your care
• Electronic Health Record system (AdvancedMD)

Service Providers

• Payment processors (Global Payments, AdvancedMD, Stripe)
• Appointment scheduling system (GoHighLevel, AdvancedMD)
• Email communication platform (GoHighLevel)
• Website hosting service (Google Cloud)

All third-party service providers are bound by contractual obligations to keep personal information confidential and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them.

4. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure HIPAA-compliant form handlers for online submissions
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on privacy and security procedures
• Access controls and authentication measures

5. Geographic Scope

We provide services to patients in:

• California (in-person appointments)
• Texas, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Alaska, Georgia, New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania (virtual appointments)

Each state may have specific privacy requirements that we adhere to in addition to federal regulations.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal information
• Request corrections to your information
• Receive an accounting of disclosures
• Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures
• Receive confidential communications
• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the “Last Updated” date.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our practices, please contact us at:

Gut Feelings Psychosomatic Medicine
400 30th St Suite 407
Oakland, CA 94609
Phone: (415) 735-6453

Secure Communications

We provide secure messaging through the AdvancedMD patient portal platform. This is the preferred method for all patient communications as it maintains HIPAA compliance and protects your privacy.

Unsecured Communications

If you choose to contact us via email, SMS text, or other unsecured methods, please be aware that you are waiving HIPAA privacy protection for that specific communication and our response to you. While we make every effort to protect your information, we cannot guarantee the security of communications sent through unsecured channels.

9. Legal Requirements

This Privacy Policy is governed by applicable federal and state laws, including but not limited to:

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• State-specific privacy and medical information laws
• Federal and state data breach notification laws

10. Online Forms and Communications

While our website uses HIPAA-compliant form handlers and secure transmission methods, please be aware that no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information but cannot guarantee its absolute security.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

12. California Privacy Rights

California residents may have additional rights regarding their personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other state laws. However, most of the information we collect is exempt from the CCPA due to being protected under HIPAA.