Website Privacy Statement
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic, Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Cheshire Medical Center, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, New London Hospital, and Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire, each a subsidiary of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health and collectively referred to herein as “Dartmouth Health,” are committed to protecting the privacy and security of visitors to our websites. This website privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”) of Dartmouth Health will tell you what information we collect, how it is used, and the options available to you as you interact with our website. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully before using this website.
This Privacy Policy does not pertain, or apply, to any Dartmouth Health affiliate that is not listed in the definition of Dartmouth Health above (to review the privacy policy of any other Dartmouth Health affiliate please visit the website of the applicable organization). In addition, this Privacy Policy does not pertain, or apply, to a patient portal of a Dartmouth Health member. Any patient portal of a Dartmouth Health member is separate and subject to the Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable patient portal terms and conditions of the applicable Dartmouth Health member and available on the applicable Dartmouth Health member’s website. In addition, “Protected Health Information” as defined under the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act and related regulations (collectively referred to as “HIPAA”), including information you provide to a Dartmouth Health provider or Dartmouth Health facility as a patient of that facility or within a patient portal, is separate and subject to the applicable Dartmouth Health member’s Notice of Privacy Practices.
Your consent
By using this website, you consent to the collection, use and sharing of information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you choose to provide us with an email address, you agree that we may use your email address to communicate with you about our services and select messages from Dartmouth Health. NOTE: Opt-out options are discussed in the section titled “Cookies, tracking and internet-based advertising.”
Children under the age of 13
Our website is not intended for children, including those under 13 years of age. No one under age 13 should provide any personal information to the website. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are under 13, do not use or provide any information on this website or through any of its features, or provide any information about yourself to us, including your name, address, telephone number, email address, or any screen name or user name you may use. If we learn we have collected or received personal information from a child under 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information. If you believe we might have any information from or about a child under 13, please contact us.
Information we collect
You may use our website without providing any personal information. However, when you reply to any of our communications with a request, we may need to collect additional information. For example, you may be asked to provide personal information such as your name, email address or other demographic information if you choose to complete an online form or offer us feedback. If you submit any personal information relating to other people, you represent that you have the authority to do so and permit Dartmouth Health to use the information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. By submitting personal information, you grant Dartmouth Health permission to transmit, monitor, store, and use your information in connection with the operation of this website.
Patients can opt to create a patient portal account. A patient portal is a secure method for patients to manage the health care services they receive from a Dartmouth Health provider or facility. Features include reviewing test results, managing appointments, messaging your doctor, renewing your prescriptions and paying your bills. Before creating an account, please review the applicable patient portal Terms & Conditions available on the applicable Dartmouth Health patient portal website.
Data security
Dartmouth Health is committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information you share with us through this website. In accordance with this commitment we use reasonable efforts to prevent unauthorized access. We use a secure firewall and a security infrastructure that protects the integrity of information submitted to us through this website. We review data security policies of third parties we engage with to further ensure best practices and procedures are followed.
Although we work hard to protect your personal information, Dartmouth Health cannot guarantee the security of any information you transmit to us through this website or online applications, and you do so at your own risk. If you wish, you may contact us by telephone at the numbers provided throughout our websites instead of through online means.
Cookies, tracking and internet-based activity
This website works with companies that supply third-party products and services, including Google Analytics 4 which helps us to track and analyze visitor activity on our websites, measure the effectiveness of our advertising efforts, and optimize the overall visitor experience. This website uses “cookies,” tracking pixels and related technologies to understand how visitors interact with the website.
Cookies are small data files which are stored on a visitor’s device (such as a computer, mobile phone or tablet) when they visit a website. Cookies are used to collect data about the visitor’s browsing behavior such as the pages visited, links clicked on, and the amount of time spent on each page. This information is used to understand how groups of visitors use our website, identify resources which would improve the informational experience, and make browsing our website easier. This information may also be used to direct Dartmouth Health advertisements and informational content to visitors when they visit other websites. Cookies do not contain information that personally identifies you.
Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically. You are able to modify your browser settings to block or restrict cookies if you do not want your web browsing activity tracked. A variety of tools exist to help manage cookies or other technologies. You can learn more from the FTC and the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out page, which allows visitors to opt out of receiving internet based advertising from multiple publishers. You can also learn more about how Google uses data from Google Analytics when you visit websites by reviewing How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.
We are not responsible for the effectiveness or compliance of third-party opt-out mechanisms or programs. Please note that if you delete your cookies or upgrade your browser after having opted out, you may need to opt-out again. Further, if you use multiple browsers or devices you will need to opt-out on each browser or device. You can access the information on this website without enabling cookies in your browser, but disabling cookies may result in a diminished ability to take advantage of the content on the website.
Our third-party service providers may obtain additional information about your activity on our website, including pages you visit, access times, visit duration, how you arrived at our website and your IP address. An IP address is a number that identifies a device connected to the Internet. For most devices, the IP address changes on at least a weekly basis. Our third-party service providers may also obtain device identifiers and specific information about the browser you use. In some cases, this information may be unique to you.
How we use this information
Dartmouth Health does not sell any information we collect through this website.
Dartmouth Health does calculate information such as bounce rate, page views, sessions, and time on website to better understand how our website is used. We may use this information to:
- Help us improve the services we offer.
- Personalize your experience and inform you about the treatment/services in which you have indicated an interest.
- Tailor digital advertisements on third-party websites based on your interactions with our website.
- Improve the content and offerings on our website.
- Send you information and updates when you fill out a form requesting us to do so.
- Respond to your questions and requests and improve customer service when you fill out a form requesting an answer or support.
- Administer promotions, surveys or other website features.
In some cases, approved third-party service providers of Dartmouth Health may have access to this information to perform a specific task (for example, send you an e-newsletter that you have signed up to receive).
Can you remove personal information from our files?
If you provide us with any personally identifiable information through this website, you can request that any personally identifiable information we have received be removed from our files by submitting the following form, which is also available through the Contact section of our Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics website. In the submission, please provide all essential information such as your name, email address, and any information about the activity in which you provided the personally identifiable information. Once we receive your request, we will review your request in accordance with our privacy policy and applicable data protection laws and legal obligations. We will strive to honor your request with respect to the removal of any personally identifiable information that is in our possession in all instances where we are reasonably able to do so. However, in some cases it may not be legally or technically feasible for us to remove, or confirm, that all such personally identifiable information has been removed from our files. Please note, we do not control the content or privacy policy of any third-party linked websites or third-party services. If you provide any personally identifiable information to a third-party, including through any third-party links contained on our website, please contact the owner of such third-party website for removal of any personally identifiable information you have provided them.
Third-party partners
Dartmouth Health may share information with third parties, including as required by law or in order to provide services requested. Dartmouth Health engages with third-party partners to help us manage this website, provide content and resources, and interact with patients and visitors.
Transfer in the event of sale or change of control
If the ownership of our business changes or we need to transfer assets relating to this website to a third party, we may transfer your personal information to the new owner.
Online surveys
We may occasionally request feedback on this website to better understand how we can improve what information we present and how we present it. These surveys do not ask questions that could personally identify you. We may ask for contact information to follow up, but you can decline to provide that information. Information you provide in a survey on this website may be shared with employees or third parties who are designated to compile and analyze data and responses.
Email information
Never provide personal information via email to us. Remember that email messages, unless encrypted while in transit, can be viewed by other Internet users. If you have personal information to communicate, please use your patient portal (if applicable) or the appropriate secure online form found on our contact pages, or call the necessary parties.
When you receive an email from Dartmouth Health about your care, it will direct you to the applicable patient portal to review details related to your care. Information emails such as those related to operational changes, legal changes, closures, etc., will always be sent in a manner that facilitates encryption while in transit.
If you receive an email that looks like it is from Dartmouth Health and asks for your personal information, do not respond. We will never request your password, user name, credit card information or other personal information through email. Emails with our name which do this could be a scam or ‘phishing” email intended to steal your information.
Links to external websites
This online Privacy Policy applies only to this website.
This website contains links to other websites outside of Dartmouth Health. Please be aware that this Privacy Policy does not apply to those websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policy on any other website before providing personal information.
Patient applications may also be linked to this website. This is done as a convenience to you. If you chose to utilize a specific patient application, please be sure to read the privacy policy associated with that application. Patient portals maintained by Dartmouth Health are an example of a patient application.
Changes to this policy
Dartmouth Health has the right to change or update this Privacy Policy from time to time without notice. Please review it periodically to keep informed of any changes.
Contact us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, or concerns about how we collect, use, or protect your personal information, please contact us.
Last revised: August 1, 2023