PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy applies to information that WellMed Charitable Foundation (“WCF” or “we”) collects, receives, uses, and shares about individuals who visit the WCF websites, contact WCF via phone, or otherwise use services provided by WCF.

This Privacy Policy was last updated: June 4, 2020.

WCF Services

The WellMed Charitable Foundation offers a variety of programs that directly serve seniors and their caregivers across Texas and Florida. WCF also engages in partnerships with healthcare providers, researchers, and universities which explore innovative ways to care for seniors. WCF provides services including caregiver coaching and senior

Types of Information We Collect

WCF collects the following types of information when you visit our website: your email address if you choose to sign up for our newsletters and updates, general browser and system information (for example, your operating system), and general website usage analytics information (which is made available to WCF through Google analytics).

WCF regularly collects the following types of information from visitors and users of its senior activity centers: name, gender, date of birth, address, phone, email, emergency and physician contact information, income level information, ethnicity, marital status, education level, and recent medical history.

WCF may also collect additional information which is voluntarily submitted by a recipient of various WCF services, for example, the name, address, phone number, medical history, medical conditions, medications, email address, and other information which is voluntarily input into a caregiver assistance application provided by WCF including health assessment information, or which is provided to WCF fitness instructors in order to assist in safely conducting classes.

Where WCF provides recipients of WCF services with tools and applications intended to support caregiving activities, WCF may receive information about the general usage of those tools and applications, for example if you use a WCF provided caregiving application we will receive analytic information about the usage of such applications, and some applications may aggregate user input and provide us with information which identifies users who may be at a higher risk for an adverse health outcome (for example, based on user input, an application might identify to
WCF that a user is at a higher risk for a fall).

WCF may also obtain some forms of Protected Health Information (PHI) from certain healthcare providers, subject to a Business Associate Agreement being in place between WCF and the provider.

Sources of Collected Information

WCF receives personal information:
• Directly from the users of WCF services, for example from an individual who voluntarily submits information to the WCF website about themselves or others, or information about a visitor to a center who swipes in using an identification card.
• From healthcare institutions for research purposes.
• From clinic and physician and other care provider referrals.
• From caregivers and family members who are caring for an individual.

How WCF Uses Personal Information

WCF uses personal information to provide services including the operation of senior activity centers, caregiver assistance applications, information subscriptions (for example emailed newsletters and other updates), and to asses an individual’s eligibility for WCF services.

WCF receives Protected Health Information (PHI) for evaluation and research purposes, and in some cases as part of a physician or care provider referral for evaluation in connection with the services WCF providers. PHI is protected in accordance with WCF’s information security policies and any applicable Business Associate Agreements.

WCF may also receive personal information from individuals who have opted-in to research and other studies for use in connection with such research and studies.

Information Collected by Third Parties

WCF vendors and partners and their respective service providers (“Third Parties”) may also gather information when you interact with them or their services. WCF does not control the information collection and usage practices of these Third Parties.

Sharing Personal Information

WCF may share personal information with vendors to support the provision of the WCF services where required for WCF to provide those services, this includes updating our client lists with vendors who distribute communications, including WCF updates and event information, on behalf of WCF.

WCF may provide access to personal information when legally required to do so, to comply with a court order, or to cooperate with law enforcement investigations and other legal proceedings.

WCF may share information with other various government agencies, including the Lower Rio Grande Valley Area Agency on Aging, for reporting purposes and in connection with any audit or assessment of WCF and its practices.

WCF may also provide personal information in connection with research studies and grants received by WCF which require the disclosure of certain personal information for reporting purposes associated with such studies and grants.

How Long WCF Retains Personal Information

WCF generally retains personal information for approximately 5 years, but WCF may retain collected personal information for longer periods, especially in connection with grants, audits, or other programs which require WCF to report to third parties.

Children’s Privacy

WCF does not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 16 years old. If you are a parent of a child under 16 and you believe we have collected information about your child, you may contact us at wcfprivacypolicy@wellmed.net and at any time you may require us to correct or delete the personal information of your child.

Policy Changes

If WCF changes these privacy practices, WCF will post those changes to this Privacy Policy and will update the notice’s effective date. WCF reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time.

Contact Information

If you have any questions or comments about this notice, the ways in which we collect and use your information described here, or your choices and rights regard such use, please contact us at: wcfprivacypolicy@wellmed.net