Privacy Policy | Clear Thoughts Psychiatry Inc.

Effective date: [EFFECTIVE DATE — update before launch]

Scope of this policy

This policy describes how Clear Thoughts Psychiatry Inc. ("we," "us," or "our") handles information collected through this website. It applies to this website only. Information you share with us as a patient — during appointments, on intake forms, or through our patient portal — is protected health information governed by HIPAA and our Notice of Privacy Practices, not by this website policy.

Information we collect

When you submit the appointment request form, we collect:

Your name, email address, and phone number
Whether you are a new or existing patient
Your preferred visit type and location
Your preferred contact method
Your insurance carrier, if you choose to provide it
Any general message you choose to include

Our web host and any analytics services we use may also record standard technical information such as your IP address, browser type, device type, referring page, and the pages you visit. This information is used to keep the site secure and to understand how visitors use it.

This website is not a secure channel for medical information

Please do not send protected health information through this website. Our appointment request form is intended only for the contact details we need to reach you. Do not include symptoms, diagnoses, medications, treatment history, or other sensitive health details. We will collect that information through secure, HIPAA-compliant intake forms once your appointment is scheduled.

How we use your information

To contact you about your appointment request
To schedule appointments and verify insurance benefits
To answer questions you have asked us
To maintain the security and functionality of this website

We do not sell your information. We do not use information submitted through this website for advertising, and we do not share it with third parties except service providers who help us operate the website and our practice, or where required by law.

Submitting a form does not create a provider–patient relationship

Contacting us through this website does not establish a provider–patient relationship. That relationship begins only after you are formally accepted as a patient and have completed our intake process.

Not for emergencies

This website is not monitored continuously and must not be used to report a psychiatric emergency. If you are in crisis, call 911 or 988, or go to your nearest emergency room.

Cookies and analytics

This website loads fonts from Google Fonts and embeds maps from Google Maps on the Locations page; those services may set cookies or record requests according to their own privacy policies. Any additional analytics we use are limited to aggregate, non-identifying measurement of site traffic.

Third-party links

This site may link to insurance carriers, crisis resources, or other organizations. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites.

Children's privacy

We treat adolescents age 12 and older as patients, but this website is not directed at children and we do not knowingly collect information online from anyone under 13. A parent or guardian should submit appointment requests on behalf of a minor.

Data retention and security

We retain form submissions only as long as needed to respond to your request and to meet our record-keeping obligations. We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect information, though no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure.

Your choices

You may ask us to correct or delete the contact information you submitted through this website by calling our office. If you are an established patient, requests regarding your medical record are handled under our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)

As a health care provider, Clear Thoughts Psychiatry Inc. maintains a separate Notice of Privacy Practices describing how your protected health information may be used and disclosed, and your rights regarding that information. It is provided to you at the start of care and is available from our office on request.

To the practice: replace this section with your full Notice of Privacy Practices, or link to a PDF of it here.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.

Questions

If you have questions about this policy, please contact our office at 551-250-3868 or write to us at 277 Fairfield Road, Suite 210, Fairfield, NJ 07004.