Privacy Policy

DocNation respects your privacy and is committed to protecting it at all times. This online Privacy Policy explains how DocNation collects, uses, shares and safeguards Personal Information, as defined below, through phone, paper or our website, mobile websites, microsites, mobile applications, DocNation social media accounts and any other digital services and platforms officially operated or used by DocNation from time to time (each, a “Site” and collectively, the “Sites”), except where a separate privacy policy may be displayed on such Sites, in which case such separate privacy policy will govern (including in the case of a conflict).

Before you use our various Sites, you should carefully review this Privacy Policy and our related Terms of Use. Only submit Personal Information and use our Sites, if you accept this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Please note, this Privacy Policy does not apply with respect to any Personal Information that we process on behalf of a third party.

If you do not want us to collect or process Personal Information about you in ways described in the Terms of Use and this Privacy Policy, you should end this session now and refrain from using our Sites.

Types of Personal Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you create an account to become a registered member on our Site or choose to interact with us in other ways, you may be invited to provide us with information that enables DocNation to identify you (“Personal Information”). The types of Personal Information we may collect from you will depend on the products or services you seek.

The types of Personal Information that DocNation may collect includes, but is not limited to:

  • General information (e.g. your name, address, phone number, email address, birth date, and other types of demographic information);

  • Professional information (e.g. occupation, specialty, practice setting);

  • Financial information (e.g. billing and delivery information, credit card information);

  • IP address and geolocation data related to devices that access our Sites;

  • Topical interests information (e.g. cardiology, oncology, pathology); and

  • Individual responses to surveys administered by or on behalf of DOCNATION.

Non-Personal Information

DOCNATION also collects information about how our Sites are used by both anonymous non-members, and members but which may not directly identify you (“Non-Personal Information”). This may include cookies, web beacons, and tracking tools that may recognize digital device identifiers and browsers, information about Site usage, products or services viewed, or other similar information. This information helps us analyze visitors’ practices and preferences. More information is provided in the “Tracking Activity on Our Sites” section below.

Aggregated Statistics. DOCNATION may monitor your use of the Sites and collect and compile Aggregated Statistics. “Aggregated Statistics” means data and information related to use of the Sites that is used by DOCNATION in an aggregate and anonymized manner, including to compile statistical and performance information related to the provision and operation of the Sites. All rights, title, and interest in Aggregated Statistics, and all intellectual property rights therein, belong to and are retained solely by DOCNATION. You acknowledge that DOCNATION may compile Aggregated Statistics based on data input into the Sites. You agree that DOCNATION may (i) make Aggregated Statistics publicly available in compliance with applicable law, and (ii) use Aggregated Statistics to the extent and in the manner permitted under applicable law.

How We Use Your Information

Personal Information

DOCNATION will not collect Personal Information for purposes beyond those provided in this Privacy Policy or at the time of collection.

DOCNATION processes your Personal Information as necessary in connection with our legitimate business interests, which includes, without limitation, activities such as to:

  • Identify you when you visit our Sites;

  • Personalize and improve the usability of the Sites;

  • Provide service communications such as bill reminders, order confirmations, program registrations and customer service messages;

  • Process or provide you with information regarding your membership or membership application;

  • Provide products, information, opportunities, or services you may be interested in (such as journal content, newsletters, meetings, or events);

  • Fulfill or deliver DOCNATION products, offerings and services you request;

  • Facilitate your participation in DOCNATION-sponsored or affiliated in-person and/or online live events;

  • Answer your emails or other on-line requests;

  • Verify, correct, or deliver requested Personal Information; or

  • Notify you about new products/services, special offers, upgrades and other related information from DOCNATION.

Non-Personal Information

DOCNATION uses Non-Personal Information to ensure or improve the functionality and performance of our Sites and for other business reasons. We or other third-party companies also use Non-Personal Information to deliver targeted advertisements and marketing materials in print and online publications to you (ads based on the Non-Personal Information). You should know that when you select an advertising link or other link that takes you to websites not operated by DOCNATION, you may be subject to the privacy policies of these third-party websites. More information can be found in the “Tracking Activity on Our Sites” section below.

Tracking Activity on Our Sites

DOCNATION tracks how our Sites are used by both anonymous visitors and registered members who interact with the Site using Personal Information and Non-Personal Information for the purposes of site administration and security.

Cookies

A cookie is a small file or string of text on the Site user’s computer that is used to aid web functionality. Our Sites utilize two types of cookies:

  • Short-lived cookie. Short-lived cookies are created by a website when that website is accessed; this type of cookie lasts seven (7) days or less or is automatically deleted by closing the web browser. Short-lived cookies include all session cookies and persistent cookies (described below) that are set to be stored for no more than one week. Our Sites may at times require users to accept short-lived cookies in order for the Sites to function properly.

  • Long-lasting cookie. A persistent cookie is generally a long-lasting cookie that is stored on the hard drive of the user’s computer or device for a period of time chosen by the website that set the cookie. Such cookies may be used on our Sites to assess what features are most important to users, and to allow you to access the Sites without re-entering a username or password, personalize Sites for future use, and other similar activities. Users who do not desire the functionality created by the long-lasting cookies can disable the long-lasting cookie function by disabling the long-lasting cookie function on their web browser. Users can also delete long-lasting cookies manually. Blocking or rejecting cookies may prevent access to some features of our Sites.

  • Web Storage. We also track interactions with our Sites by leveraging HTML5 web storage within a user’s browser (also known as local storage on a user’s device or hard drive). Local storage is used to track information such as the topics of information, login tokens, and demographics of users who view our Sites. This information is used to provide a more personalized experience. Users can disable local storage on their web browsers. Blocking or rejecting cookies may prevent access to some features of our Sites.

Web Beacons

Another way we track Site activity is by using transparent electronic images called “clear GIFs,” “web bugs,” “spotlight tags,” “pixel tags” or “web beacons” (collectively, “Web Beacons”). These images count the number of users who visit a page from links in an ad, an article or an email. A “spotlight tag” is used on web pages where transactions take place. The spotlight tag collects numeric information, such as the dollar amount of an online purchase, to help us understand Site usage and performance. We do not use any of these Web Beacons to collect Personal Information.

Email messages sent to you may contain Web Beacons or other tracking tools to measure the effectiveness of an alert, offer or opportunity so we know how to serve you better. You may refuse or remove the placement of these and other cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your web browser or within your email client.

Third-Party Tracking on Our Sites

Ad networks and data analytics firms track and analyze traffic on our Sites, in part, to determine advertising effectiveness, browser types and website usage trends, website and systems performance and to present targeted ads based on anonymous information collected through tracking. Third-party vendors and service providers, such as Google, may then pool the anonymous information that they collect from our websites with other sources of information, which may include your Personal Information for purposes of determining whether you might be interested in receiving direct mail, email, a catalog or a journal. The anonymous aggregate data on visitors and their use of our content provides business intelligence to better serve visitors, improve our content and track trends that might signal the outbreak of an infectious disease, or contribute to improving health outcomes. If you open an ad, you leave our Sites and become subject to the terms and practices of that separate website, which may have different rules about tracking and data usage.

Do-Not-Track

At this time, our Sites do not recognize automated browser signals regarding tracking mechanisms, which may include “do-not-track” instructions. Activation of cookie blocking or Do-Not-Track settings in your browser, or other mechanisms that block cookies or other tracking technologies, will not affect the collection or use of Personal Information as outlined elsewhere in this Privacy Policy.

With Whom We May Share Personal Information

DOCNATION may share your Personal Information, sometimes in combination with Non-Personal Information in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, the below.

  • With business partners in order to provide them an opportunity to offer products or services that may be of interest to DOCNATION members and others.

  • With vendors or third parties with whom we have contracted to perform business functions (e.g., to help fulfill or deliver services, offerings, or products that you order, to process payment information, to provide customer support or consulting services, or to provide event registration services). We provide third parties with access to information as, in our discretion, is required to fulfill our services to you. They are commonly directed to use that information for the stated purpose.

  • With social media or email platforms if you “sign in” or access content via an existing social media or email account, such as Google, Facebook, or Twitter. These third parties, and others, may offer you products and services that may be of interest to you, including by way of “targeted ads.”

  • With third parties if DOCNATION and/or its assets (or a portion of its assets) are sold, assigned, transferred, or merged, or if DOCNATION undergoes some other change including a change to its corporate form as part of a bankruptcy proceeding or otherwise; information may be transferred as part of that transaction or change.

  • With third parties under other unanticipated situations, but only with

Why We Share Your Data

DOCNATION will only disclose your Personal Information to a third party when such disclosure is:

  • reasonably necessary to perform a service or deliver a product or publication or focus an offer specifically to you

  • authorized by you;

  • permitted under this Privacy Policy;

  • required by law; or

  • reasonably necessary to: (1) conform to legal requirements or comply with legal process served on DOCNATION; (2) protect and defend the rights or property of DOCNATION; (3) protect the personal safety of DOCNATION’s personnel or members of the public in urgent circumstances; or (4) enforce DOCNATION’s Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, or Physician Masterfile Privacy Policy.

Children under 13 — DOCNATION does not knowingly solicit data online from or market online to children under the age of 13. If you are a parent or legal guardian and think your child has given us their Personal Information, you can contact us at (800) 621-8335.

How We Safeguard Information

Information Security

DOCNATION implements reasonable security measures to protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure, or destruction of data. We restrict access to Personal Information to only the employees and DOCNATION’s business partners who may need to know that Personal Information in order to operate, develop or improve our services, products and offerings. Any third party with which we share your Personal Information is bound by confidentiality obligations and may be subject to discipline such as termination and criminal prosecution, if they fail to meet these obligations.

Site Security Features

  • TLS technology and how you benefit from it — DOCNATION realizes the importance of security, so we’ve taken a number of steps to enhance the protection of Personal Information sent to or from DOCNATION over the Internet. First, we require that a “secure session” be established, using Transport Layer Security (TLS) technology. This is done any time you supply or access information in one of our secure online areas.

  • User ID and password — Many areas of the Site require the use of a user ID and password as an additional security measure that helps protect your information. This security measure allows DOCNATION to verify who you are, thereby allowing you access to your account information and preventing unauthorized access. When you have finished using a secure area of DOCNATION’s website, make sure you always click on the “Log Out” link which appears on every secure page. When you click on the “Log Out” link, you will be given the option to end your secure session. No further secure transactions can be conducted without re-entering your user ID and password. You should be aware that browser software often “caches” a page as you look at it, meaning that some pages are saved in your computer’s temporary memory. Therefore, you may find that clicking on your “Back” button shows you a saved version of a previously viewed page. Caching in no way affects the security of your confidential user ID or password.

No Guarantee

Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Accordingly, and despite our efforts, DOCNATION cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us, or to or from our online products or services. Email messages sent to or from a website may not be secure. Confidential information should not be sent by email. Site visitors sending email accept the risk that a third party may intercept email messages.

Linking to Other Websites

You should be aware that other websites that link to DOCNATION Sites or to an DOCNATION email may contain privacy provisions that differ from those in this Privacy Policy. We do not control those sites or the information they collect about you. To ensure your privacy is protected, we recommend that you review the privacy statements of other websites you visit.

California Privacy Rights

In addition to the rights as explained in this Privacy Policy, under California’s “Shine the Light” law, California residents who provide personal information (as defined in the statute) to obtain products or services for personal, family, or household use are entitled to request and obtain from us, once a calendar year, information about the personal information we shared, if any, with other businesses for marketing uses. If applicable, this information would include the categories of personal information and the names and addresses of those businesses with which we shared such personal information for the immediately prior calendar year. To obtain this information please contact us via the phone number provided above.

International Use of the Sites

Our headquarters are in the United States, and Personal Information we collect from you may be processed in the United States. Where your Personal Information is transferred to the United States from another country, we will implement safeguards so that it continues to be protected to the standards set out in this Privacy Policy.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

As our organization, membership and benefits change from time to time, we expect this Privacy Policy will change as well. We reserve the right to amend this Privacy Policy at any time, for any reason. We will notify you to the extent required by law and indicate at the end of this Privacy Policy when the latest revisions occurred.