Online Privacy Policy

Dr. Anthony Vine and Laparoscopic Surgery of Manhattan P.C.

Effective Date: July 8, 2025
Website: NYCLaparoscopicSurgery.com

This Privacy Policy describes how Dr. Anthony Vine/Laparoscopic Surgery of Manhattan P.C. and its affiliates under common control (“DAV,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collect, use, and safeguard personal information obtained through our digital services, including our website and any related online tools, forms, or platforms where this Policy is linked or referenced (our “website”).

This Policy applies to information collected from visitors who browse our website, view provider profiles or resources, submit inquiries through contact forms, click to schedule an appointment, or otherwise engage with our online features. It also applies to interactions with embedded content on our site (such as location maps or videos) and to data automatically collected through cookies, pixels, and similar technologies. We may also provide additional privacy disclosures or notices at the point of collection, which will supplement or, in certain cases, supersede this policy.

Note on HIPAA and Protected Health Information (PHI)

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our public-facing website and related digital services, including any features that may require login or authentication, except where supplemented by additional terms. It does not govern information subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), such as medical, diagnostic, or treatment-related information classified as Protected Health Information (“PHI”). Those data practices are described in our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, which prevails in the event of any inconsistency. You agree not to submit PHI through this website unless expressly directed to do so through secure, authorized channels—such as during an office visit or via specific functionality we may provide for that purpose. Any such channels may be subject to their own applicable terms and safeguards.

1. What Information We Collect Through This Website

We collect personal information to operate, maintain, and improve our website and digital interactions, to respond to inquiries, and to support the administration and enhancement of our practice operations. This includes information provided directly by users (such as through contact forms), information automatically collected during website visits, and any information derived from usage patterns or technical diagnostics.

“Personal information” means information that identifies, relates to, describes, or could reasonably be associated with an individual or household. This may include names, contact details, technical identifiers, device information, browsing behavior, geolocation data, or any preferences you provide.

Information that has been de-identified in accordance with applicable laws is no longer considered personal information. We may use or share such de-identified information for any lawful purpose, including analytics, product or service improvement, benchmarking, marketing insights, and the development of aggregated datasets. We take reasonable steps to ensure that de-identified data cannot be re-associated with any individual.

2. Sources of Personal Information

We collect personal information from various sources, depending on how individuals interact with our website and services. These sources may include:

Information you provide directly – such as when you fill out a contact form or submit general inquiries or feedback through our website. If we offer features like appointment requests or other health-related submissions in the future, those may be governed by separate terms and our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, as applicable.
Your interactions with our website – including technical data collected automatically from your browser or device, such as IP address, browser type, referring pages, or usage patterns. We may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality and performance.
Communications – including any personal information you share when contacting us by email, phone, or other means.
Third-party integrations – such as embedded tools (e.g., online maps, videos, or social media links) that may collect information in accordance with their own privacy practices.
Vendors and service providers – who support website hosting, analytics, or communication functions and may collect limited technical or interaction data on our behalf.

Please do not submit any medical or health-related information through our website. Any protected health information is governed by our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices and must only be submitted through secure, authorized channels—such as during an office visit or via specific functionality we may provide for that purpose.

3. Purposes for Collecting and Using Personal Information

We use personal information for operational, functional, and legal purposes, depending on how individuals interact with our services. These purposes may include:

Providing and managing services – Including enabling access to our website and digital tools, responding to inquiries or requests, facilitating scheduling or communications, and supporting general website functionality.
Improving our website and services – Including troubleshooting, evaluating performance, analyzing usage data, refining content, and developing new or enhanced features.
Personalizing experiences and communications – Including tailoring content, managing communications, and using aggregated insights to inform how we present or adjust services for broader audiences.
Supporting automated tools and technologies – We may use automated systems, including artificial intelligence tools, to process information, assess patterns, filter communications, or streamline workflows. Where required by law, we will provide notice and offer options regarding the use of such technologies.
Protecting systems and enforcing rights – Including monitoring for misuse, protecting our digital infrastructure, enforcing our terms of use, and safeguarding the rights, property, and safety of our organization and users.
Meeting legal or regulatory obligations – Including complying with applicable laws, responding to legal process, and fulfilling any reporting or recordkeeping duties.
Recruiting and employment – If you apply for a position with us, we may use your information to assess qualifications, coordinate interviews, and meet employment compliance requirements.
Creating de-identified or aggregated datasets – We may use or share information that no longer identifies individuals, for purposes such as internal analysis, service improvement, business planning, or other lawful uses. De-identified or aggregated information is not personal information subject to this Privacy Policy.

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may disclose personal information to third parties for a variety of operational, legal, and business purposes, including:

To fulfill a request or transaction – Such as enabling website functionality, facilitating requests, delivering requested services, or processing employment inquiries.
To service providers and vendors – Including IT providers, website hosting platforms, analytics services, communications providers, and other contractors who help us operate our digital services or support our business. These providers are required to handle personal information appropriately under applicable law and contract.
To affiliated entities and trusted partners – We may share personal information with affiliated medical groups, management services organizations, or other entities under common control, ownership, or operational coordination, as necessary to deliver, manage, or improve our services. This may include administrative support, appointment facilitation, practice communications, or service optimization. We do not sell your personal information.
To meet legal or regulatory requirements – We may disclose personal information if required by law, subpoena, court order, or government request, or to enforce our Terms of Use, investigate misuse, prevent fraud, or protect the rights, safety, or property of our users, site visitors, patients, providers, personnel, or organization.
In the event of a business transition – Personal information may be disclosed or transferred as part of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, financing, or sale of assets.

We take reasonable steps towards protecting personal information from unauthorized use or disclosure, including safeguards tailored to the sensitivity of the information and the context in which it was collected.

We may also use or share de-identified or aggregated data for any lawful purpose. This type of information is not subject to this Privacy Policy so long as it remains de-identified in accordance with applicable standards.

5. Express Consent to Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We and certain third-party partners use cookies, pixel tags, and similar technologies (“tracking technologies”) to collect information about how users interact with our website. These technologies support essential website functionality, help us understand usage patterns, improve performance, and may assist with responsible marketing or communications in accordance with applicable law.

Cookies are small text files placed by websites on your device that store information such as browser identifiers, session data, and user preferences. Pixel tags, also known as web beacons, are small bits of code that can log interactions with particular website elements or emails. These and similar technologies may link browser or device activity over time and across sessions, but do not access or retrieve data from your device storage.

We use both first-party and third-party tracking technologies. For example, we may use analytics platforms to evaluate website usage or infrastructure providers to enhance speed and security. If our practices materially change in the future, we will update this Privacy Policy accordingly and provide any required disclosures or opt-out options at that time.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. However, restricting cookies may affect website functionality.

By visiting or continuing to interact with our website, you consent to our use of tracking technologies as described in this Privacy Policy.

We do not make representations about the effectiveness of browser-based cookie controls or third-party opt-out tools, and we are not responsible for the continued operation or effectiveness of those tools.

6. Third Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites that are not owned or operated by DAV. We do not transmit your personal information to those sites, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices, terms, or content. If you choose to leave our site and visit a third-party website—including those of vendors, service providers, or platforms we may use—your information will be governed by that site’s own privacy policy and terms of use, which may differ from ours. For example, if you apply for a position with DAV through a platform like Indeed.com, your application may be subject to that platform’s policies. We encourage you to review the privacy terms of any third-party websites before providing them with your personal information.

7. Optional Features and Account Access

We may offer additional website functionality in the future, such as login-enabled features, appointment requests, access to medical records, or online bill payment. If such features are introduced, they may be subject to separate terms or notices provided at the point of access, and any health-related information shared through them will be governed by our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices rather than this Privacy Policy.

If account-based access becomes available, you will be responsible for safeguarding your login credentials and for all activity under your account. While we may implement technical measures such as encryption to help protect information during transmission, no system can guarantee absolute security. You should take standard online precautions—such as using strong, unique passwords and keeping your devices secure—to help protect your personal information.

8. No Direct Collection of Children’s Personal Information

Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent. In certain cases, a parent or legal guardian may lawfully submit information on behalf of a minor in connection with our services—for example, when inquiring about care or submitting a form.

If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information directly from a child under 13 without appropriate authorization, we will delete it in accordance with applicable law, without liability or notice to you or anyone. We reserve the right to take reasonable steps, including limiting access, if we determine that this policy has been violated.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time at our sole discretion or as required by law. All updates will be posted on this page and are effective immediately upon posting unless otherwise noted. Your continued use of our website or digital services following any update constitutes your agreement to the revised terms and your acknowledgment that prior interactions and data collection are governed by the most current version of this Policy.

We encourage you to check this page regularly to stay informed about our current data practices. If we make material changes—particularly regarding how we collect, use, or disclose personal information—we may, at our discretion, choose to provide courtesy additional notice (such as through a pop-up banner, email, or other reasonable method). However, no such courtesy notice is required, and posting the updated version to this page shall be deemed sufficient.

10. Questions

If you have any questions about how we collect, use, or disclose personal information, you may write to us at drvine@nyclaparoscopicsurgery.com