Althealthconnect - Privacy Policy

Effective date: February 1, 2009

Please read carefully prior to using this website.

These Terms of Use and Privacy Policy (collectively, the "Terms") shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. OTHER THAN TO READ THESE TERMS FOR THE FIRST TIME, BY ACCESSING AND USING THE ALTHEALTHCONNECT.COM WEBSITE ("WEBSITE") OR ANY OF ITS TOOLS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND CONTENT (I.E., THE TEXT, IMAGES, DATA, AND INFORMATION) CONTAINED ON THE WEBSITE OR ANY PORTION THEREOF (COLLECTIVELY "WEBSITE MATERIALS"), YOU SIGNIFY YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ALL OF THESE TERMS, YOU MAY NOT ACCESS OR USE THIS WEBSITE OR DOWNLOAD ANY WEBSITE MATERIALS FROM IT.

Please bear in mind that Althealthconnect.com is owned and operated by the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE, INCORPORATED (NIAHC) which is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of California, and has its headquarters in California. The servers that host this Website are located in the United States, and any personal details you provide to us will be processed by Althealthconnect.com in the United States.

Privacy Policy

NIAHC is committed to protecting the privacy and security of the personally identifiable information and personal health information you provide to us and any reports based on such information that is personally identifiable (collectively, "Personal Information"). We want to share with you how we treat Personal Information about you that we receive in connection with this Website.

Information Althealthconnect.com and NIAHC Collects

Sections of this Website (including restricted portions of this Website) that allow for the submission of Personal Information (referred to for convenience as "Profile Pages") contain a function for collecting various pieces of your Personal Information including, but not limited to, your name, photograph, address, email address, date of birth, gender, height, weight, credit card or account information, and information about your interests, activities, skill levels, goals, blog or website URL, IM address.

We only collect Personal Information if you voluntarily submit the information to us for such purposes as registering for use of restricted portions of this Website, completing surveys conducted by NIAHC or a contractor acting on our behalf, participating in online focus groups, or requesting information or services. For your information, through certain technologies employed by this Website we also collect non-personally identifiable information about you. For more details about this type of data collection please refer to the section below on cookies.

In the event of a complaint, we may also receive personally identifiable information about you from other Website subscribers or from other users or third parties who may communicate information to us about you in relation to that complaint.

How NIAHC Uses Personal Information

NIAHC reserves the right to compile, save, use within the scope of our activities, and analyze any and all data (contact and personal data, use history, etc.) that we collect from you through the Website. We use the Personal Information that you provide to us for our internal purposes such as (a) creating a user profile for you based on the Profile Pages you complete (b) designing a personalized homepage for you on our Website, (c) providing recommendations and reports based upon your user profile, (d) responding to inquiries and requests that you may make, (e) if applicable, announcing you as a "featured member" or any of your postings or endorsement messages as "featured postings" or "featured endorsements" on the Website, (f) alerting you to new products and service offerings that may be of interest to you, and (g) creating a website for you based on data you provide specifically for that purpose. We will make the following items of your information available to other users: profile name; gender; photograph (if provided); goals (if provided); activities (if provided); occupation (if provided); professional associations (if provided); blog URL (if provided); contact information including city, state, and zip code location; any comments, articles, or information you provide to be displayed on the Website; photos and videos posted; questions asked and answered;; classes & events that you are teaching, sponsoring or participating in that you log on the Website; and any other information that you post at your own will on the Website.

NIAHC may communicate its response to inquiries or requests from you, or provide you with recommendations or reports, or alert you to new products and service offerings, by sending you emails, postal mail or placing telephone calls to you. If you decide, after receiving an electronic message, postal mail, or telephonic message, that you would prefer not to receive any such communications from NIAHC, you may "Opt-out" of receiving such messages by notifying us via fax or email.

Except as otherwise stated herein, NIAHC does not trade, rent, or share your Personal Information with third parties unless you authorize us to do so. Your Personal Information will be used only in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable privacy laws and NIAHC will not share such information with any physician or other health care professional, employer, insurer, family member, or anyone else, unless you expressly authorize NIAHC to do so (for example, we may disclose certain Personal Information on the Website in connection with your user profile if you have authorized us to do so by entering your information on the Profile Pages).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the foregoing, NIAHC may disclose your Personal Information to, and allow its use by, trusted third-parties we have hired to provide services for us such as conducting online surveys for us or collecting and processing information on our behalf; provided such third parties are subject to terms no less restrictive than those set forth herein to protect your Personal Information.

Personally identifiable information that is collected from our surveys is used for research purposes, and is not used for sales solicitations. When a survey is sponsored by a third party, non-personally identifiable aggregated information of the survey results is reported to the sponsor. Personally identifiable information collected through market research will be used only by NIAHC and its service providers and contractors and will not be given or sold to a third party without your consent or as otherwise permitted by this Privacy Policy. We will not knowingly accept survey responses from or conduct interviews with any person under the age of 18.

The National Institute of Alternative Health Care and, any subsidiaries, joint ventures, or other companies under common control with National Institute of Alternative Health Care (collectively, "Affiliates"), may, in the future, share some or all of your Personal Information with these Affiliates, in which case NIAHC will require its Affiliates to honor this Privacy Policy. If NIAHC or its assets are acquired by another company, that company will gain access to the Personal Information collected by NIAHC. NIAHC will use reasonable efforts to require the acquiring company to assume the rights and obligations regarding your Personal Information as described in this Privacy Policy. In addition, NIAHC may disclose your Personal Information if NIAHC believes in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to comply with relevant laws or to respond to subpoenas or warrants served on NIAHC.

NIAHC may also collect and group demographic and preferences information, responses to surveys, and other Personal Information we collect from you in an aggregated, non-personally identifiable form for disclosure to our existing and potential business partners, affiliates, sponsors or other third parties. However, please be assured that this aggregated data will in no way personally identify you or any other visitors to this Website.

Disclosure to Linked Sites

There are links to third party websites operated by companies that are not affiliated with the NIAHC or the Website and that do not have contracts to provide content or services through the Website. These links may be found in the resources directory, advertisements, referenced within content, or placed beside the names or logos of sponsors. NIAHC does not disclose your Personal Information to these third party websites without obtaining your consent. NIAHC does not endorse and is not responsible for the privacy practices of these sites. If you choose to link to one of these third party websites, you should review the privacy policy posted on such other website to understand how that third party website collects and uses your personally identifiable information.

Minors Policy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. Neither NIAHC nor any of its services are designed or intended to attract children under the age of 18. We do not collect personally identifiable information from any person we actually know is under the age of 18. If we discover that any personally identifiable information from a minor under the age of 18 has been submitted to NIAHC or this Website unbeknownst to NIAHC, we will remove that information from our database as soon as possible.

Contests and Reward Points

NIAHC may promote certain contests and rewards from time to time. You must (a) be at least 18 years of age to participate in any online promotion or contest or submit any registration information or other information or content, and (b) agree to separate or additional terms or conditions of use as NIAHC may prescribe on its Website in connection with such contests or rewards.

Security Statement

NIAHC employs commercially reasonable security programs to protect your Personal Information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, you should be aware that NIAHC cannot fully eliminate security risks associated with Personal Information. Despite NIAHC’s strong efforts to protect your personally identifiable information and personal health information, there is always some risk that an unauthorized third party may find a way around our security systems or that transmissions of your information over the Internet may be intercepted.

Use of Cookies

Like most websites, NIAHC requires cookies to function properly. Cookies are small text files that reside on your computer and identify you as a unique user. We use cookies to refine our site and simplify the user experience. This cookie technology allows users to move more quickly through our Website. For example, the use of cookies allows registered users to enter our site without explicitly typing in their email address and password every time they access this Website. NIAHC uses session ID cookies for increased security reasons. The user's session ID cookie stores only an identification ID that NIAHC uses to identify a user as the user moves throughout the Website. The session ID cookie does not contain any personally identifying information. When a user closes the browser, logs out, or goes for extended periods of time without activity, the cookie terminates.

If you do not want information collected through the use of cookies, there is a simple procedure in most browsers that allows you to deny or accept the cookie feature; however, you should note that cookies may be necessary to provide you certain features available on the Website.

Information Collected by Third Parties Not Acting on Behalf of Althealthconnect

Sponsors or advertisers on this Website may use their own Cookies or other online tracking technologies in the advertisements served on the Website and in emails, special promotions or newsletters you agree to have sent to you as a result of being on our site. Some advertisers use companies other than NIAHC to serve their ads and to monitor users' responses to ads, and these companies ("Ad Servers") may also collect Non-Personal Information through the use of Cookies or Web Beacons on our Website. In certain situations, information collection may be facilitated by momentarily directing your browser to the website of an Ad Server or other third party acting on behalf of the sponsor, partner, or advertiser before re-directing your browser to its selected area. You should be aware that NIAHC cannot control the use of cookies by advertisers or any information advertisers may gather from their use of cookies.

Updating or Removing your Personal Information

As a registered Althealthconnect.com user you can modify your Personal Information at any time by accessing the "User Profile" section of the Website. NIAHC will allow you to correct, update or review information you have submitted by going back to the specific user information page, logging-in, and making the desired changes. Also, upon your request, NIAHC will use commercially reasonable efforts to functionally remove you and your Personal Information from the Website; however, it may be impossible to remove your entry without some residual information being retained by NIAHC and the Althealthconnect.com Website. Registered users who wish to close their account should contact us at customerservice@Althealthconnect.com.

If you have a complaint or problem, please email us at customerservice@Althealthconnect.com.

Our Support team will forward your complaint to the appropriate internal department for a response or resolution. We try to answer every email within 2 business days. If you want to (1) delete your personally identifiable information from our systems, (2) update the personally identifiable information that you have provided to us, or (3) change your preferences with respect to marketing contacts or other activities; you can email us at customerservice@Althealthconnect.com.

Or you may write to us at:

National Institute of Alternative Health Care
Attention: Customer Service
269 Mount Hermon Road, Suite 207
Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Changes to Privacy Policy

By using the Website, you signify your agreement to the terms of our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with these terms, you should not use the site. NIAHC may modify this Privacy Policy at any time. If a material change is made to this Privacy Policy and/or the way we use our members personally identifiable information or personal health information, then we will post a prominent notice of the nature of such change on the first page of this Privacy Policy. You are responsible for reviewing this Privacy Policy periodically to ensure that you are aware of any changes to it. Your continued use of the Website indicates your assent to any changes to this Privacy Policy.

General terms

Amendment, Suspension and Termination
Subject to the provisions above, NIAHC may modify, and amend these Terms as it deems appropriate at any time with or without notice, by updating this posting. Each such modification will be effective as of the date of the posting of the amended Terms. You should visit this page periodically to review the then-current Terms. If at any time these Terms are not acceptable to you, you should immediately cease use of the Website and Website Materials. You agree that the above-stated standard for notice of amendments is reasonable. In addition, NIAHC reserves the right to suspend, discontinue, or terminate your access to the Website or Website Materials at any time, for any reason, and with or without notice.

Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT WILL NIAHC OR ITS SUPPLIERS OR LICENSORS, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OR DAMAGE TO DATA, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE USE OF, DELAY IN BEING ABLE TO USE, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS WEBSITE OR THE WEBSITE MATERIALS, ANY LINKED WEBSITE, OR ANY THIRD-PARTY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES, OR DAMAGES FROM YOUR RELIANCE ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR RESULTS BASED ON OR GENERATED FROM THE WEBSITE MATERIALS, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY EVEN IF NIAHC OR ITS SUPPLIERS OR LICENSORS, ARE AWARE OR HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Disclaimer

ALTHEALTHCONNECT ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY, CORRECTNESS, TIMELINESS, OR CONTENT OF THE MATERIALS PROVIDED ON THIS WEBSITE. YOU AGREE THAT NIAHC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR YOUR RELIANCE UPON ANY WEBSITE MATERIALS OR RECOMMENDATIONS OR RESULTS BASED ON OR GENERATED FROM SUCH WEBSITE MATERIALS. IN ADDITION, YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE WEBSITE MATERIALS ON THIS WEBSITE ARE CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED OR OTHERWISE CONTAIN CURRENT INFORMATION. NIAHC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPLYING CONTENT OR MATERIALS FROM THE WEBSITE THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY OTHER USERS OF THE WEBSITE, HAVE EXPIRED, OR HAVE BEEN REMOVED. THE WEBSITE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND ALTHEALTHCONNECT MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY OR USEFULNESS OF ANY WEBSITE MATERIAL DISTRIBUTED THROUGH ITS WEBSITE. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NIAHC HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES (EXPRESS OR IMPLIED), CONDITIONS OR OTHER TERMS OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR TITLE.

BY USING THIS WEBSITE YOU AGREE TO ACCEPT ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WEBSITE MATERIALS AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, RESULTS, OR REPORTS BASED ON OR GENERATED FROM SUCH WEBSITE MATERIALS. THE WEBSITE MATERIALS AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, RESULTS, OR REPORTS BASED ON OR GENERATED FROM SUCH WEBSITE MATERIALS ARE NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE THE CARE YOU WOULD RECEIVE FROM A PHYSICIAN OR OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OR TO BE USED AS A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE BEGINNING ANY HEALTH PROGRAM, EXERCISE PROGRAM, NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM, OR ANY OTHER PROGRAM YOU LEARNED ABOUT THROUGH THE WEBSITE OR WEBSITE MATERIALS OR BASED ON ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, RESULTS, OR REPORTS BASED ON OR GENERATED FROM SUCH WEBSITE MATERIALS. NIAHC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY INJURY THAT MAY RESULT FROM ACTIONS TAKEN OR NOT TAKEN BY YOU RELYING ON THE WEBSITE, WEBSITE MATERIALS, OR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, RESULTS, OR REPORTS BASED ON OR GENERATED FROM SUCH WEBSITE MATERIALS.

Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless NIAHC and its officers, directors, employees, contractors, and any Affiliates it may have from any and all demands, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses, or harms, including attorneys fees, arising out of or in connection with your use of this Website, online conduct, breach of these Terms, or dealings or transactions with other persons resulting from your use of this Website.

Miscellaneous

The sections titled Content You Submit to or Post on the Website, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, Disclaimer, and Miscellaneous shall survive any termination of these Terms. All rights and remedies, whether conferred hereunder or by any other instrument or law, will be cumulative and may be exercised singularly or concurrently. The failure of NIAHC to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not operate as a waiver of such right or provision. The provisions stated herein are severable and if any provision(s) of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

With respect to any and all disputes arising out of or in connection with this Website or these Terms, NIAHC and you agree to negotiate in good faith and undertake reasonable efforts to cooperate with one another in order to achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution.

NIAHC has no obligation to become involved in any dispute between a user and any other person. You are solely responsible for your interactions with other NIAHC users. NIAHC reserves the right, but has no obligation to, monitor disputes between you and other members. This Website, these Terms and any dispute arising in connection therewith shall be exclusively governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflict of law principles. NIAHC and you agree that all disputes arising under these Terms will be settled exclusively through confidential binding arbitration in Santa Cruz, California or another forum mutually agreed upon by you and NIAHC, pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules ("Rules") of the American Arbitration Association by a sole arbitrator nominated by agreement of you and NIAHC and confirmed in accordance with the Rules. The arbitrator's award shall be binding and may be entered as a judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction. You agree that NIAHC is entitled to obtain preliminary injunctive relief to the extent allowed by law to enforce any of the terms of these Terms pending a final arbitral decision.

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and NIAHC with respect to the subject matter hereof. Neither you nor NIAHC shall be bound by any conditions, definitions, warranties, understandings, or representations with respect to the subject matter hereof other than as expressly provided herein. The section headings contained in these Terms are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of the Terms. No oral explanation or oral information by either party hereto shall alter the meaning or interpretation of the Terms. No modification or amendment to these Terms by you will be effective unless assented to in writing by NIAHC.

Contacting Althealthconnect

Questions regarding these Terms should be directed to:
National Institute of Alternative Health Care
269 Mount Hermon Road, Suite 207
Scotts Valley, CA 95066

If you have any specific questions about our Privacy Policy, the privacy practices of this website, or if you want to exercise any of the rights that you are given under this Privacy Policy, you can contact us by email at customerservices@niahc.com or write to us at the following address:
National Institute of Alternative Health Care
269 Mount Hermon Road, Suite 207
Scotts Valley, CA 95066