Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy, Terms of Use

The Providence Institute for a Healthier Community (PIHC), its programs and associated services, including PIHC LiveWell Local, Edge of Amazing, Heath & Well-being Monitor and others (called ‘PIHC programs and services’ below) are services provided through Providence St. Joseph Health (called “Providence” below). Providence operates a system of hospitals, physician clinics, home care and other health care providers, a health plan, and associated services in the states of Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington. In order to better serve its patients, beneficiaries and community, Providence owns and operates PIHC programs and services.

Through PIHC programs and services, Providence provides services which are described below. (These are called “Services” below.) Providence has published these Terms of Use and Privacy Policy to inform Users of their rights and responsibilities in using PIHC programs and services.

Terms of Use

Please note that these Terms of Use and linked policies only apply to PIHC programs and services. PIHC programs and services provides links to Web sites that are not operated by Providence. PIHC programs and services users who link to a third-party Web site must recognize that our Terms of Use and other policies do not extend beyond the borders of PIHC programs and services. PIHC programs and services provide links to other Internet sites for informational purposes and the convenience of its users. Content accessed from external links is the property of the organization whose website it is posted on—PIHC does not own, endorse, or control this content. Other standards and policies may apply outside our site. We encourage you to read the terms of use, privacy policies and other policies which apply to such Web sites before using them.

Please read these Terms of Use carefully. We encourage you to review these Terms of Use regularly as you use PIHC programs and services.

1. Services Available Through PIHC Programs and Services

A variety of information is made available through PIHC programs and services, including:

  • Descriptions and contact information for community resources that may benefit our local community and Providence patients and beneficiaries.
  • Links to informative Web sites.

2. Personal Information Collection and Use

Providence understands that the privacy of your information is important. For information about cases in which personal information may be collected by PIHC programs and services, and details about how that information is protected and used by Providence, please review our Privacy Policy. Privacy Policy.

3. User Responsibilities

PIHC programs and services are intended to help you be a better-informed health and well-being services user and get access to information and services easily, but we need your help to make it work well. We also need you to be responsible for doing your part to protect your personal information, and to understand that the educational information and materials made available through PIHC programs and services are not and do not include medical advice, and are not designed or intended to address your personal health condition or issues.

Users therefore must be responsible for the following:

3.1. Be an Informed User

Please read these Terms of Use carefully. We need your help in making PIHC programs and services safe and effective, and protecting against misuse. Your violation of these Terms of Use is grounds for suspension or termination of your account.

3.2. Maintain and Protect Your Own Equipment

PIHC programs and services are intended to be accessible and all content available through all standard commercial Web browsers operating on standard personal computers, through standard commercially-available Internet access. The quality of content presentation and download speeds may vary depending on the software, equipment and Internet connections used.

You may be able to use devices other than a personal computer to access PIHC programs and services such as some personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), cell phones or other devices. If you do choose to use another kind of device to access PIHC programs and services, you must be responsible for protecting it in accordance with these Terms of Use. Any requirement for personal computer protection in these Terms of Use applies equally to any other device you may use to access PIHC programs and services.

  • Providence does not provide any software, equipment or Internet connections. You are solely responsible for providing all software, computer equipment and other hardware, and Internet connections necessary to access PIHC programs and services.
  • If you use a personal computer or other device provided by or shared with your employer, parent, spouse, roommate or other person, that other party may have the legal right to view all information stored on it. Providence cannot prevent or be responsible for such activities. If you use a personal computer or other device which another person has the legal right to control, you access your PIHC programs and services account at your own risk.
  • Whenever you are done using PIHC programs and services you should close PIHC programs and services, and you should not leave your computer unattended when PIHC programs and services are open and someone else may be able to view the screen or use the computer. Providence cannot log you off your computer or protect your personal computer against unauthorized access. You are solely responsible for protecting the personal computers or other devices you use against unauthorized use to access your account.
  • Computer viruses, worms, spyware and other malicious software on your computer can be used to gather passwords and personal information from that computer, often without the user’s knowledge. Providence cannot prevent or be responsible for detecting or removing malicious software on computers you use to access PIHC programs and services. Affordable antivirus and antispyware software is readily available for personal computers. You should maintain and regularly use current antivirus and antispyware software on any personal computer you use to access PIHC programs and services.
  • Unauthorized individuals (“hackers”) and malicious software can sometimes gain access to computers through Internet connections, unless the computer has a working firewall. Unauthorized access of this kind may not be easily detected and may allow passwords and personal information to be gathered without the computer user’s knowledge. Providence does not provide and cannot be responsible for implementing a firewall for your computer. Firewall software is standard on many personal computers and affordable firewall software for personal computers is readily available. You should maintain a working firewall on any computer you use to access PIHC programs and services.
  • Computer criminals may sometimes send e-mails which appear to come from legitimate organizations. These e-mails typically ask you to log on to a Web site using a link in the e-mail, and enter some personal information to “verify,” “correct” or “update” your account, or something similar. This practice is known as “phishing,” and is intended to get personal information from unwary users to use for identity theft and other fraud.

IN ORDER TO AVOID THE THREAT OF PHISHING, PROVIDENCE WILL NEVER SEND YOU UNSOLICITED E-MAILS THAT INCLUDE A LINK TO A PROVIDENCE WEB SITE WHERE YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE PERSONAL INFORMATION. IF YOU RECEIVE AN E-MAIL THAT CLAIMS TO BE FROM PROVIDENCE, WHICH INCLUDES A LINK TO A WEB SITE WHICH APPEARS TO BE OPERATED BY PROVIDENCE, OR BY ANY PARTY ON BEHALF OF PROVIDENCE, AND WHICH ASKS YOU TO PROVIDE PERSONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE DO NOT PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.

If you receive any suspicious e-mail which claims or appears to be from Providence, please notify us by calling the Providence Integrity Line at 1-888-294-8455.

3.3. Protect Your Password

Some PIHC programs and services features may be password-protected. If your password is easy to guess, or if you share your password or someone else sees or steals it, someone else may be able to get access to your account. Please use a strong password, and protect it from other people.

PIHC programs and services rely upon your password in allowing access to your account and cannot prevent unauthorized access if your password is compromised. You are responsible for all activity taking place under your password unless we have been notified that it is compromised. Please notify us at once if you believe your password has been compromised, and we will help you change it.

3.4. Do Not Distribute Copyrighted Materials for Commercial Use

Some of the information and materials made available by and through PIHC programs and services is copyrighted and owned by Providence or other parties. You may not sell or modify any information or materials obtained from PIHC programs and services or reproduce, display, distribute, or otherwise use it in any way for any public or commercial purpose.

3.5. Do Not Abuse PIHC Programs and Services

  • PIHC programs and services are provided for your convenience and educational use. In order to keep these services working efficiently and appropriately, you are not permitted to:
    • Use any other person’s user name or password.
    • Use PIHC programs and services in any way that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair PIHC programs and services or interfere with any other party’s use of PIHC programs and services.
    • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any information, documents, records, accounts, devices, systems or networks connected to PIHC programs and services through hacking, password cracking, IP spoofing or any other means.
    • Restrict or inhibit anyone else from using PIHC programs and services.
    • Harvest or otherwise collect information about other individuals, including e-mail addresses and personal information.
    • Link to, frame or use any trademark, logo or other proprietary information on PIHC programs and services without Providence’s express written permission.

4. Health and Medical Educational Information

PIHC programs and services may publish information about community and third-party health-related resources to help educate users. Some of this information is provided by parties other than Providence, and PIHC programs and services may provide links to third party Web sites for this purpose.

4.1. Information Is Not Medical Advice or Personal Health Information

All information and links to information Web sites provided by or through PIHC programs and services are for educational purposes only. You are responsible for your understanding and use of all information.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OR THROUGH PIHC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE OR A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL ADVICE. IF YOU ARE SEEKING INFORMATION BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE YOU OR ANOTHER PERSON HAS HAVE A SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITION PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. IF YOU HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THERE IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY PLEASE CALL “911” OR YOUR OTHER APPLICABLE EMERGENCY NUMBER AT ONCE.

While Providence seeks to provide information which may be helpful in understanding your own health care needs, issues and community resources, none of the educational information, classes, events, or activities available through PIHC programs and services were or will be developed for you personally. If you want or need information related to your personal health condition, please contact your health care provider.

4.2. Information and Links are Not Necessarily Endorsed

The fact that information is published or a link provided by PIHC programs and services does not mean that the views and opinions expressed therein are necessarily shared by Providence.

4.3. Information Is Not Guaranteed

While Providence seeks to provide useful, high-quality information through PIHC programs and services, Providence cannot guarantee that any information is accurate, complete, current, error-free, or free of viruses, worms or other malicious software. Information is provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of fitness and suitability for any particular purpose.

4.4. Linked Web sites Are Not Endorsed

Providence seeks to link only to trustworthy, valuable Web sites, through PIHC programs and services but provides Web site links for your convenience only. A link to a Web site does not constitute an endorsement of the linked site, its content, or any party affiliated with the linked Web site. Providence makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, about the accuracy, completeness, currency, relevance, appropriateness, or availability of any linked site, the information contained in them, or any products or services they offer. Providence shall not be liable, directly or indirectly, for any damages, losses or harm incurred in connection with the use of a linked Web site.

4.5. Jurisdictional Limitation of Use

PIHC programs and services originate and are intended for use in the United States. Providence does not claim that any information or materials on this Web site is appropriate or may be used outside of the United States. Access to information or materials may not be legal by certain persons or in certain countries. If you access the site from outside the United States, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for compliance with the laws of your jurisdiction.

5. Changes to Terms of Use.

Providence reserves the right to change these Terms of Use from time to time. We will make reasonable attempts to notify you of changes we think may be important to you by e-mail, if available.

All changes will be effective when published unless a different effective date is specified. Your continued use of PIHC programs and services after we have posted a change to these Terms of Use will be considered your consent to the change.

6. Web-based Services Availability and Limitations

Providence will attempt to keep PIHC web-based services available at all times, but availability may be interrupted from time to time for maintenance, repair, upgrade or other activities, due to technical problems, or due to natural disaster or other emergency. Providence is not responsible for and cannot control the availability of third party communications services necessary to connect to PIHC programs and services.

7. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) Provisions

Owners of copyrighted works who believe that their rights under U.S. copyright law have been infringed by a use of PIHC programs and services may report an alleged infringement to Providence by following the relevant provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (the “DMCA”) rights, by sending Providence’ authorized agent a notification of alleged infringement that satisfies the requirements of the DMCA. Upon receipt of a satisfactory notice of alleged infringement Providence will promptly investigate the allegations, and respond appropriately, including removal of or blocking access to allegedly infringing content.

7.1. If you are affected by the removal or blocking of allegedly infringing content which you in good faith believe has been removed or blocked in error, you may send a counter notification to Providence. Upon Providence’s receipt of a counter-notification that satisfies the requirements of DMCA, Providence will provide a copy of the counter notification to the person who sent the original notification of alleged infringement and will follow the DMCA’s procedures with respect to a received counter notification.

7.2. DMCA notifications of alleged infringement and counter-notifications may be sent to Providence Health & Services, Department of Legal Affairs, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, Suite 9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016. You may also call the Providence Institute for a Healthier Community directly at 425-261-3344.

7.3. Providence will not be a party to any disputes or lawsuits regarding alleged copyright infringement.

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PROVIDENCE’S LIABILITY TO ANY PERSON FOR ANY CLAIMS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, HARM OR COSTS ARISING FROM OR PERTAINING TO THE USE, OPERATION OR FUNCTIONING OF PIHC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, WHETHER ARISING FROM OR PERTAINING TO BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), WARRANTY OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE PERSON’S DIRECT MONETARY DAMAGES AND SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, NON-ECONOMIC, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES RELATED TO DELAYS, LOSS OF DATA, INTERRUPTION OF SERVICE, LOSS OF PRIVACY, REPUTATIONAL OR PHYSICAL HARM), EVEN IF PROVIDENCE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

9. Dispute Resolution

These Terms of Use shall be interpreted consistently with federal law applicable to the parties, including but not limited to HIPAA where HIPAA applies, provided that state law issues shall be exclusively interpreted according to the laws of the State of Oregon, without regard to choice of law principles. Jurisdiction and venue for any dispute arising from or pertaining to these Terms of Use shall be in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for Multnomah or the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

If any provision of these Terms of Use is found to be invalid by any court having competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of these Terms of Use, which shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any of these Terms of Use shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term.

10. Contact Information

Providence Health & Services
Office of Legal Affairs
1801 Lind Avenue SW
Renton, WA 98057-9016

Privacy Policy

Providence Health & Services (called “Providence” in this Privacy Policy) is committed to honoring the privacy of individuals who choose to use PIHC programs and services. This Privacy Policy is therefore intended to make you aware of the ways your personal information collected through PIHC programs and services is used and to explain to you how we guard your information. We hope this policy will help you make informed decisions about sharing information with us.

1. Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

Providence collects and uses personal information through PIHC programs and services subject to this Privacy Policy as follows:

  • Providence will not intentionally collect through PIHC programs and services any personal information subject to this Privacy Policy about any person under the age of 13.
  • Providence will not disclose any personal information obtained through PIHC programs and services for any third party marketing purposes.
  • Providence will not collect or use personal information about your use of PIHC programs and services to make decisions about insurance underwriting or coverage, medical care or treatment, or administration of health care for individuals. Providence will not use such information to infer or make any determinations about an individual’s health condition or medical needs.
  • Providence will disclose personal information when required to do so by law, for example, in response to a court order or a subpoena or other legal obligation, in response to a law enforcement agency’s request, or in special cases when we have reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be causing injury to or interference (either intentionally or unintentionally) with our rights or property.

2. Use of Cookies

A “cookie” is a small set of computer data which allows Web servers, like the Web servers used to host PIHC programs and services, to maintain records of the activities of users visiting Web sites and to help us serve you better by improving our website design. Cookies may be used to customize the delivery of content based on your usage patterns and interests.

The cookies used by PIHC programs and services do not identify users by name or any other personal identifier. PIHC programs and services use cookies as follows:

  • Unregistered users may have cookies placed on their computers for use in customizing the delivery of content based on usage patterns and interests.
  • Registered users may have cookies placed on their computers to allow their experience of PIHC programs and services to be customized and facilitated.

3. Changes to Privacy Policy

Providence reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will make reasonable attempts to notify you of changes we think may be important to you by e-mail, if available.

All changes will be effective when published unless a different effective date is specified. Your continued use of PIHC programs and services after we have posted a change to this Privacy Policy will be considered your consent to the change.

4. Relationship to Terms of Use

The provisions of PIHC programs and services Terms of Use apply to and are incorporated in this Privacy Policy by reference.