Our Privacy Policy

Last Updated: December 10, 2024

The dental practice of Frances H. Yankie, DDS (“Practice,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide when visiting DrYankie.com.

This Privacy Policy explains the types of information we may collect through our website, how that information may be used or disclosed, the choices available to you, and certain privacy rights available to California residents.

This policy applies to information collected through DrYankie.com and website-related services. It does not replace the Practice’s separate obligations concerning protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) or other applicable medical and dental privacy laws.

1. Information We May Collect

Depending on how you use our website, we may collect the following categories of information:

• Identifiers and Contact Information – such as your name, telephone number, email address, mailing address, or other information you voluntarily provide.
• Appointment and Inquiry Information – information you provide when requesting an appointment, asking a question, contacting the Practice, or using an online scheduling service.
• Internet and Device Information – such as IP address, browser type, operating system, device information, referring website, pages visited, and general website usage information.
• Preferences and Interaction Information – such as communications preferences, website interactions, and information voluntarily provided through surveys or feedback.
• Applicant and Employment Information – if you inquire about employment or submit a résumé, we may collect information such as your contact details, employment history, education, professional credentials, résumé information, and other information you choose to provide.
• Other Voluntary Information – any additional information you choose to provide to us through the website.

We ask that you not submit sensitive medical, dental, financial, Social Security, insurance, or other confidential information through a general website contact form unless specifically instructed to do so.

2. Protected Health Information and HIPAA

Information collected or maintained by the Practice in connection with your dental treatment may constitute Protected Health Information (“PHI”) and may be governed by HIPAA and other applicable healthcare privacy laws.

This website Privacy Policy governs general website activity and does not replace our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. Information submitted through a patient portal, secure patient communication system, appointment platform, or directly to the Practice in connection with treatment may be subject to different privacy protections.

If there is any conflict between this website Privacy Policy and rights applicable to your PHI under HIPAA or other healthcare privacy laws, the applicable healthcare privacy requirements will control.

3. Sources of Personal Information

We may obtain personal information:

• Directly from you when you contact us, request an appointment, submit a form, apply for employment, or otherwise communicate with the Practice.
• Automatically through your browser or device when you visit our website, including through cookies and similar technologies.
• From service providers that assist us with website hosting, appointment scheduling, communications, security, analytics, or other Practice operations.
• From other sources when permitted by law or when you authorize another person or organization to provide information to us.

4. How We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information for purposes including:

• Responding to Inquiries – to answer questions and communicate with you.
• Appointment Administration – to process appointment requests and facilitate scheduling.
• Practice Operations – to maintain records, administer website services, and support ordinary business operations.
• Website Improvement and Analytics – to understand website traffic, identify technical issues, and improve website usability and content.
• Security – to protect our website, systems, patients, staff, and users from unauthorized activity, fraud, abuse, or security threats.
• Communications and Marketing – to provide information concerning the Practice, services, announcements, or other communications where permitted by law and consistent with your communication preferences.
• Employment and Recruiting – to evaluate inquiries, résumés, qualifications, and potential employment relationships.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance – to comply with applicable laws, regulations, professional obligations, legal proceedings, or government requests.

5. Cookies, Analytics, and Similar Technologies

DrYankie.com may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the website, remember preferences, improve website performance, maintain security, and understand how visitors interact with the site.

These technologies may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, device type, referring website, pages visited, time spent on pages, and other usage information.

Some website functionality may be provided by third-party service providers, such as website hosting companies, analytics providers, appointment scheduling services, embedded content providers, or other technology vendors. Depending on the technology being used, these third parties may collect information about your interaction with the website.

You may control or disable many cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the operation or functionality of certain portions of the website.

6. California Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control Disclosures

Some internet browsers provide a “Do Not Track” (“DNT”) setting. Because there is currently no universally accepted standard governing how websites should respond to traditional DNT signals, our website may not respond to DNT signals in a uniform manner.

California law separately recognizes certain browser-based opt-out preference signals, including the Global Privacy Control (“GPC”), for businesses subject to applicable California Consumer Privacy Act requirements involving the sale or sharing of personal information. Where we are legally required to recognize such a signal, we will process it in accordance with applicable California law.

Third-party website technologies may, depending upon their configuration, collect information concerning a user’s online activities over time and across different websites or online services. We periodically review the technologies used on our website and our privacy practices.

7. How We May Disclose Personal Information

We may disclose personal information when reasonably necessary to operate the website or the Practice, including to:

• Service Providers and Contractors – including providers of website hosting, information technology, cybersecurity, email, telephone, appointment scheduling, analytics, and other operational services.
• Professional Advisors – such as attorneys, accountants, consultants, insurers, or other professional advisors when appropriate.
• Government or Legal Authorities – when disclosure is required or permitted by law, subpoena, court order, regulatory requirement, or other lawful process.
• Business Successors – if ownership or operation of the Practice or relevant business assets is transferred, reorganized, merged, or otherwise changed.
• Other Parties With Your Authorization – when you request, authorize, or consent to the disclosure.

We do not sell your personal information in exchange for money.

California’s definition of a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information may, however, extend to certain transfers involving online advertising or tracking technologies even when no money is exchanged. If our use of website technology creates a sale or sharing of personal information under applicable California law, we will provide the notices and opt-out mechanisms required by that law.

We do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of consumers under 16 years of age.

8. California Privacy Rights

California residents have rights concerning personal information under several California privacy laws. The particular rights available to you depend upon the law involved and whether that law applies to the Practice.

If the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (“CCPA”), applies to the Practice and your information, your rights may include:

• Right to Know and Access – the right to request information regarding personal information collected, used, disclosed, sold, or shared about you.
• Right to Delete – the right to request deletion of certain personal information, subject to legal and other permitted exceptions.
• Right to Correct – the right to request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Right to Opt Out of Sale or Sharing – the right to direct a covered business not to sell or share personal information as those terms are defined by California law.
• Right to Limit Certain Uses of Sensitive Personal Information – where applicable under California law.
• Right to Non-Discrimination – the right not to receive discriminatory treatment for exercising applicable California privacy rights.

These rights are subject to exceptions and limitations established by law. Certain information maintained by healthcare providers, including information governed by HIPAA or other healthcare privacy laws, may be treated differently or exempt from particular provisions of the CCPA.

9. Requests to Access, Correct, or Delete Information

You may contact us if you would like to request access to personal information we maintain about you, request that inaccurate information be corrected, request deletion where applicable, or ask a question about our privacy practices.

We may need to verify your identity before processing certain privacy requests. Verification may require information sufficient to reasonably confirm that the person making the request is the individual to whom the information relates.

We will use information submitted for verification only as reasonably necessary to verify and process the request.

Where California law permits use of an authorized agent, an authorized agent may submit a request on your behalf. We may require documentation demonstrating the agent’s authority and may require you to verify your identity or confirm that you authorized the request.

10. California “Shine the Light”

California Civil Code Section 1798.83 permits certain California residents to request information regarding disclosure of personal information to third parties for those third parties’ own direct marketing purposes.

The Practice does not disclose personal information to third parties for their own direct marketing purposes in the manner contemplated by California’s “Shine the Light” law.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, operate the Practice, maintain appropriate business and professional records, comply with legal and regulatory obligations, resolve disputes, and protect the security and integrity of our systems.

Retention periods may vary depending upon the type of information, the reason it was collected, and applicable legal, professional, contractual, and regulatory requirements.

Patient dental and medical records may be subject to separate retention requirements and are not governed solely by this website Privacy Policy.

12. Security of Personal Information

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or misuse.

Access to personal information is limited where appropriate to personnel and service providers who require access for legitimate operational purposes.

However, no website, internet transmission, electronic storage system, or security measure can guarantee absolute security. You should use appropriate care when transmitting personal information electronically.

13. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our website may contain links to, integrations with, or embedded services provided by third parties. These third parties operate independently from the Practice and may have their own privacy policies and data-handling practices.

Once you leave DrYankie.com or interact with an independently operated third-party service, that third party’s privacy practices may apply. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of websites and services you use.

14. Children’s Privacy

Our website is intended for a general audience and is not directed toward children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through the general portions of this website without appropriate authorization.

Parents and guardians may contact us if they believe a child has provided personal information through the website inappropriately.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our website, technology, business practices, or applicable law.

When the policy is updated, the revised version will be posted on DrYankie.com and the “Last Updated” date above will be changed accordingly.

We encourage visitors to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

16. Contact Us About Privacy

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or would like to submit a privacy-related request, please contact:

Frances H. Yankie, DDS
239 Miller Ave., Suite 9
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Phone: (415) 383-0824

Please identify your correspondence as a “Privacy Request” so that it can be directed appropriately.