Website Terms of Use
Mercy Health Services is an independent health care organization based in Baltimore, Maryland and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. Mercy Health Services (“Mercy”) is committed to respecting your online privacy on our digital platforms and public websites: mdmercy.com, hoffmanobgyn.com and stellamaris.org.
Our digital properties are controlled from our offices in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. By accessing our digital properties, regardless of where you are located, you agree that the statutes and laws of the State of Maryland, as well as Federal laws, will apply to matters regarding usage and online privacy.
Mercy reserves the right to update and modify this policy as needed. By accessing our digital properties, you agree to the following terms of use:
I. Content
We strive to provide high-quality content and information on our websites. Mercy owns the information on its websites. The entire contents, including text, logos, graphics, photos, videos and design, are protected under U.S. and international copyright laws. We reserve all rights, which means you may not sell our information, rewrite or modify it, copy it, redistribute it, create derivative works from it, use it for any public display including on your website or any digital platform, or use it for any commercial purpose without prior written permission. You agree not to impersonate or misrepresent Mercy or its brand, employees or affiliates. Mercy uses original, stock and purchased photography and videography on our websites and digital platforms. The individuals portrayed in the patient images may be models and are not intended to imply endorsement or any association with any illness or condition.
Does Not Serve as a Substitute for Medical Advice
Mercy’s websites and digital platforms are intended to provide general patient education and information and do not serve as a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on our websites is designed to support, not replace, your relationship with your provider. The information should not be used to diagnose or treat a health condition. If you think you have a health problem you should contact your health care provider.
Mercy disclaims any liability for any documentation, information, programs, software or other material that is part of its websites. Mercy does not warrant or guarantee that the information will meet all of your needs or requirements.
Links to Third-Party Websites and Platforms
Mercy's websites may include third-party links to provide additional information on a particular topic. These links are provided solely as a convenience to you and are not an endorsement of the content on such sites. These third-party sites may also have their own separate and independent privacy policies that you should review. We have no control over or responsibility for the content on linked third-party sites.
Intended for Users 13 and Older
We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. Our websites and digital platforms are intended for users 13 years of age or older. We do not knowingly allow children to communicate with us or use our public websites, and we do not seek to attract online users under the age of 13. If you learn that your child has provided us with information, please contact us and we will work with you to address the issue.
II. Security
We believe protecting the security of online information is important. Mercy Health Services has implemented reasonable physical, technical and administrative procedures to safeguard and secure all information we collect online against loss, misuse or alteration of the information under our control. For example, Mercy uses SSL (secure socket layers) technology for its websites.
User Responsibilities
Please note that while we always attempt to protect the security of your information, no website or Internet transmission is ever completely secure or error-free. Mercy cannot completely guarantee the security of any information transmitted through our websites. We urge Internet users to take steps to safeguard their online information such as using strong passwords, keeping passwords private and immediately contacting appropriate parties if you suspect your information or accounts have been compromised.
III. Personal Information
Mercy recognizes the importance of protecting the privacy and security of personal information. "Personal Information" means information that identifies, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or device. Personal information does not include:
- Publicly available information from government records
- Information made available to the general public by an individual or through widely distributed media
- De-identified or aggregated consumer information
Mercy collects certain personal information through its business partners, including website and hosting managers, data storage and analytics processors, and business communication providers. As described below, Mercy collects personal information that you voluntarily provide to Mercy. Certain personal information is also automatically collected by Mercy's business partners and de-identified to maintain your privacy.
You can access and browse Mercy's public websites at any time without providing personal information to third parties beyond our business partners that have a contractual obligation to protect your personal information.
Personal Information You Submit
Mercy limits the collection of online personal information to what is reasonably necessary and proportionate to provide a service requested by a consumer. This information may be voluntarily provided by you. For example, you may complete a form to register for an event or request an appointment and we may collect personal identifiers such as your name, address and email, through these processes. The information you provide will be used to serve you, such as to fulfill your appointment request, respond to an inquiry, or for internal planning purposes.
Mercy does not sell the information you share with us. Mercy does not share your personal information with third parties beyond our business partners who are contractually committed to protect the data collected. Mercy will not use the information you provide us for any purpose other than limited first-party marketing activities, practices as described in these Website Terms of Use, or other purposes explained to you at the point at which the information is collected.
Information Automatically Collected
In addition to personal information you may voluntarily submit to us, Mercy websites use analytics tools to automatically collect certain information when you visit, including, but not limited to, referring websites, search queries and on-site behavior. Mercy may also maintain and aggregate non-identifiable data, such as online traffic patterns and usage statistics. This non-personally identifiable information is used to help us improve the content and navigation of our websites.
To ensure that all information automatically collected by our website analytics tools does not personally identify you, Mercy partners with a health care privacy-compliant partner to decouple your personal information from non-personally identifiable information. For example, personal information (such as IP address or device ID) is separated from website browsing information (pages viewed or duration of time on a Mercy website) before the data is processed by third-party analytics tools such as Google Analytics. As a result, such third-party analytics tools receive only de-identified data and do not have access to your personal information.
Mercy video content is hosted by third party providers. You can learn more about the data collection and privacy practices of these entities by visiting YouTube and Wistia online.
Electronic Health Record for Patients of Mercy Health Services
If you become a patient of Mercy Health Services, we take precautions as required by law to protect the information you provide so we can treat your condition. Our Notice of Privacy Practices describes in detail how we protect your personal health information as a patient utilizing our medical services. Your personal patient health information, is not disclosed via Mercy's public websites.
Mercy offers a patient portal to its patients called MyChart Mercy, a link to which is available on Mercy's website. MyChart Mercy is not a public website. MyChart Mercy is a secure, password-protected online service that allows patients access to portions of their electronic health record. The information you provide in MyChart Mercy is protected by federal and state privacy laws. For more information on MyChart Mercy, see the MyChart Terms and Conditions.
IV. Emergencies
Mercy's public websites are not designed to manage emergency situations. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or immediately go to the nearest emergency room.
If you are seeking a referral or consultation with a medical expert please call 1-800-MD-Mercy.
If you have any questions about these Terms of Use or Mercy Health Services public website privacy and security practices, please contact us.
V. Contact Information
General Contact Information
Mercy Health Services
345 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-332-9000
Mercy Health Services Privacy Officer
301 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-332-LAWS(5297)
compliance@mdmercy.com
Please see Mercy's Privacy Policy for information regarding patient rights to review, copy, amend and restrict disclosure of personal health information.