Privacy Information

This page explains how California Ear, Nose & Throat Institute handles information about you. It covers health information (PHI) under HIPAA/CMIA and non‑medical website data under California privacy law (CPRA). If you have questions, contact our Privacy Office at privacy@calentinstitute.com or 650-880-1088

1) HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP)

Effective Date: October 9, 2025

This Notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

Uses & Disclosures of PHI

We may use and share your protected health information ("PHI"):

Treatment – to provide and coordinate your care.
Payment – to bill and obtain payment.
Health Care Operations – to run our practice (quality improvement, training, compliance, audits).

We may also use/share PHI as permitted or required by law, including: public health and safety reporting; health oversight; research with safeguards; organ/tissue donation; workers’ compensation; response to court orders/subpoenas; law enforcement/specialized government functions; to avert a serious threat to health or safety; coroners/medical examiners; and as otherwise required by law. We will disclose the minimum necessary information when required.

Uses/Disclosures requiring your written authorization: most uses of psychotherapy notes, marketing, and sale of PHI. You may revoke an authorization at any time, except where we have already relied on it.

Your Rights

Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record. We will provide a copy or summary within 30 days, subject to reasonable, cost‑based fees.
Request a correction of your records if you think they are incorrect/incomplete.
Request restrictions on use/disclosure for treatment, payment, or operations. We are not required to agree, except we must agree not to disclose information to a health plan about an item/service you paid for in full.
Request confidential communications (e.g., contact you at a different address/phone).
Get a list of disclosures (accounting) for the prior six years, excluding certain routine disclosures.
Get a paper copy of this Notice at any time.
Choose someone to act for you (e.g., medical power of attorney/guardian).
File a complaint without retaliation if you feel your privacy rights are violated (see Contact).

Our Responsibilities

Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.
Notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI.
Follow the duties and privacy practices in this Notice.
Not use/share your PHI other than as described here unless you give written permission.
Changes to this Notice: We may change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice; the revised Notice will apply to all PHI we maintain and will be posted here with a new effective date.

Contact & Complaints (HIPAA)

Privacy Office: privacy@calentinstitute.com | Phone: 650-880-1088 | Mail: 2490 Hospital Dr. STE 205, Mountain View, CA 94040

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate for filing a complaint.

2) California Consumer Privacy (Non‑PHI)

This section applies to non‑medical personal information collected on our website or during non‑clinical interactions. It does not apply to PHI governed by HIPAA/CMIA (see the NPP above).

What we collect (examples): identifiers (name, email, phone) you submit via forms; internet activity (IP address, pages viewed) via cookies/analytics; job‑applicant data; and inferences from the above.

Sources & purposes: directly from you; automatically from your device/browser; and from service providers (hosting/analytics). Used to operate and secure the site, respond to inquiries, improve services, recruit, and comply with law.

Disclosures: we disclose personal information to service providers under contracts limiting their use to our purposes. We do not permit them to use your information for their own marketing.

Selling or Sharing:

We do not sell or share personal information as defined by California law.

Your rights (California): to know/access, delete, correct, opt‑out of sale/sharing, and limit use of sensitive personal information (if applicable). We will not discriminate for exercising these rights.

How to exercise rights:
Email: privacy@calentinstitute.com

Phone: 650-880-1088

Mail: 2490 Hospital Dr. STE 205, Mountain View, CA 94040

We will verify requests to a reasonable degree of certainty. Authorized agents may submit requests with proof of authorization.

Sensitive Personal Information: we do not use/disclose sensitive personal information for purposes that require a “limit” right under California law.

Minors: we do not knowingly sell/share personal information of consumers under 16.
Retention: we retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes above or as required by law.
Changes: we may update this section; see “Last Updated” below.

3) SMS Text Messaging

Data We Collect. Name, mobile number, message content, and opt-in/opt-out records.

How We Use It. To send reminders/updates and support two-way communication.

Sharing. We do not sell or share personal information. SMS are only used by our clinic staff.

SMS consent is not shared with third parties.

By opting into SMS, you are agreeing to receive SMS messages from California Ear Nose & Throat Institute. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to any message to opt out.

For SMS privacy questions: privacy@calentinstitute.com.

4) Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve our site and for security. We avoid collecting PHI through website forms unless appropriately secured. If we deploy analytics/advertising tools, we evaluate whether they constitute “sale”/“sharing” under California law and provide required opt‑out controls. You can manage cookies in your browser settings.

5) Telehealth Privacy (Summary)

For telehealth visits, we use reasonable safeguards and secure platforms. We obtain and document your consent before your first telehealth encounter. You may withdraw consent at any time and request in‑person care when clinically appropriate.

6) Contact (All Privacy Requests)

Privacy Office: privacy@calentinstitute.com
Phone: 650-880-1088