DPH Privacy Policy Notice & Disclaimers

Download this pdf file. Aviso de política de privacidad y descargo de responsabilidad del DPH

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Privacy Policy Notice & Disclaimers

Thank you for visiting the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) website and for reviewing DPH’s Privacy Policy Notice & Disclaimers. DPH is committed to maintaining the privacy of your personal information. With respect to the collection, use, and disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII), DPH complies with applicable state and/or federal laws.

  • DPH does not collect any personally identifiable information (PII) when you visit our website unless you choose to provide that personal information to us through Contact Us, e-subscriptions, and/or e-newsletters for public health education and awareness.
  • Any PII that you choose to provide is fully protected.
  • Non-PII information related to your visit to our website may be automatically collected and temporarily stored.

Our websites are designed to make it easier and more efficient for Georgia citizens and businesses to interact with their State Government, learn more about public health, access services, and/or become familiar with DPH. But as with all online resources, we appreciate that many visitors to our website will be concerned about their privacy. DPH is committed to preserving your privacy when you visit our sites.

This privacy statement addresses the collection, security, and disclosure of information that may be obtained through the use of websites maintained by DPH. This statement covers the following topics:

  • Accessibility Statement
  • HIPAA Privacy Rule and Public Health
  • Plain Writing
  • Information Collected
  • Public Disclosure
  • Cookies
  • Security
  • Link Disclaimer
  • Information Disclaimer
  • Health Information Disclaimer
  • Information Quality Guidelines
  • Trademarks, Service Marks and Copyrights
  • Image Reuse Terms and Conditions
  • Web Measurement
  • Report Abuse

Accessibility Statement

DPH is committed to making its electronic and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended in 1998. Although Section 508 refers to federal agencies, DPH uses the same guidelines to make electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, open new opportunities for people with disabilities, and encourage the development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. Section 508 and the technical standards can be found at www.section508.gov.

HIPAA Privacy Rule and Public Health

DPH complies with the law governing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) to protect health information (PHI) whether electronic, written or oral.

Plain Writing at DPH

DPH is committed to using plain writing in information for the public. Our information is relevant to many groups, and plain writing makes the information even more useful. DPH is taking many steps to use plain writing. You may provide feedback on our documents and materials and let us know what you think. Please use the feature Contact Us to send your comments, suggestions and/or questions. You may also call us at (404) 657-2700.

Information Collected

If you visit a website maintained by DPH to read or download information, we may collect some or all of the following information:

  • The name of your domain; for example, "xyzcompany.com" if you use a private Internet access account;
  • An IP address; a number automatically assigned to your computer when you are using the Internet;
  • The type of browser and operating system used to access our site;
  • The Internet address of the website from which you linked directly to our site;
  • The pages you visit within DPH's website(s); and
  • The links made to other websites through this site.

This information is collected for statistical analysis using third-party or proprietary software programs to create summary statistics. The statistics are used for the purpose of determining what information is of most and least interest to all visitors and identifying system performance or problem areas. This information is not collected for commercial marketing purposes.

If during your visit to a website maintained by DPH, you voluntarily provide personally identifiable information, we will collect such information. Examples of personally identifiable information may include:

  • An e-mail address if you are communicating to us through e-mail;
  • Information you voluntarily submit for the purposes of completing or submitting an application or form online; and
  • Other information volunteered, such as vendor profile/contact information, survey information, or content of the e-mail.

In general, please note the information collected, whether or not personally identifiable, is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and other graphic formats you send us. Information is retained in accordance with existing laws, rules, regulations, and other policies.

Public Disclosure

As a general rule, DPH does not disclose any personally identifiable information collected online except where you have given us permission, or where the information is public information under the Georgia Open Records Act O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq., or other applicable laws. Visitors should be aware that information collected by DPH on its websites may be subject to examination and inspection if such information is a public record or not otherwise protected from disclosure. Additional information regarding personally identifiable data can be found in the Policy for the Release of Protected Health Information.

Cookies

DPH may occasionally use "cookies" to customize your browsing experience. Cookies are simple text files stored by your web browser and they provide a method of distinguishing among visitors to the websites and allowing customized features such as a “shopping cart” feature for online purchasing. Cookies created on your computer by using our websites do not contain personally identifiable information and do not compromise your privacy or security. You can refuse the cookie or delete the cookie file from your computer at any time by using any one of a number of widely available methods.

Security

Several tools, policies, and protocols are used to safeguard the submission of information through websites maintained by DPH. Security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day operations of the entire operating environment as part of our continuing commitment to the security of electronic content as well as the electronic transmission of information.

In certain instances, you will have the opportunity to receive or create a password to access or submit certain information. You should not divulge your password to anyone in an unsolicited phone call or e-mail. When you are finished with those applications that are password protected, it is always recommended that you close or otherwise exit the browser page.

Link Disclaimer

Websites maintained by DPH may contain links to other websites, including those owned or maintained by other government, private, or not-for-profit entities. Such links are provided for convenience and/or information purposes only. A link does not constitute an endorsement of content, viewpoint, policies, products, or services of that website. Once you link to a website not maintained by DPH, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that website, including but not limited to its privacy policy.

Information Disclaimer

Information provided on websites maintained by DPH is intended to allow the public convenient access to public information. While all attempts are made to provide accurate, current and reliable information, we cannot guarantee that the information will be error-free. Therefore, DPH and their respective employees, officers, and agencies expressly deny any warranty of the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published through their websites and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Any person, who relies upon such information obtained from these websites, does so at his or her own risk.

The documents on this site contain hypertext pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. Please be aware that we do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of pointers to particular items in hypertext is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed or products or services offered by the author of the reference or the organization operating the site on which the reference is maintained.

Translations of any materials into a language other than English are intended solely as a convenience to the non-English-reading public. We have attempted to provide an accurate translation of the original material in English, but due to the difficulties of translation slight differences may exist. References identifying the original document in English are available in most non-English documents.

Health Information Disclaimer

This website provides health information for your general knowledge. Concerns about a medical condition -- either your own or that of a family member, should always be addressed to your primary care physician for advice and care appropriate to your specific medical needs. DPH does not recommend self-diagnosis or self-management of health problems that should be attended to by health care professionals.

Information Quality Guidelines

DPH has developed information quality guidelines in order to maintain the high quality of the information provided to the public. These guidelines include administrative mechanisms for affected parties to seek corrections to non-compliant information provided by DPH. Since the influence and implications of disseminated information cannot always be fully anticipated, all DPH scientific reports are expected to state clearly and specifically how the results are generated-data-used, various assumptions, analytic methods, statistical procedures, sources of error-so that the original analysis is sufficiently transparent.

Trademarks, Service Marks, and Copyrights

All trademarks, service marks, or copyrights appearing on this website and other linked websites are trademarks, service marks, or copyrights of their respective owners. Notice of claims of copyright infringement should be directed to [email protected].

Image Reuse Terms and Conditions

Images may have been licensed for use by DPH from a stock photography service or other copyright holder and the license holder may prohibit republication, retransmission, reproduction or other use of the images. Questions about reuse of specific images may be submitted to DPH at Contact Us.

Web Measurement

DPH may use electronic tools to improve our customer services and products for visitors to our website. DPH will comply with existing policies with respect to privacy data safeguarding standards.

Report Abuse

If you read or see anything on DPH’s website that you have concerns about the content, please let us know by selecting Contact Us or send an email to [email protected].