Introduction
Thank you for visiting the Helen Hayes Hospital
website. This website is designed to make it easier and
more efficient for individuals and businesses to interact
with the Helen Hayes Hospital, which is administered by
the New York State Department of Health. The New York State
Department of Health recognizes that it is critical for
individuals and businesses to be confident that their privacy
is protected when they visit a New York State Department
of Health website.
Consistent with the provisions of the Internet
Security and Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Law,
and the Personal Privacy Protection Law, this policy describes
the New York State Department of Health's privacy practices
regarding information collected from users of this
website. This policy describes what information is collected
and how that information is used. Because this privacy policy
only applies to this website, you should examine the privacy
policy of any website, including other state agency websites,
that you access using this website.
For purposes of this policy, "personal
information " means any information concerning a natural
person which, because of name, number, symbol, mark, or
other identifier, can be used to identify that natural person.
The New York State Department of Health does not collect
any personal information about you through this website
unless you provide that information voluntarily by sending
an email, responding to a survey, or completing an online
transaction.
Information Collected Automatically When
You Visit this Website
When visiting this website Helen Hayes Hospital
may automatically collect and store the following information
about your visit:
(i) User client hostname. The hostname
or Internet Protocol address of the user requesting
access to a state agency website.
(ii) HTTP header, "user agent."
The user agent information includes the type of
browser, its version, and the operating system on which
that the browser is running.
(iii) HTTP header, "referrer." The referrer
specifies the web page from which the user accessed
the current web page.
(iv) System date. The date and time of
the userís request.
(v) Full request. The exact request the
user made.
(vi) Status. The status code the server
returned to the user.
(vii) Content length. The content length,
in bytes, of any document sent to the user.
(viii) Method. The request method used.
(ix) Universal Resource Identifier (URI).
The location of a resource on the server.
(x) Query string of the URI. Anything after
the question mark in a URI.
(xi) Protocol. The transport protocol and
the version used.
None of the foregoing information is deemed
to constitute personal information.
The information that is collected automatically
is used to improve this website's content and to help the
New York State Department of Health understand how users
are interacting with the website. This information is collected
for statistical analysis, to determine what information
is of most and least interest to our users, and to
improve the utility of the material available on the website.
The information is not collected for commercial marketing
purposes and the New York State Department of Health is
not authorized to sell or otherwise disclose the information
collected from the website for commercial marketing purposes.
Cookies
Cookies are simple text files stored on your
web browser to provide a means of distinguishing among users
of this website. The use of cookies is a standard practice
among Internet websites. To better serve you, we occasionally
use "session cookies" to enhance or customize your visit
to this website. Session cookies can be created automatically
on the device you use to access this state agency website.
They do not contain personal information and do not
compromise your privacy or security. We may use the cookie
feature to store a randomly generated identifying tag on
the device you use to access this website. A session cookie
is erased during operation of your browser or when your
browser is closed.
If you wish, you may complete a registration
to personalize this website and permit a "persistent cookie"
to be stored on your computerís hard drive. This persistent
cookie will allow the website to recognize you when you
visit again and tailor the information presented to you
based on your needs and interests. The New York State Department
of Health uses persistent cookies only with your permission.
The software and hardware you use to access
the website allows you to refuse new cookies or delete existing
cookies. Refusing or deleting these cookies may limit your
ability to take advantage of some features of this website.
Information Collected When You E-mail this
Website or Complete a Transaction
During your visit to this website you may
send an e-mail to the New York State Department of Health.
Your e-mail address and the contents of your message will
be collected. The information collected is not limited to
text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic
information formats included in the message. Your e-mail
address and the information included in your message will
be used to respond to you, to address issues you identify,
to improve this website, or to forward your message to another
State agency for appropriate action. Your e-mail address
is not collected for commercial purposes and the New York
State Department of Health is not authorized to sell or
otherwise disclose your e-mail address for commercial purposes.
During your visit to this website you may
complete a transaction such as a survey, registration, or
order form. The information, including personal information,
volunteered by you in completing the transaction is used
by the New York State Department of Health to operate New
York State Department of Health programs, which include
the provision of goods, services, and information. The information
collected by the New York State Department of Health may
also be disclosed by the New York State Department of Health
for those purposes that may be reasonably ascertained from
the nature and terms of the transaction in which the information
was submitted.
The New York State Department of Health does
not knowingly collect personal information from children
or create profiles of children through this website. Users
are cautioned, however, that the collection of personal
information submitted in an e-mail will be treated as
though it was submitted by an adult, and may, unless exempted
from access by federal or State law, be subject to public
access. The Agency strongly encourages parents and teachers
to be involved in childrenís Internet activities and to
provide guidance whenever children are asked to provide
personal information on-line.
Information and Choice
As noted above, the New York State Department
of Health does not collect any personal information
about you unless you provide that information voluntarily
by sending an e-mail, responding to a survey, or completing
an on-line form. You may choose not to send us an e-mail,
respond to a survey, or complete an on-line form. While
your choice not to participate in these activities may limit
your ability to receive specific services or products through
this website, it will not normally have an impact on your
ability to take advantage of other features of the website,
including browsing or downloading information.
Disclosure of Information Collected
Through This Website
The collection of information through this
website and the disclosure of that information are subject
to the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act.
Except as provided below or as otherwise authorized by law,
the New York State Department of Health will only collect
personal information through this website or disclose
personal information collected through this website
if the user has consented to the collection or disclosure
of such personal information. The voluntary disclosure
of personal information to the New York State Department
of Health by the user, whether solicited or unsolicited,
constitutes consent to the collection and disclosure of
the information by the New York State Department of Health
for the purposes for which the user disclosed the
information to the New York State Department of Health,
as was reasonably ascertainable from the nature and terms
of the disclosure.
However, the New York State Department of
Health may collect or disclose personal information
without consent if the collection or disclosure is: (1)
necessary to perform the statutory duties of the New York
State Department of Health, or necessary for the New York
State Department of Health to operate a program authorized
by law, or authorized by state or federal statute or regulation;
(2) made pursuant to a court order or by law; (3) for the
purpose of validating the identity of the user; or
(4) of information to be used solely for statistical purposes
that is in a form that cannot be used to identify any particular
person.
Further, the disclosure of information, including
personal information, collected through this website
is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information
Law and the Personal Privacy Protection Law.
The New York State Department of Health may
also disclose personal information to federal or
state law enforcement authorities to enforce its rights
against unauthorized access or attempted unauthorized access
to the New York State Department of Healthís information
technology assets.
Retention of Information Collected
Through this Website
The information collected through this website
is retained by the New York State Department of Health in
accordance with the records retention and disposition requirements
of the New York State Arts & Cultural Affairs Law. Information
on the requirements of the Arts & Cultural Affairs Law
may be found at http://www.archives.nysed.gov/services/recmgmt.htm.
In general, the Internet services logs of the New York State
Department of Health, comprising electronic files or automated
logs created to monitor access and use of Agency services
provided through this website, are retained for one (1)
year and then destroyed, absent a specific need or obligation
to retain it for a longer period. Information, including
personal information, that you submit in an e-mail
or when you complete a survey, registration form, or order
form is retained in accordance with the records retention
and disposition schedule established for the records of
the program unit to which you submitted the information.
Information concerning these records retention and disposition
schedules may be obtained through the Internet privacy policy
contact listed in this policy.
Access to and Correction of Personal
Information Collected Through this Website
Except as otherwise provided by law, any
user may submit a request to the New York State Department
of Health privacy compliance officer to determine whether
personal information pertaining to that user
has been collected through this website. Any such request
shall be made in writing and must be accompanied by reasonable
proof of identity of the user. Reasonable proof of
identity may include verification of a signature, inclusion
of an identifier generally known only to the user,
or similar appropriate identification. The address of the
privacy compliance officer is:
New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower, Room 2348
Albany, New York 12237-0044
Except as otherwise provided by law, the
privacy compliance officer shall, within five (5) business
days of the receipt of a proper request, provide access
to the personal information; deny access in writing,
explaining the reasons therefore; or acknowledge the receipt
of the request in writing, stating the approximate date
when the request will be granted or denied, which date shall
not be more than thirty (30) days from the date of the acknowledgment.
In the event that the New York State Department
of Health has collected personal information pertaining
to a user through the state agency website and that
information is to be provided to the user pursuant
to the userís request, the privacy compliance officer
shall inform the user of his or her right to request
that the personal information be amended or corrected
under the procedures set forth in section 95 of the Public
Officers Law, except as otherwise provided by law.
Confidentiality and Integrity of
Personal Information Collected Through this Website
The New York State Department of Health is
strongly committed to protecting personal information
collected through this website against unauthorized access,
use or disclosure. Consequently the New York State Department
of Health limits employee access to personal information
collected through this website to only those employees who
need access to the information in the performance of their
official duties. Employees who have access to this information
follow appropriate procedures in connection with any disclosures
of personal information.
In addition, the New York State Department
of Health has implemented procedures to safeguard the integrity
of its information technology assets, including, but not
limited to, authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption.
These security procedures have been integrated into the
design, implementation, and day-to-day operations of this
website as part of our continuing commitment to the security
of electronic content as well as the electronic transmission
of information.
For website security purposes and to maintain
the availability of the website for all users, the
Agency employs software to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized
attempts to upload or change information or otherwise damage
this website.
General Disclaimer
The information provided in this privacy
policy should not be construed as giving business, legal,
or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security
of information provided through this website.
Links Disclaimer
In order to provide users with certain information,
this website may provide links to local, State and federal
government agencies, and websites of other organizations.
A link does not constitute an endorsement of the content,
viewpoint, accuracy, opinions, policies, products, services,
or accessibility of that website. Once you link to another
website from this website, including one maintained by the
State, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that
website, including but not limited to its privacy policy.
Information Disclaimer
Information provided on this website is intended
to allow the public immediate access to public information.
While all attempts are made to provide accurate, current,
and reliable information, the Department of Health recognizes
the possibility of human and/or mechanical error. Therefore,
the Department of Health, its employees, officers and agents
make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness,
currency, or suitability of the information provided by
this website, and deny any expressed or implied warranty
as to the same.
Contact Information
For questions regarding this Internet privacy
policy, please contact:
(via e-mail)
privacy@health.state.ny.us
(via regular mail)
New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower, Room 2348
Albany, New York 12237-0044
Send questions or comments to: privacy@health.state.ny.us
Revised: June 2002
