Privacy Policy & HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
1. Who We Are
Harry's Pharmacy and Surgical ("Harry's Pharmacy and Surgical," "we," "us," or "our") operates a licensed community pharmacy and a durable medical equipment and surgical supply business located at 333 S Broadway Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801, and this website. We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information and your protected health information ("PHI"). This notice applies to information collected through this website and in connection with the pharmacy and medical-equipment services we provide.
2. Information We Collect
We collect information you choose to provide, and a limited amount of technical information, including:
- Information you submit through our forms — such as your name, date of birth, phone number, email address, prescription (Rx) numbers, the name of your current or previous pharmacy, and any health-related details or messages you include when you request a refill, a prescription transfer, ask about equipment, or contact us.
- Communications — records of your requests, questions, and our correspondence with you.
- Limited technical information — standard server logs (such as IP address and browser type) used to operate and secure the website, and a language preference stored locally in your browser.
We do not use our website to sell your information or to serve third-party advertising, and we do not knowingly use third-party advertising trackers.
3. Protected Health Information and HIPAA
As a pharmacy and medical-equipment provider, much of the information you share with us is protected health information governed by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") and applicable New York State law. We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI, to provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and to notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI. We must follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.
4. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to serve you and operate our business, including to:
- Treatment — fill, refill, and transfer prescriptions, provide medication counseling, fit and supply durable medical equipment, and coordinate with your prescribers and other providers.
- Payment — process and obtain payment for the products and services we provide, including billing your insurer for prescriptions where applicable.
- Health care operations — run and improve our pharmacy and equipment services, contact you about your prescriptions, orders, or requests, and maintain the quality and safety of our services.
- Legal and safety purposes — comply with law, respond to lawful requests, and protect the rights, safety, and property of our patients, staff, and the public.
5. How and When We May Share Information
We share your information only as permitted or required by law, including:
- With you and, where authorized, your caregivers or personal representatives.
- With your prescribers, other pharmacies, and health care providers for treatment.
- With insurers and payers for payment of your prescriptions.
- With trusted service providers who help us operate (for example, our secure website hosting provider). Where such a provider handles PHI on our behalf, it acts as our "business associate" and is bound by a written Business Associate Agreement (BAA) that requires it to safeguard your PHI.
- When required by law, public health authorities, or valid legal process.
We will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for any purpose not described in this notice, and you may revoke that authorization at any time in writing. We do not sell your personal information or PHI.
6. How We Safeguard Your Information
We use administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect your information, including:
- Encryption of information in transit (via HTTPS/TLS) and encryption of stored data at rest.
- Access limited to authorized staff on a need-to-know basis, protected by authentication.
- Logging and auditing of access to request and account information.
- Business Associate Agreements with technology vendors that handle PHI on our behalf.
No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect your information using reasonable and appropriate measures.
7. Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
Under HIPAA and applicable law, you have the right to:
- Access and copies — inspect and receive a copy of your health information, in a paper or electronic form.
- Amendment — request that we correct information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
- An accounting of disclosures — request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI.
- Request restrictions — ask us to limit how we use or share your information for treatment, payment, or operations.
- Confidential communications — ask us to contact you in a specific way or at a specific location.
- A paper copy of this notice — at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information below.
8. Cookies, Analytics, and Third-Party Content
Our website uses a small amount of local browser storage to remember your language preference. Certain pages embed a Google Map so you can find and get directions to our store; your use of that map is subject to Google's terms and privacy policy. Our forms are transmitted over encrypted connections. We do not use our website to build advertising profiles about you.
9. Data Retention
We retain prescription and pharmacy records for the periods required by federal and New York State law and our professional obligations. Website request records are kept only as long as needed to serve you and meet our legal and operational requirements, after which they are deleted or de-identified.
10. Children's Privacy
Our website is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. A parent or legal guardian may submit information on behalf of a minor for legitimate pharmacy or equipment purposes.
11. Changes to This Notice
We may update this notice to reflect changes in our practices or the law. The updated version will be posted on this page with a new effective date and will apply to all information we maintain.
12. How to Contact Us
If you have questions about this notice or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us:
- Harry's Pharmacy and Surgical
- 333 S Broadway Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801
- Phone: 516-933-3322 · Fax: 516-933-3325
- Email: harryspharmacy99@gmail.com