Tarpon Spine Center — Website Privacy Policy
Effective date: 06/24/2026
Who we are
Tarpon Spine Center (“we,” “our,” “us”) operates this website to provide information about our services and allow patients and visitors to contact us or request appointments.
Scope
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard personal information obtained online through:
Our website pages and patient forms
Appointment request and contact forms
Email and text/SMS communications related to the website This Policy does not replace our Notice of Privacy Practices for protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA provided in-clinic or through our patient intake process.
Information we collect
Information you provide: name, contact details (email, phone), appointment preferences, messages, insurance details you submit, and any other information you choose to share.
Patient portal/intake forms: if you use links to secure portals or forms, we collect the information you submit there for scheduling or care coordination.
Communications data: email or SMS content you send to us; opt-in/opt-out status and delivery/engagement metadata.
Comments
When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.
An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.
Media
If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.
Cookies
If you leave a comment on our site you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.
If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select "Remember Me", your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.
If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.
Embedded content from other websites
Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.
These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
How we use your information
We use personal information to:
Respond to inquiries and schedule appointments
Provide service and patient support
Send care-related messages (e.g., confirmations, reminders, instructions)
Improve our website, services, and user experience
Perform security monitoring, debugging, and fraud prevention
Comply with legal and regulatory requirementsMarketing: We may send practice updates or educational content if permitted by law and your preferences. You can opt out of non-essential marketing at any time.
SMS/text messaging
Messages may include confirmations, reminders, rescheduling, check-ins, and practice updates (if permitted).
Frequency: as needed to support care and limited updates.
Opt-out: reply STOP to any message to end texts; reply HELP for help or contact us at 727-937-2086 or care@tarponspine.com
Message and data rates may apply.
Who we share your data with
If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email.
We do not sell personal information. We may share information:
With service providers (e.g., hosting, forms, scheduling, messaging, analytics, security, payment) bound to use it only as instructed
For treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, where applicable
To comply with law, regulation, court order, or to protect rights, safety, and security
In connection with a business transfer (e.g., merger or acquisition), subject to confidentiality
Data security
We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure; please use caution when sharing information online.
How long we retain your data
If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.
For users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.
We retain personal information as needed to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. PHI may be retained consistent with medical-record retention requirements.
What rights you have over your data
If you have an account on this site, or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
Your choices and rights
Emails: use the unsubscribe link or contact us to opt out of non-essential emails.
SMS: reply STOP to opt out at any time.
Access/Correction: contact us to request access to or correction of your information, subject to verification and legal limits.
HIPAA rights: For PHI collected and maintained as part of your medical record, please refer to our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices and contact our office for requests.Children’s privacy
Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them online. If you believe a child has provided information, contact us to request deletion.
Where we send your data
Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.
Updates to this Policy
We may update this Policy periodically. Changes take effect when posted with the updated effective date.
Contact us
Tarpon Spine Center
Address: 1244 S. Pinellas Ave. Tarpon Springs, Fl 34689
Phone: 727-937-2086
Email: care@tarponspine.com
For HIPAA/medical record requests, please contact: 727-937-2086 or care @tarponspine.com
