Notice of Online Privacy Policy for MedStar Health
Effective Date: June 2, 2025
This Online Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) describes how we may collect, use, and share information about you when you access or interact with our website, medstarhealth.org (the “Site”) operated by MedStar Health Inc. (“MedStar Health”, “we”, “us”, “our”).
This Privacy Policy does not apply to Protected Health Information. MedStar Health maintains a separate Notice of Privacy Practices, pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), that applies to Protected Health Information that we collect from individuals. Click here to view our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
Please note that this Privacy Policy does not cover online or other services that are offered under a different privacy policy, such as the Patient Portal, which is operated by Cerner Health.
Information MedStar Health may collect
Information you provide to us
When you interact with the Site, you may submit or otherwise provide certain information that may identify you as an individual. For example, when you complete a contact form or register for an event we (or our vendors on our behalf) may collect contact information such as, name, telephone number, and email address; or if you make a donation or sign up for a class, you may be asked to submit your billing information to our payment processing vendor.
If you apply for a position through our Careers Page, we may collect employment-related information such as your educational background, work experience, and information about certifications and licensure. You may voluntarily choose to provide us with your racial or ethnic identity, gender identity, and veteran status when you apply for a position with us.
Online tracking technologies
In addition to information you voluntarily choose to submit through the Site, we and our vendors (including content and analytics providers and advertising companies) may use a variety of tracking technologies (such as cookies and web beacons) that automatically or passively collect information when you visit certain pages on our Site or if you interact with one of our advertisements or other content elsewhere online. This type of usage information may include the browser you are using, your IP address or other unique identifier, search terms, the URL that referred you to our Site, pages that you visit, and the time of the visit.
Cookies are small data files stored by your web browser on your computer. Cookies may allow a website to, for example, recognize a user’s device, record user preferences, track the pages a user clicks on while visiting the website, and identify the website visited immediately beforehand. We or third parties may use cookies to collect data about your activities over time and across different devices and online properties when you use the Site. Most web browsers accept cookies by default, but you may be able to adjust your browser settings to remove or reject cookies. Please note that disabling cookies may invalidate opt outs that use cookies to recognize devices that have opted out.
Web beacons are another type of electronic file (also referred to as a clear gif or pixel tag) that permit us, for example, to count visitors who have viewed certain pages or opened a marketing email from us, and for other related statistics (such as recording the popularity of certain content and verifying system and server integrity).
Data analytics and advertising
We may use third-party web analytics services to understand how visitors use certain pages on the Site, and we review website engagement analytics to improve the Site and optimize the visitor experience. For example, if you visit certain pages on our Site, we may use Crazy Egg to understand how users interact with such pages for analytical purposes. To learn more about Crazy Egg’s data collection practices, you can click here to view Crazy Egg’s privacy policy and click here to access their opt-out page.
In addition, third-party ad technology companies and advertisers may use, store, or access cookies, web beacons, and other online technologies to provide advertising services to us, including advertisements targeted to your interests. To find out more about digital advertising companies’ privacy practices and how you may opt out of information collection, please visit: youradchoices.com or networkadvertising.org. Please note that we do not control how other parties manage their opt-out processes.
Your web browser may have settings that allow you to transmit a “Do Not Track” signal when you visit various websites or use online services. Like many websites, this Site is not designed to respond to “Do Not Track” signals received from browsers.
Information about you collected by other parties
We may engage vendors to provide certain interactive features on the Site. Your use of those interactive features is voluntary. Please note we may use artificial intelligence tools to operate interactive features, and we may retain the information that you submit through those features. For example, we offer an interactive chat feature on our Careers Page to assist you with applying for a position. When you participate in the interactive chat, the contents of the chat may be captured and kept as a transcript. By using these features, you understand that our vendors may process the information obtained through the feature to provide the service on our behalf.
How we may use the personal information we collect
We, and our vendors, may use your information in ways that are compatible with the purposes for which it was collected or authorized by you, including for the following purposes:
- To provide products and services you request (such as when you subscribe to our MedStar Health Blog);
- To respond to requests, questions, and comments, and provide other types of user support;
- To send marketing communications, or direct you to content that we believe may interest you;
- To communicate about, and administer your participation in, classes, programs, and other events;
- To carry out, evaluate, and improve our business (which may include developing new features for the Site, analyzing and enhancing the user experience, and managing our communications);
- To perform data analytics regarding usage of certain pages on the Site;
- To guard against, identify, and prevent fraud and other criminal activity;
- To comply with applicable legal requirements, law enforcement requests, and our company policies; and
- For any other purpose, with your consent.
How we may share your information
Our agents, vendors, consultants, and other service providers may have access to information we collect through the Site to carry out work on our behalf. For example, we may use service providers to help us operationally or to administer activities on our behalf, such as sending emails. Those parties are subject to confidentiality obligations and are restricted from using your information collected through the Site for purposes other than to provide the requested assistance. In addition, we may share information:
- If we are required to do so by law, regulation, or legal process (such as a court order or subpoena);
- In response to requests from government agencies, such as law enforcement authorities;
- If we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss, or in connection with an investigation of suspected or actual illegal activity;
- In the event we sell or transfer all or a portion of our business or assets (including a reorganization, dissolution, or liquidation) and negotiations of such transactions; and
- With your consent or at your discretion.
Social features
The Site may permit you to interact with social media platforms operated by unaffiliated parties, for example, to “like” MedStar Health or to share certain content from the Site on those platforms (“Social Features”). If you choose to “like” or share content or post information using Social Features, that information may be publicly displayed, and the party operating the other platform may receive certain information about you and your use of certain pages on the Site. Similarly, if you interact with us through Social Features (e.g., if you “like” or “follow” our page on another platform), we may have access to information about you from that platform. Please note that if you mention or comment about MedStar Health or our Site in your post on another platform, that platform may allow us to publish your post on our Site. In addition, we may receive information about you if a user on a social media platform gives us access to their profile and you are one of their connections, or information about you is otherwise accessible through that other user. You should review the terms, policies, and settings of these other platforms to learn more about their data practices and/or adjust your settings.
Your choices
Links from MedStar Health to other sites
The Site may contain links to other websites for your convenience and information. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those websites, which may have their own privacy policies or notices. You should review those privacy policies to understand how they may use or disclose your information. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of linked websites that we do not control.
Children's privacy
The Site is not intended for children under the age of 13 and we do not knowingly collect information online from individuals under the age of 13. If we become aware that we have obtained information from an individual under the age of 13, we will delete such information in accordance with applicable law.
How we protect personal information
Information for users outside the United States
If you are visiting the Site from outside the United States, please be aware that information we obtain about you will be processed in the United States or in other jurisdictions. By using the Site, you acknowledge your information may be transferred to, and processed in, jurisdictions outside your own. Please be aware that the data protection laws and regulations that apply to your information transferred to the United States or other countries may be different from the laws in your country of residence.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy is subject to change at our discretion. We will indicate changes to the Privacy Policy by updating the “Effective Date” at the beginning of the Privacy Policy. Your continued use of the Site after any update to this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of the changes.