FLORIDA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION WEBSITE PRIVACY STATEMENT AND SECURITY POLICY

Welcome to the Florida Medical Association (“FMA”) Website. The FMA takes our member’s privacy and security seriously, and realizes that keeping one’s personal information private is of utmost importance.  This Privacy Statement and Security Policy are presented here so that you know how we will handle any information you may submit on this website (https://www.flmedical.org/) .   Please note that this policy also applies to any entity affiliated with the FMA (i.e. the FMA PAC, FMA Foundation, and Florida Medical Association Alliance) that maintains a page on the FMA Website.  Please note, however, that this policy applies only to the FMA Website, and not to the Websites of other unrelated companies or organizations to which we provide links or to any software that may be downloaded from this Website. 

The FMA may make modifications to this Policy without notice.  Such modifications are effective immediately upon being published on https://www.flmedical.org/.  Your continued use of the Website following the posting of any changes shall constitute your acceptance of the revised Privacy Statement and Security Policy.  This Policy will be governed by the laws of the State of Florida.

What Information Does FMA Collect?

Most of the data that the FMA collects is used only to help the FMA better serve its members.  It is our general policy to collect and store only personal information that our members and visitors knowingly provide.

From General Users.  FMA does not collect any personal information from users browsing its Web site.  Users to the public areas of FMA’s Web site browse anonymously.  Only aggregate data – such as the number of hits per page – are collected.  Aggregate data are only used for internal and marketing purposes and do not provide any personally identifying information.

From FMA Members, and Others Granted Access to the Restricted Areas of the Website.  FMA collects member information that allows them to gain access to members-only resources and personalization features on the FMA Website.  Additionally, FMA requests it members to voluntarily update their contact information in the FMA online member database.

Purchases Made on FLMEDICAL.ORG

FMA Members.  When you pay your dues or purchase one of our products or services online, the information entered to make the purchase is directed to a secure database where our staff retrieves and processes your request.  Data provided during submission of your order is recorded as a record in our membership database.  That information is used to not only provide you with the product or service you have purchased, but enables us to streamline future communications and marketing with you, which ensures you are made aware of resources relevant to your interests.  Payment for your purchase is not made on a real-time basis.

Nonmembers.  Nonmembers have access to purchase many products and services on flmedical.org not designated as Members Only.  Upon making a purchase online, nonmembers may be asked to provide their name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, which are used to establish a contact record.  Your contact information, along with details regarding your purchase, is used to fulfill your order as well as streamline future communications and marketing with you, which ensures you are made aware of resources relevant to your interests.  Payment for you purchase is not made on a real-time basis.

Credit Card Account Information

FMA does not disclose credit card account information provided by its members and customers.  When members and customers choose to pay using their credit cards, FMA submits the information needed to obtain payment to the appropriate clearinghouse.  FMA will not release your credit card account information to any person or entity.

How Does FMA Use Cookies?

Cookies are files that contain information created by a web server that can be stored on a User’s hard disk for use either during a particular session (“per-session” cookie) or for future use (“persistent” cookie).  FMA uses cookies only to facilitate automated activity, store and track passwords, and review navigation patterns.  Cookies are not used to disseminate significant information about Users over the Internet or to analyze any information that Users have knowingly or unknowingly provided.  Users who do not desire the functionality created by the cookie have the option of disabling the cookie function on their browser.

What Privacy Issues Arise With Links to Other Sites?

The FMA Website contains links to other websites.  FMA has no control over and is not responsible for the privacy policies or content of such sites.

Security

All of the personal information you provide during your visit to flmedical.org is directed to a staff member, agent or department applicable to the operation executed.  Procedural and technical safeguards have been put into place to ensure that a restricted number of authorized staff or agents of the FMA have access to the personal information provided by our members and visitors.  These safeguards apply to both internal and external accessibility.  Financial information (credit card numbers, expiration dates, and verification numbers) is not transmitted through email.

Financial information may be given to those employees who need the information to perform a certain job such as, but not limited to, processing dues payments or registration for a seminar. That financial information is then recorded in our membership database where again only certain staff, agents or departments have access to such information. The server which houses the FMA membership database is not connected to the World Wide Web and therefore safe from outside attacks; the database server is closely monitored by technology professionals in a secure environment.  Although we take every precaution when it comes to protecting the information our visitors provide, FMA recognizes that "true" security doesn't exist on the World Wide Web; even the most well thought out security policies can be fallible. If you believe that your financial information has been compromised, know your rights by contacting your credit card provider or visiting the Federal Trade Commission website. Under The Fair Credit Billing Act, should your credit card information be exploited without your consent, you may have no liability for unauthorized use.  

Email Addresses

It is the FMA’s experience that email is now perhaps the best way to communicate with members.  Because of this fact we encourage all FMA members to provide their email address for timely communication of important information about our CME offerings, products, services, legislative issues.  Another reason for providing an up-to-date email address is that it allows members an easy way to request retrieval of the Website username and password; the email must match the address in our database.

Email addresses of site visitors are not provided or released to any third party.  Email information, personal information about specific visitor’s access and navigation, and information volunteered by site visitors, such as survey information and site registration information, may be used by FMA to improve the site but are not shared with or sold to other organizations for commercial purposes.  Such information may, however, be released to local, state, or federal law enforcement officials when requested under the appropriate law or laws.

Information Collected on FLMEDICAL.ORG

The FMA master file includes information obtained from physicians, the AMA, county medical societies, the Department of Health, and other medical organizations/institutions.  The FMA also collects information from registration for CME seminars, membership applications, pledge forms, online dues payment, etc.  The information collected may include:

  • Physician name (first, middle, last)
  • FL State medical license number
  • License date
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Membership status
  • Home and business address
  • Phone
  • Fax
  • Email address
  • County Medical Society membership
  • FMA committees
  • CME data
  • Medical school
  • Year of medical school graduation
  • Resident year & place of residency
  • Specialty
  • Board certifications
  • Other state or national medical society membership
  • Preferred mailing address, phone, fax, email
  • Office address
  • Languages spoken
  • Hospital affiliation, title, department
  • Practice website

Along with the above we will also collect any information you provide as it pertains to the product or service you are attempting to purchase or signup for.

The FMA may also supply your information to companies that provide support services to us, such as, but not limited to, broadcast services, printing or mailing facilities, web designer or host, or those that assist in marketing our products or services.  These companies may need your information in order to execute their functions.  Any such companies ARE NOT authorized to utilize the information we provide to them for any other purpose.

What Means of Redress Are Available?

If any member or website user suspects that the FMA has handled its personal information in a manner that does not comply with this privacy statement and security policy, please contact us by emailing legal@flmedical.org or by calling (850) 224-6496.