Last updated on June 30, 2021.
Our Views on Privacy at Health Advances
Health Advances LLC (“Health Advances”) values the privacy of your Personal Data (defined as any information that is capable of identifying you as an individual person). This Privacy Statement is meant to inform you of Health Advances’ data collection and disclosure policies and practices related to your Personal Data gathered by Health Advances, regardless of the medium through which we collect such information, including through our website. By using the website and/or participating in our research, you signify that you agree with this Privacy Statement. If you do not agree with this Privacy Statement, please do not provide us with any Personal Data and refrain from use of the website and/or participating in our research.
Storage of Personal Data in the US
All information gathered from you will be stored and processed in the United States. If you access our website from a location other than the United States, your use of the website constitutes consent to the transfer of your information to the United States.
Data Recipients and International Data Transfer
Health Advances is committed to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Personal Data we process and is putting in place heightened mechanisms to ensure a compliant transfer of such personal information from EEA member countries to the U.S. Health Advances is working to put in place Standard Contractual Clauses (“SCC”) as adopted by the European Commission (or by supervisory authority and approved by the European Commission) for the purpose of transferring Personal Data from the European Economic Area. We are also actively gathering explicit consent from data subjects and relying on other derogations under Article 49 of the GDPR where SCCs are currently unobtainable. Health Advances also has strict technical and organizational measures in place to adequately protect and secure all personal data processed by Health Advances.
Health Advances’ project team members, individuals performing administrative functions, and IT personnel within Health Advances may also have a limited access to your Personal Data in order to perform their jobs. Additionally, third parties and service providers may be provided access to limited Personal Data to perform services and functions on behalf of Health Advances.
Modifications and Updates to the Statement
Health Advances may periodically update this Privacy Statement. We reserve the right to change, modify, add, or remove portions of this Statement at any time. Changes to this Privacy Statement will be posted on our website. We will attempt to notify you about significant material changes in the way we treat Personal Data by sending a notice to the primary e-mail address we have on file or by placing a prominent notice on our website.
Nature of Information We Collect
Health Advances collects information that you provide directly. We may also collect information from third parties, vendors, publicly available sources such as websites, databases, and legal documents, referrals, our parent company, information subscription services such as online news services or databases, association memberships, conferences, conference platforms, attendee lists and program information, government-operated businesses, government affiliated websites and data sources, social media such as LinkedIn, purchased email and marketing lists, publication websites, directories, or from our clients.
The categories of information collected may include:
- Identifiers such as your name and contact information;
- Expert and client records such as your background, biography, education history, and banking and payment information;
- Characteristics of protected classifications under California or federal law, such as your gender, age, race, and sexual orientation;
- Health-related information when participating in patient interviews;
- Geolocation data;
- Audio, visual, and electronic information;
- Browser, device, internet or other electronic network activity such as session cookies;
- Behavioral tracking data, information regarding your interactions with our website and marketing and initial research emails; and
- Inferences drawn from any marketing subscription preferences and background information.
Your financial information, citizenship status, social security number, or other government issued identifier may be collected, but only with your express consent. Together this information is referred to as “Personal Data” within this Privacy Statement. Sensitive Personal Data and special categories of Personal Data under the EU and UK’s GDPR and all other applicable data protection laws will only be collected with your explicit, written consent.
Health Advances also collects non-personal Data and anonymous information from users to be used in an aggregate fashion. For example, Health Advances may collect system-related information, such as browser type and operating system type, to be used for system administration purposes, to help diagnose problems with our servers, to monitor traffic patterns, to determine which services are used most frequently, and to assess site usage.
How We Use This Information
Health Advances may collect and use your Personal Data for lawful purposes. This includes evaluating your Personal Data to determine which research opportunities are most relevant to your level of expertise and using it to contact you and invite you to participate in these opportunities. Participation in research opportunities means your Personal Data may also be used to schedule and record interviews, process honorarium for participating in research opportunities, verify your location and banking information, engage with and schedule vendors and interpreters for calls, and predict algorithms and strategies for our clients. Your Personal Data may also be used to confirm you are not on any sanctions, exclusion, or debarment lists, to report adverse events or product complaints to our research sponsors, and to maintain compliance with transparency laws and various global regulations. We may also use your Personal Data to promote marketing content in which you are knowingly involved, to provide you with the information you requested, invite you to events, or send you marketing materials about our services such as newsletters and blog posts. Additionally, Personal Data may be used for business development purposes including proposal writing and project work with clients, generating contracts, maintaining our CRM database, service provider evaluations, and other administrative business-to-business (B2B) communications. Health Advances’ third-party marketing automation platform, ClickDimensions, may gather statistics around email opening and clicks to help us monitor and improve our mailings. Your Data may also be used to help us evaluate and improve our website and analyze website traffic. We regard all Personal Data that we collect as confidential and use this information to fulfill our obligations to our research, clients, and to keep you informed of changes and progress at Health Advances.
Presently, Health Advances does not sell and has not sold any Personal Data for monetary value in the past 12 months, nor do we intend to sell, rent, or share your Personal Data with third parties that are not affiliated with or providing services to Health Advances. We may disclose or have disclosed in the last 12 months, the following categories of Personal Data with our third parties and service providers for a business or commercial purpose: identifiers, such as name and contact information, professional or background information, including your biography or prior work experience, and payment information or sensitive information in order to process honoraria and distribute 1099s or to verify sanctions with financial institutions. Where research opportunities or meetings are recorded, we may also share audio and visual information with our clients, but only with your express permission. Your Data may be shared with financial institutions, online payment systems and donation services, merchant websites, our technical and emergency support IT and CRM vendors, cloud storage and hosting providers, phone and conferencing providers and platforms, messaging software, our marketing automation platform and CRM system, market research vendors and their data sharing platforms, survey platform providers, file sharing and PDF platforms, outside legal counsel, and clients. Administrative service providers such as our electronic signature provider, mailing and shipping services, data destruction services, and our printing company may have limited access to Your Data. IT management and security vendors, building security and facilities management personnel may also have access to visitor Personal Data. Personal Data is shared with third parties and service providers for the sole purpose of providing Health Advances with the offered services.
Health Advances may also be required to disclose your Personal Data to professional licensing boards and agencies, government websites or the sponsor of our research in order to comply with global transparency regulations and reporting requirements. For example, this may include organizations such as the Conseil national de l‘Ordre des Médecins and Transparence Santé in France. Additionally, in instances where an adverse event or product complaint is disclosed, Health Advances may be required to provide that information to the sponsor of our research. These reports may include your name and contact information, but only with your explicit consent.
Health Advances may also disclose aggregate anonymous information to its clients, business partners, investors, potential buyers, and other third parties if Health Advances deems such disclosure, in its sole discretion, to have sound business reasons or justification.
If one of Health Advances’ business lines or the entire business, or a substantial portion thereof, is acquired or transferred, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase of a substantial portion of assets, or otherwise, Health Advances may disclose and transfer your Personal Data to such third party. In addition, if Health Advances becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, whether voluntary or involuntary, Health Advances or its trustee in bankruptcy may sell, assign, license, or otherwise transfer such information in a transaction approved by the appropriate court. Health Advances may also disclose your Personal Data to third parties when we believe, in good faith and in our sole discretion, that such disclosure is reasonably necessary to: enforce or apply the terms and conditions of this website; comply with legal or regulatory requirements; protect the rights, property, or safety of Health Advances, our users, or other third parties; or prevent a crime or protect national security.
Why We May Be Required to Disclose This Information
While we value the preservation of user privacy, Health Advances reserves the right to disclose all information collected to the extent required by law or to respond to judicial process. In circumstances for participant research, we may be required to comply with global transparency regulations and reporting requirements. In instances where an adverse event or product complaint is disclosed, Health Advances may be required to provide that information to the sponsor of our research. These reports may include your name and contact information, but only with your explicit consent.
Retention Policy
Health Advances may retain your Personal Data for as long as we deem reasonable and/or as long as the law requires. If you cease to participate in our research or no longer wish to receive information from Health Advances, we will continue to handle your Personal Data in accordance with this Privacy Statement.
Health Advances Referral Policy for Research Opportunities
Health Advances appreciates your referrals and may contact colleagues you recommend for research opportunities. Your name may be included in our initial contact with your colleague. The referral email offers your colleagues the same opt-out opportunity to which all research participants have a right, allowing them to decline receiving further invitations to participate in our research.
Links on Our Website
We may provide links to other resources that are not our website. We cannot be responsible for the privacy policies, practices, or content of these sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies and terms and conditions of such web sites so that you understand how those companies collect, use and share your information. Please be aware that this Privacy Statement does not apply to personal information collected on other websites that may be linked to or through our website.
Children
Our website is not intended for children. Health Advances does not knowingly or specifically collect or sell Personal Data from users under 18 years of age through our website, although we may collect such information through means other than the Internet. In the event that Health Advances becomes aware that it has collected Personal Data from a user under 18 years of age through its website, it will take steps to delete such information from its database. Health Advances does not authorize users under 18 years of age to use the website.
Security
Health Advances has implemented security measures intended to protect your Personal Data both online and offline, including measures intended to restrict unauthorized persons from accessing Personal Data. We also have security measures in place at our physical facilities to help protect against the loss, misuse or alteration of Personal Data that we have collected from you at our website. Although we have implemented various measures to help protect your information, Health Advances does not guarantee the security of any information.
Information sent over the Internet cannot be guaranteed to be secure. If you choose to disregard this Statement and send information via email, you do so at your own risk. For example, when providing us with a completed W-9 Form, we ask that you complete the form via DocuSign.
If you are seeking to facilitate a wire transfer or other sensitive information this information is only accepted when processed safely. Please do not send sensitive information, such as wire transfer banking instructions or government-issued personal identification numbers, to us via unencrypted e-mail. Personal banking information will only be accepted via this secure link and WITH PRIOR APPROVAL FROM HEALTHADVANCES.
Opt-Out, Unsubscribe and Access to Information
Participation in our research, receiving marketing materials or invitations to events is voluntary. If you should decide at any point that you no longer want to be contacted with opportunities to consult on research projects, you have the right to opt-out of participation and request to be removed from our email list by calling 888-308-8100 OR faxing us at +1-781-392-1484 OR sending an e-mail to dnc@healthadvances.com. Be sure to provide your name and organization name (if applicable) and email address so that we may expedite your request. We will take reasonable actions to ensure you are not re-contacted by our group.
For unsubscribing to marketing materials or events, or opting out of other types of communication, please visit our subscription preferences page.
If you do not want Health Advances to share your Personal Data with third parties, or if you do not want Health Advances to use your Personal Data in a manner inconsistent with the purposes disclosed above, you may “opt-out” of such uses by Health Advances by contacting us as provided below. Additionally, California residents may opt-out of the sharing or disclosure of their personal information to any third parties by visiting our Notice of Right to Opt Out of the Sale of Personal Information page. If you have previously opted-out of the sharing or disclosure of your personal information to any third parties and would like to opt-in again, please submit a request to our Privacy Officer. We will then follow up with you to confirm your choice.
You have the right to request access to your Personal Data. California residents also have the right to know about Personal Data that has been disclosed or “sold” in the preceding 12 months. At your verifiable request, we will provide you with access to your Personal Data held by Health Advances. You also may correct or delete such Personal Data where it is inaccurate, except where the burden or expense of providing access is disproportionate to your privacy concerns, or where the rights of persons other than you would be violated. For access to your Personal Data or to request the deletion or amending of your Personal Data, please contact Health Advances at 888-308-8100 or submit your request through the webform. You may also make data access or deletion requests by emailing our Privacy Officer.
Prior to disclosing or deleting any Personal Data, Health Advances reserves the right to verify your identity. We will do so by matching two or more pieces of identifying information provided by you with Personal Information already maintained by Health Advances, or such other verifiable method, as we deem appropriate under the circumstances. Where we cannot verify your identity, we may deny your request and provide you with notice describing the basis for denial.
Authorized Agent
California residents have the right to designate an authorized agent to make a request to know, delete, or opt-out on your behalf under the CCPA. You may do so by providing both Health Advances and the Authorized Agent with written and signed permission. Alternatively, you may provide the Authorized Agent with power of attorney. Your Authorized Agent may submit the request through our data request webform or by emailing our Privacy Officer. A Health Advances representative will follow up with your Authorized Agent to confirm receipt and signed permission. We may require verification of your identity and/or the Authorized Agent’s identity. Health Advances reserves the right to deny any requests from an Authorized Agent to opt out of a “sale” where we cannot verify the authorization.
Non-Discrimination
Health Advances will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights. Health Advances does not offer financial incentives for the retention or sale of your Personal Data. Any incentives offered by Health Advances are offered in exchange for a service, such as honoraria payments for research participation.
Questions and Comments
We welcome and thank you for your comments, questions, and suggestions. You are encouraged to direct any comments and questions relating to this Privacy Statement and our use of your Personal Data to:
Email: privacyofficer@healthadvances.com
Mail: Privacy Officer, Health Advances LLC, 275 Grove Street, Suite 1-300, Newton, MA 02466
Phone: +1 (781) 647-3435
Fax: +1 (781) 392-1484
Dispute Resolution
Any questions or concerns regarding the use or disclosure of Personal Data should be directed to Health Advances at the address given above. Health Advances will investigate and attempt to resolve complaints and disputes regarding use and disclosure of Personal Data in accordance with the principles contained in this Policy. For complaints that cannot be resolved between Health Advances and the complainant, Health Advances has chosen to cooperate with EU, UK and Swiss member state Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) and comply with the information and advice provided to it. Please contact us to be directed to the relevant DPA contacts.
Enforcement
Health Advances will conduct an annual self-assessment related to its compliance with applicable laws and the guiding principles outlined in this Statement.
Applicable Law
This Statement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to conflicts of law principles, and exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any dispute arising out of this Policy shall be the state courts or district federal courts of Massachusetts.
Cookies
When you use our site, Health Advances will assign cookie files (“cookies”) to you, which are a small amount of information we send to your web browser. Cookies enable the computers operating our websites to differentiate between visitors and to track the patterns of activities engaged in by different visitors. By tracking such activities, the computers operating our websites can recognize a visitor and customize certain features for that visitor. We may also use aggregated, non-identifiable information regarding persons who visit our site in order to learn more about the use of the site and how we can improve it.
This website uses the Google AdWords remarketing service to advertise on third party websites (including Google) to previous visitors to our site. This could be in the form of an advertisement on the Google search results page, or a site in the Google Display Network. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on someone’s past visits to the Health Advances website. Any data collected will be collected only with your consent and used in accordance with our own privacy policy and Google’s privacy policy.
You may be able to modify your browser preferences to accept all cookies, to be notified when a cookie is set, or to reject all cookies. If you choose not to accept cookies, you may not be able to use those functions of the websites that require registration. You may also accept or refuse the use of cookies by updating your preferences in our cookies management center, however, again please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website.
We may also receive IP addresses in the normal course of the operation of our website. An IP address is a number assigned to you by your Internet service provider so you can access the Internet. Although we do receive IP addresses, we do not use them to identify you personally or disclose them to others.
This website uses the web analytic tools listed below. The tools use cookies to help the web team analyze how users use the site and to allow users to access certain features of the site. The information generated by the cookies about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by the following companies under their privacy policies:
ESSENTIAL COOKIES
Perch CMS (PHPSESSID): This cookie is used to maintain a functional browsing session. It is used to facilitate communication between the browser and our server.
Tarteaucitron (tarteaucitron): This cookie is used to manage user interactions with the cookie banner and preferences on our website.
NON-ESSENTIAL COOKIES
Google Analytics (__utma, __utmb, __utmc, __utmz, __utmv, __utmt): These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our site. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the site. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited. Click or tap here for an overview of privacy at Google.
Google AdWords (ga, _gat, _gid, AMP_TOKEN, and _gac) – These cookies are used to advertise on third party websites (including Google) to previous visitors to our site. Click or tap here for an overview of privacy at Google.
ClickDimensions (cusid, cuvid, cuvon): These cookies allow us to gather form submissions and help us analyze usage of our website, by tracking unique visits and the pages that are visited. Click or tap here and here for an overview of privacy at ClickDimensions.
ClearCompany (UserMatchHistory, bcookie, bscookie, lang, li_sugr, lidc, lissc): These cookies are used to manage job browsing sessions (note: cookies are set on the clearcompany.com and linkedin.com domains). Click or tap here for an overview of privacy at ClearCompany.
Formstack (AWSALB, PHPSESSID): Form submission management (note: cookies are set on the formstack.com domain). Click or tap here for an overview of privacy at Formstack.