Last updated on February 20, 2007.
Tracking Activity on Our Web Site
When you view The CHEST Foundation (“Foundation”) Web site, we may store some information on your computer in the form of a "cookie." A cookie is a small amount of data that is sent to your browser from a Web server and stored on your computer's hard drive, not on this Web site. Cookies do not spy on you, and they cannot invade your hard drive and steal information. Rather, they help you navigate a Web site as easily as possible. We use cookies to remember user names, identify user preferences, track click streams, and for load balancing. Because we use cookies, we can deliver faster service, updated results, and a more personalized site experience. You have the option of setting your browser to reject cookies. However, doing this likely will hinder performance and negatively impact your experience on this Web site.
Collecting Personal Information
From General Users. When you browse this Web site and do not interact with the site for any service or product, you browse anonymously. Personally identifiable information--such as your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address--is not collected as you browse. We collect only aggregate data, such as the number of hits per page, and use this aggregate data only for internal and marketing purposes.
From Foundation Donors, Customers, Etc. When you become a registered user on this site, or choose to interact with this site in other ways, such as making a donation, participating in online surveys, submitting questions or comments, or requesting information or materials, we collect certain personal information from you. Depending on the product or service you request, we collect different types of personal information through online forms. Such information may include name, address, phone number, birth date, billing and delivery information, e-mail address, credit card information, and other demographic information. We never collect social security numbers, DEA numbers, or AMA numbers via our Web site. In addition, for some e-mails sent in html to Foundation donors or members of the American College of Chest Physicians (“ACCP”) through our database mailings and electronic newsletters, we monitor whether a recipient subsequently clicks through to links provided in the message. We use this information only internally to enhance our products and services and the notification and distribution of those products and services to ACCP members and Foundation donors.
Using Personal Information
Using Your e-Mail Address. We use e-mail to send materials advising of the availability and quality of publications, programs, and other services of the Foundation and the ACCP. Such mailings might include, for example, Foundation newsletters and e-mails from program partners.
ACCP member e-mail addresses are included in the online membership directory, which is accessible to every ACCP member. If you are an ACCP member, please review the ACCP Privacy Policy, located on the ACCP’s Web site (www.chestnet.org), for more information regarding use of member e-mail addresses.
We do not share, sell, trade, exchange, or rent your e-mail address to vendors or any other organization for them to market their products or services to you. When we hire vendors to deliver e-mails to you on our behalf, they are prohibited from using your e-mail address for any other purpose.
Using Other Personal Information. We may use personal information (other than e-mail addresses) that we collect about you for the following internal purposes:
Register you for programs and services you have requested
Process, fulfill, and follow-up on your orders
Answer your e-mails or online requests
Send information you request
Send and process surveys
Help ensure that our Web site is relevant to your needs
Deliver newsletters and notices of meetings or event
Notify you about new products/services, special offers, upgrades, and other related information from the Foundation and the ACCP
We also occasionally hire other companies to provide limited services on our behalf, including, but not limited to, packaging, mailing and delivering purchases, consulting services, data modeling, printing, and sending postal mail. We will only provide those companies the information they need to deliver the service. They are prohibited from using that information for any other purpose.
In addition, we may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to legal requirements or comply with legal process served on the Foundation or the ACCP; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of the Foundation or the ACCP; or (c) protect the personal safety of Foundation or ACCP personnel, ACCP members, or members of the public in urgent circumstances.
Opting Out
Opting Out of e-Mails To opt out of a Foundation or ACCP e-mail list, click the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the particular e-mail. You can also send an e-mail to “chestfoundation@chestnet.org” to opt out of all lists. Keep in mind, however, that any opt out request will only be effective after a reasonable period of time for processing.
Opting Out of Postal Mailings To opt out of postal mailings, send a written request to The CHEST Foundation, 3300 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062.
Links to Third Party Web Sites
This Web site contains links to Web sites operated and maintained by third parties, and third party Web sites might link to our Web site. We have no control over third party sites or their content, and privacy policies on such linked sites may be different from our privacy policy. You access such linked sites at your own risk. You should always read the privacy policy of a linked site before disclosing any personal information on such site.
Surveys
From time to time, we request information from users by way of surveys. Participation in these surveys is completely voluntary, and the user has a choice whether or not to disclose contact information and other demographic information.
Security
We take precautions, including use of sophisticated encryption and authentication tools, to protect the security of personal information that you share with us. In addition, many areas of this Web site require the use of a user ID (or e-mail address) and password as an additional security measure that helps protect your information. Unfortunately, however, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, and your browser software might “cache” a page as you look at it, meaning that some pages are saved on your computer’s temporary memory even after you “log out” to end a secure session. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any information you transmit to or from this Web site, and you do so at your own risk.
Retaining Personal Information
We retain personal information regarding Foundation donors indefinitely, and personal customer data for at least 7 years, as dictated by business and legal requirements.
Credit Card Account Information
We use credit card information provided to us, such as credit card numbers, only for billing purposes, to fill orders, to provide services, and for meeting(s) registration(s). For publication orders, this may involve providing your credit card number to our designated business partners, who also agree to only use your credit card number to process requested transactions.
Children Under 13
We do not knowingly solicit data online from, or market online to, children under the age of 13.
THIS PRIVACY POLICY MAY BE CHANGED AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.