Website Terms of Use

Website Terms of Use
E-Mail Terms of Use

Website Terms of Use

Disclaimer
Welcome to the The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh website. By using our site, you agree to the following terms of use, which constitute an agreement between the The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh and you.

This website is designed for general patient education and information purposes only and does not render medical advice or professional services. The information provided through this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional health care, and is designed to support -- not replace -- the relationship you have with your health care provider. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider. The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh disclaims any liability whatsoever for any documentation, information, programs, software, or other material that is or may become a part of the website. The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh does not warrant or guarantee that the information will not be offensive to any user and/or may not meet your needs and requirements.

Our website may include links to third party web service providers. These links are provided solely as a convenience to you and not as an endorsement of the content on such sites. We are not responsible for the content of linked third-party sites.

The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh adheres to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation and we aim to follow these principles in the preparation of material we have placed on our site.

Website Privacy Statement

Modern information and communication technologies play a fundamental role in the activities of an organization like the The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh. We are based in the United States of America. Our principal activity is the delivery of health care services.

Our Privacy Statement covers the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), its subsidiaries, and any of its websites accessible via the primary websites listed below:

Organization name: UPMC
Address: 200 Lothrop St.
City, Zip: Pittsburgh, 15213
State: PA
Country: USA
Primary websites: www.aging.upmc.com; www.aging.pitt.edu; www.upmc.com

You can access our website home page and browse our site without disclosing your personal data.
Our website does not enable our visitors to communicate with other visitors or to post information to be accessed by others.
We do not automatically log personal data nor do we link information automatically logged by other means with personal data about specific individuals.

We do not use cookies to store personal data nor do we link non-personal information stored in cookies with personal data about specific individuals.

We collect the personal information that you may volunteer while using our services.

We do not collect information about our visitors from other sources, such as medical records, public records or bodies, or private organizations.

We do not collect or use personal data for any purpose other than that indicated on the web pages where the information is requested or collected.

If we wish to use your personal information for a new purpose, we offer you the means to consent to this new purpose by indicating in a box at the point on the site where personal data is collected.

Except as requested by you or indicated on the web page where your information is requested, we do not disclose your personal information to other organizations.

Children’s Privacy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. You should be aware that the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh website is not intended or designed to attract children under the age of 13. We do not collect personally identifiable information from any person we actually know is a child under the age of 13.

Security Policy

The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh is committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws, as well as applicable regulations, standards, and guidelines established by government agencies and accepted accrediting organizations. We give you the option of using a secure transmission method to send us the following types of personal data:

• Primary personal information (such as name and contact details)
• Identifiers (such as Social Security numbers, credit card details, website password)
• Specific personal information (such as survey information, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, medical information)

While such secure transmission methods provide reasonable protections against unauthorized access, if you have concerns regarding the transmission of sensitive information (such as medical information), you should consider using non-electronic communication methods. We have implemented security policies, rules, and technical measures to protect the personal data that we have under our control from:

• Unauthorized access
• Improper use or disclosure
• Unauthorized modification
• Unlawful destruction or accidental loss

All our employees and data processors who have access to, and are associated with, the processing of personal information are obliged to respect the confidentiality of our visitors’ personal information.

Content Review

The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh's goal is to provide high quality health information through the content on its websites. Every effort has been made to provide accurate, timely, and comprehensive information that will be useful to its readers.

We followed design guidelines established by the National Institute on Aging to make the site more accessible for older adults.

We define content as all material (text, graphics, tables, audio, and visual) and menu icons, bars, listings, indices, as well as functions that support content such as links, navigation, searches, and calculations. The information provided on this Website was authored by, or has been reviewed and approved by, health care professionals at The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh. Some of the consumer education information on the Website is provided through a contract with HealthGate Data Corp.

We follow a standard set of editorial procedures for information that we post on our websites. However, we don’t offer you any warranty or guarantee related to our sites; we specifically disclaim any warranties, expressed or implied. It is the responsibility of visitors to our site to evaluate the information we provide and determine its relevancy and usefulness to them.

We welcome your feedback about the content provided on the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging website. However, we must make the final decisions about the information that is posted on our site to ensure that it meets the needs of all of our users.

Please contact us with any comments or concerns regarding the content on our website.

Not a Substitute for Medical Advice

The contents of the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh website, such as text, graphics, images, information obtained from the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh's licensors, and other material contained on http://www.aging.com site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only and do not render medical advice or professional services. The information provided through this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging’s website.

The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh disclaims any liability whatsoever for any documentation, information, programs, software, or other material that is or may become a part of the website. The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh does not warrant or guarantee that the information will not be offensive to any user. User is hereby put on notice that by accessing and using the website, user assumes the risk that the information and documentation contained in the website may be offensive and/or may not meet the needs and requirements of the user. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you are seeking a referral or consultation with a medical expert, please contact the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging Referral Service toll-free at 866-430-8742.

Restrictions on Use

By using our website, you agree to the following terms of use, which constitute an agreement between the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging and you. We may change these terms from time to time. You may view the most current version through the link that appears on the bottom of all pages on our website.

The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh owns the information on this website. The entire contents and design of this site are protected under U.S. and international copyright laws. You may look at our website online, download information to your computer to read later, or print copies of pages for yourself, your family, or your friends. However, you must not remove any copyright notices from our materials. We reserve all other rights, which means that you must not sell our information, rewrite or modify it, redistribute it, use it on your own website, or use it for any other commercial purpose without our prior written permission.

We usually permit other organizations to provide a simple link from their site to ours. However, you must first ask our permission if you intend to frame our site or incorporate pieces of it into a different site or product in a way that could confuse our users. To request permission, please e-mail the webmaster (webmaster@upmc.edu).

The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh controls our websites from our offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. By accessing our websites, regardless of where you are located, you agree that the statutes and laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will apply to all matters regarding the use of our websites. By accessing our website, you agree with these terms and conditions. We reserve the right to change the terms and conditions when necessary, and your continuing use of our website constitutes your acceptance of and agreement to any changes.

E-Mail Terms of Use

E-Mail Disclaimer

The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh will use reasonable means to protect the privacy of your health information sent by e-mail. However, because of the risks outlined below, the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh cannot guarantee that e-mail communications will be confidential. Additionally, the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh will not be liable in the event that you or anyone else inappropriately uses your e-mail. The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh will not be liable for improper disclosure of your health information that is not caused by the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh intentional misconduct.

E-Mail Risks and Your Responsibility

At the discretion of the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh, its staff, physicians, and agents (UPMC) and, upon your agreement to the terms outlined within this consent form, you may use e-mail to communicate with the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging. These e-mails may contain your personal health information. If you decide to use e-mail to communicate with the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging, you should be aware of the following risks and/or your responsibilities:

1. As the Internet is not secure or private, unauthorized people may be able to intercept, read, and possibly modify e-mail you send or are sent by the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging.
2. You must protect your e-mail account, password, and computer against access by unauthorized people.
3. Since e-mail can be used to spread viruses, some which cause e-mail messages to be sent to people who you do not intend to send e-mail messages to, you should install and maintain virus protection software on your PC.
4. Since e-mails can be copied, printed, and forwarded by people to whom you send e-mails, you should be careful regarding whom you send e-mails.
5. As your employer may claim ownership of, or the right to access, the e-mail account issued to you by your e-mail, you should avoid using an employer issued e-mail account to communicate with the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh.

Conditions for the Use of E-Mail

By consenting to the use of e-mail with the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh, you agree that:

1. The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh may forward e-mails as appropriate for diagnosis, treatment, reimbursement, and other related reasons. As such, the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh staff members, other than the recipient, may have access to e-mails that you send. Such assess will only be to such persons who have a right to access your e-mail to provide services to you. Otherwise, the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh will not, otherwise, forward e-mails to independent third parties without your prior written consent, except as authorized or required by law.
2. Although the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging will try to read and respond promptly to your e-mails, the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh staff may not read your e-mail immediately. Therefore, you should not use e-mail to communicate with the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh if there is an emergency or where you require an answer in a short period of time.
3. If your e-mail requires or asks for a response, and you have not received a response within a reasonable time period, it is your responsibility to follow up directly with the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh.
4. You should carefully consider the use of e-mail for the communication of sensitive medical information, such as, but not limited to, information regarding sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS/HIV, mental health, developmental disability, or substance abuse.
5. You should carefully word your e-mail messages so the information provided clearly, yet briefly, describes the information you intend to convey. You should avoid writing long “chatty” e-mails.
6. You are responsible for correcting any unclear or incorrect information.
7. The Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh reserves the right to save your e-mail and include your e-mail or information contained within your e-mail in your medical record.
8. It is the patient’s responsibility to follow up and/or schedule an appointment if warranted or recommended by the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh.
9. E-mails may not be the only form of communication that the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging will use to communicate with you. Additionally, the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh may decide that it is not in your best interest to continue to communicate with you by e-mail. In such case, the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh will notify that it no longer intends to communicate with you by e-mail.

E-Mail Instructions

• You shall immediately inform those individuals with whom you communicate with at the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh of changes in your e-mail address.
• You shall send e-mails only to such Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh e-mail addresses as instructed.
• You shall put your name in the body of the e-mail.
• You shall include the category of the communications in the e-mail’s subject line, for handling purposes (e.g. prescription, appointment, medical advice, billing question, etc.)
• Prior to sending the e-mail, you shall review the e-mail to make sure it is clear and that all relevant or requested information is provided.
• Your consent to communicate by e-mail by sending e-mail to all of the e-mail addresses (mailboxes) that you had previously communicated to.

Contacting Us

Should you have any questions regarding these Terms of Use, the Privacy Statement, or the collection, retention, or management of any information on this website, please send an e-mail to:

webmaster@upmc.edu

Overview, Mission, and Goals | Website Terms of Use