Privacy Policy

Effective date: August 3, 2026

Introduction This Privacy Policy explains how [Lactation Consultant Name] (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects personal information when you access our services, visit our website, book consultations, sign up for programs, or otherwise interact with us. We respect your privacy and are committed to handling your information with care and in compliance with applicable laws.

Scope This policy applies to personal information collected online (including via websites, email, and online forms) and offline (including telephone, in-person consultations, intake forms, and mailed documents) in connection with lactation consulting services, breastfeeding education, support groups, telehealth, and related activities.

Information We Collect We collect information necessary to provide lactation care and related services. Types of information may include:

• Contact information: name, mailing address, email address, phone number.

• Demographic information: age, date of birth, gender identity, preferred name, language preferences.

• Health and medical information: pregnancy and birth history, breastfeeding history, lactation concerns, medical conditions, allergies, medications, infant health information, feeding schedules, growth and weight records, hospital records, and other clinical notes needed for care.

• Insurance and billing information: insurance provider, policy numbers, billing address, payment card information (if you pay by card), invoices.

• Appointment and scheduling information: appointment dates and times, service notes, session summaries.

• Communication and consent records: intake forms, consent forms, correspondence (email, text, voicemail), client feedback, and satisfaction surveys.

• Telehealth data: video/audio recordings or transcripts only if recorded with your explicit consent.

• Technical and usage information: IP address, device type, browser, operating system, pages visited on our website, cookies and similar technologies (see Cookies section).

• Marketing preferences: whether you consent to receive newsletters, promotions, or educational materials.

How We Use Your Information We use personal information to:

• Provide and coordinate lactation consulting services and clinical care.

• Maintain medical records and comply with healthcare documentation requirements.

• Schedule, confirm, and manage appointments.

• Process payments and insurance claims and send invoices.

• Communicate with you about care, follow-ups, reminders, and test results.

• Improve our services, training, and quality assurance.

• Comply with legal, regulatory, and public health obligations.

• Respond to your inquiries, complaints, and requests.

• Send marketing or educational materials if you have opted in; you may opt out at any time.

Legal Bases for Processing (where applicable) If applicable under local privacy laws (for example, GDPR), we rely on the following legal bases to process personal information:

• Performance of a contract: to provide agreed services.

• Consent: where you have given explicit consent (for example, for marketing or telehealth recording).

• Legal obligation: to comply with laws or regulations.

• Vital interests and public health: where necessary for health and safety.

• Legitimate interests: for administrative operations, quality improvement, and fraud prevention, provided this does not override your rights.

Disclosure of Information We may share personal information in the following circumstances:

• With healthcare providers and specialists involved in your care (with your consent where required).

• With third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as billing, appointment scheduling platforms, telehealth platforms, electronic health record (EHR) vendors, secure messaging providers, and IT support. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information.

• With insurance companies to process claims and payment.

• To comply with legal obligations, court orders, subpoenas, or other lawful requests.

• To protect the safety, rights, property, or security of our clients, staff, or the public.

• In the event of a sale, merger, reorganization, or acquisition of all or part of our practice, where information may be transferred as a business asset. We will require the acquiring entity to use information in a manner consistent with this policy.

• With your explicit consent for other disclosures.

Your Choices and Rights You have choices about how we use and disclose your information:

• Access and correction: You may request access to your personal and health information and ask us to correct inaccuracies.

• Restriction: You may request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your health information, though we may decline if it would affect your care.

• Opt-out: You can opt out of receiving marketing or promotional communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in communications or contacting us.

• Withdrawal of consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw consent at any time, without affecting processing done prior to withdrawal.

• Data portability: Where applicable, you may request a copy of your information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.