Empathy MindCare (“Empathy MindCare,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) refers to the mental health practice operated by Richard A. Bermudes, M.D., providing services in California and Nevada. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you provide to us.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you visit our website, communicate with us, request information about our services, or otherwise interact with us online.

By accessing or using our website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

1. WHO WE ARE

Empathy MindCare is an integrated psychiatry and mental health practice providing psychiatric evaluations, medication management, psychotherapy, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) services to adolescents and adults. We operate locations in Walnut Creek, California and Zephyr Cove, Nevada.

For full contact information, please see Section 18.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT
Information You Voluntarily Provide

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide through our website, contact forms, emails, telephone calls, career inquiries, or other communications, including:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Preferred method of contact
  • Insurance information, if voluntarily provided
  • Employment-related information submitted through career inquiries
  • Information regarding your interest in our services, including information you voluntarily provide concerning symptoms or reasons for seeking treatment
  • Any other information you choose to provide
Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information, including:

  • Internet Protocol (IP) address
  • Browser type and version
  • Device information
  • Operating system
  • Pages visited
  • Date and time of visits
  • Referring websites
  • Website usage information
  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies
3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We may use the information we collect to:

  • Respond to inquiries and consultation requests
  • Communicate with you regarding our services
  • Schedule appointments and consultations
  • Provide patient support and administrative services
  • Send newsletters, educational materials, practice updates, and other communications
  • Improve our website, services, and user experience
  • Monitor website performance and usage trends
  • Maintain website security
  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
  • Protect our rights and prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized activity
4. MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

We may use your contact information to send newsletters, educational materials, practice updates, information about our services, events, and other communications that may be of interest to you.

You may opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our emails or by contacting us directly. Opting out of marketing communications does not prevent us from sending administrative or service-related communications when necessary.

5. WEBSITE FORMS AND HEALTH INFORMATION

Certain website forms may allow you to voluntarily provide insurance information, information regarding symptoms, reasons for seeking treatment, or other health-related information.

Please provide only the information reasonably necessary for your inquiry. Information submitted through website forms and general email communications should not include emergency or time-sensitive information.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. 
If you are experiencing a psychiatric crisis or thoughts of self-harm, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline immediately.
6. NO PROVIDER-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP

Visiting our website, submitting a contact form, requesting a consultation, sending an email, or communicating through general website channels does not establish a provider-patient relationship.

A provider-patient relationship is established only after appropriate intake procedures have been completed and both you and Empathy MindCare have agreed to begin treatment services.

7. PRIVACY OF HEALTH INFORMATION

Empathy MindCare is a healthcare provider subject to applicable federal and state privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Our separately maintained Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we handle protected health information in connection with clinical care.

This Privacy Policy governs information collected through our website and general communications channels. Information submitted through website forms and general email communications should be limited to information reasonably necessary for your inquiry.

8. COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enable website functionality, analyze traffic and usage patterns, remember user preferences, and improve the overall user experience. These technologies are provided in part by HubSpot, which hosts our website and supports our business operations, and Google Tag Manager, which we use to manage website tracking scripts.

When you visit our website, these technologies may set cookies on your browser that collect information about your visit, including pages viewed, time spent on the site, and general browsing behavior. This information is used to maintain and improve our website and, where applicable, to associate inquiry or form submission activity with contact records in our customer relationship management system.

We do not use cookies for advertising or to track your activity across unaffiliated third-party websites.

You may manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies; however, doing so may affect the functionality of our website. Instructions for managing cookies are typically available in your browser’s help or settings menu.

9. TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS AND THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

We use third-party service providers to operate our website and support our business operations. These providers may process information on our behalf and are expected to protect information consistent with applicable laws and their contractual obligations.

Examples of service providers we may use include:

  • HubSpot for website hosting, contact forms, customer relationship management (CRM), marketing communications, and website analytics
  • Google Tag Manager for managing website tracking scripts and analytics
  • AdvancedMD for electronic health records, scheduling, billing, and patient portal services
  • Spruce Health for secure patient communications and messaging
  • Website hosting, security, email, analytics, and technology service providers that assist us in maintaining and improving our website and services

These service providers may collect, store, process, or transmit information only as reasonably necessary to provide services on our behalf.

10. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

We may disclose information:

  • To service providers acting on our behalf
  • To comply with legal obligations
  • To respond to lawful requests from government authorities
  • To protect the rights, safety, and security of our patients, staff, and business
  • In connection with a merger, acquisition, sale, or restructuring of our business
  • With your authorization or consent

We do not sell your personal information.

11. DATA RETENTION

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and maintain appropriate business records.

12. DATA SECURITY

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

13. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without appropriate authorization.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 in a manner inconsistent with applicable law, we will take reasonable steps to delete such information.

14. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, social media platforms, or services that are not operated by Empathy MindCare. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

15. CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS

California residents may have certain rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including the right to:

We do not sell personal information. To submit a privacy request or inquiry, California residents may contact us using the information provided in Section 18.

We will respond to verifiable requests within the timeframes required by applicable law.

16. NEVADA PRIVACY RIGHTS

Nevada residents may have certain rights under Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 603A concerning the sale of covered information. We do not sell personal information as defined under Nevada law. Nevada residents who have questions or wish to submit a privacy inquiry may contact us using the information provided in Section 18.

17. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes become effective when the revised Privacy Policy is posted on this page. The “Last Updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy reflects the most recent revision.

18. CONTACT US

If you have questions regarding this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise applicable privacy rights, please contact us:

Empathy MindCare

California Office
1460 Maria Lane, Suite 290
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Phone: (415) 906-5337
Email: info@empathymindcare.com 

Nevada Office
210 Elks Point Road, Suite 103
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
Phone: (775) 380-8574
Email: info@empathymindcare.com 

Website: www.empathymindcare.com