Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Ghaffar Spine (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates this website to share educational information about spine conditions and procedures and to provide contact information for the office of Dr. Samia Ghaffar in Clovis, California. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit the site or submit a contact form, how we use it, and the choices you have. If you do not agree with this policy, please discontinue use of the site.

2. Information We Collect

Information you provide. The general inquiry form collects your name and email address. It does not ask for a phone number, medical information, or a message. For appointments or questions about your care, call our office at (559) 940-7077.

Information collected automatically. When you browse the site, we and our analytics provider automatically collect technical information such as your IP address, browser and device type, operating system, referring website, the pages you view, and how long you stay.

Information from third parties. We do not purchase personal information about you from third parties. Embedded services described in Section 6 may collect technical information directly from your browser when their content loads.

3. How We Use Information

We use the information you provide to respond to your general inquiry and communicate with you about that inquiry. We use analytics information in aggregate to understand how visitors use the site and to improve its content, performance, and accessibility. We may also use information to protect the site, comply with legal obligations, and enforce our terms.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies and Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC, to understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it. Google Analytics uses cookies, which are small text files stored on your device, to collect information such as the pages you visit, how long you stay, the website that referred you, your general location (city or region level), and your browser and device type. This information is collected in aggregate and is not used to identify you personally.

We do not use Google Analytics advertising features, Google Signals, or data sharing for advertising purposes. We do not use advertising pixels, session recording, or similar tracking technologies.

You can learn how Google uses this information at How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services. You can opt out of Google Analytics on all websites by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. You can also block or delete cookies through your browser settings. The site will still work if you do.

Do Not Track

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) setting. Because there is no common industry standard for how to respond to DNT signals, this website does not currently respond to them. You can still limit analytics tracking using the opt-out options above.

5. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

We may share information with service providers that help us operate the site and handle inquiries (such as website hosting, email delivery, and analytics providers), who may use it only to perform services for us. We may also disclose information when required by law or legal process, to protect the rights, safety, or property of our patients, our practice, or others, or in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of the practice. If your inquiry leads to care, information may be shared with healthcare providers directly involved in that care.

6. Third-Party Services

The site relies on the following third-party services. Each is governed by its own privacy policy.

Resend — delivers general inquiry emails containing your name and email address to our office. Do not submit medical information through this form.

Google Analytics (Google LLC) — website usage analytics. See Section 4 for details and opt-out options.

Google Maps (Google LLC) — embedded map showing our office location. Google may collect technical information, such as your IP address, when the map loads.

Stryker Mako Spine widget (Stryker Corporation) — embedded educational content about robotic-arm assisted spine surgery, loaded from Stryker’s servers.

Website hosting and image delivery — our hosting provider and content delivery services process standard server logs and serve images used on the site.

7. Data Retention

We keep information you submit through the contact form only as long as needed to respond to your general inquiry, and as long as required by law. Analytics data is retained according to the retention settings of our analytics account. We delete or de-identify information when it is no longer needed.

8. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please do not include detailed medical history, diagnoses, or other sensitive health information in the website contact form. Call our office instead.

9. Your Rights and Choices

You may ask us to tell you what personal information we hold about you, correct it, or delete it, and you may opt out of any marketing communications at any time. To make a request, contact us at info@ghaffarspine.com. You can also limit analytics tracking using the options described in Section 4.

10. California Privacy Rights

California Residents

If you are a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose; to request deletion or correction of your personal information; and to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information. We do not sell or share personal information as those terms are defined under California law. We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.

Categories collected: identifiers and contact details you provide (such as name and email when you submit a form) and internet activity information collected through cookies and Google Analytics (described in Section 4).

Tracking disclosure: As described in Section 4, this website uses Google Analytics. We do not allow other third parties to collect personal information about your online activities across websites through this site.

To make a request, contact us at info@ghaffarspine.com. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

11. Children’s Privacy

This site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

12. Medical Information and Disclaimer

This website is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Submitting information through this site does not establish a physician-patient relationship. Information you share in clinical care is handled under our separate Notice of Privacy Practices. For medical emergencies, call 911 immediately.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Your continued use of the site after changes are posted means you accept the revised policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, contact us at info@ghaffarspine.com, by phone at (559) 940-7077, or by mail at Ghaffar Spine, 604 N Magnolia Avenue, Suite 100, Clovis, CA 93611.