The Encyclopedia respects your privacy and is committed to protecting it at all times. This privacy statement explains how the Encyclopedia collects, uses and safeguards information on its website. This Privacy Statement applies only to information collected by the Encyclopedia through its website.

Modifications to the Privacy Statement:

We reserve the right to amend the Privacy Statement at any time, for any reason. We will post a notice that this Privacy Statement has been amended by revising the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. The NGHA regularly reviews its compliance with this Privacy Statement. Please feel free to direct any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Statement or NGHA's treatment of personal information via the contact form.

Updating Information:

To update relevant information on the website, please contact us.

Information we collect:

When you browse the website and do not interact with the site for any online 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.

When you become a registered user on our site, or choose to interact with our site in other ways, such as subscribing to personalized services, subscribing to our newsletter, registering for the mobile version of the Encyclopedia, testing your knowledge, participating in online surveys, submitting questions or comments or requesting information or materials, we will collect certain personal information from you. The type of personal information collected will vary but may include name, address, phone number, birth date, e-mail address and other demographic information. We do not collect Social Security numbers via this website. The type of product or service that you seek will determine the personal information that is collected.

Tracking activity on our website:

We track how our site is used by both anonymous visitors and visitors who interact with the site. One way we track is by using "cookies." A cookie is a small file or string of text on the site user's computer that is used to aid Web navigation. Two types of cookies are commonly used. A session cookie is created by a website when that website is accessed; that type of cookie is automatically deleted by closing the Web browser. A persistent cookie is a cookie that is stored on the hard drive of the user’s computer for a period of time chosen by the website that set the cookie, usually for a number of years, unless the user deletes it manually. This policy distinguishes between short-lived cookies and long-lasting cookies. Short-lived cookies include all session cookies and those persistent cookies that are set to be stored for no
more than one week. The Encyclopedia may at times require users to accept short-lived cookies in order for the website to function properly. Long-lasting cookies may be used on the site to track visitor practices to help determine Encyclopedia features and are important to guide editorial direction. Other long-lasting cookies may make it possible for the user to access the site without requiring entry of a user name or password, allow the user to view different restricted areas of the site without re-registering, allow the user to personalize the site for future use and provide other features and benefits. Users who do not desire the functionality created by the long-lasting cookie should have the option to disable the long-lasting cookie function, by disabling the long-lasting cookie function on their Web browser.

Google Analytics:

The Encyclopedia uses Google Analytics to help analyze how users use the site. This tool uses "cookies," which are text files placed on a computer, to collect standard Internet log information as well as visitor behavior information in an anonymous form. The information generated by the cookie about the use of the website (including the IP address) is transmitted to Google. After this the information is used to evaluate visitors' use of the website and to compile
statistical reports on website activity for the Encyclopedia.

We will never (and will not allow any third party to) use this statistical analytics tool to track or to collect any Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of the visitors of the Encyclopedia. Google won't associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. Neither we nor Google will link, or seek to link, an IP address with the identity of the computer user. We will not associate any data gathered from this site with any Personally Identifiable Information from any other source, unless you explicitly provide this information to us.

Learn more about Google Analytics Privacy:

http://www.google.com/intl/en/analytics/privacyoverview.html

Learn more about Google Analytics Opt-Out:

http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en

 How we use personal information:

Once collected, we may use your personal information for the following purposes:

• Register you for programs and services you have requested
• Answer your e-mails or on-line requests
• Send you information you have requested
• Send and process surveys
• Ensure the Encyclopedia is relevant to your needs
• Deliver services such as newsletters, meetings or events
• Notify you about new products/services special offers, upgrades and other related information from the Encyclopedia.

 How we use your e-mail address:

We do not share, sell, trade, exchange or rent your e-mail address to vendors 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 under agreement and limited from using your e-mail address for any other purpose.

If you subscribe to newsletters, meetings, events or personalized health services, you have always the possibility to opt out. To unsubscribe to these applications, click here.

Information security:

The Encyclopedia implements security measures to protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of data. We restrict access to personal information to the NGHA’s business partners who may need to know that information in order to operate, develop or improve our services. These individuals are bound by confidentiality obligations and may be subject to discipline, including termination and criminal prosecution, if they fail to meet these obligations.

Site security features:

SSL technology and how you benefit from it -- NGHA realizes the importance of security, so we've taken a number of steps to enhance the protection of information sent to or from NGHA over the Internet. First, we require that a "secure session" be established, using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. This is done at any time you supply or access information in one of our secure online areas.

User ID and password -- Many areas of the site require the use of a user ID and password as an additional security measure that helps protect your information. This allows NGHA to verify who you are, thereby allowing you access to your account information and preventing unauthorized access.

No guarantee -- Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Accordingly, and despite our efforts, NGHA cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us, or to or from our online products or services.

Linking to other Internet sites:

You should be aware that other Internet sites linking to this website or to an Encyclopedia e-mail may contain privacy provisions that differ from the provisions of this Internet Privacy Statement. To ensure that your privacy is protected, we recommend that you review the privacy statements of other Internet sites you visit.