The Missouri Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, also known as the MSACOFP or the Society, is a professional member organization representing family medicine physicians in Missouri. The Society has created this privacy policy because you need to know how the information you provide is used and/or shared.

This policy reflects the collection and use of information through the Society website, association management system, and mobile applications.

This policy applies only to the Society’s websites and not to the websites of unrelated third-party companies or organizations to which the Society provides links, or to any software that may be downloaded from the Society’s websites.

This web site contains links to other sites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of such other sites. Visitors, users, and customers of our site are encouraged to read the privacy statements of any other site that collects personally identifiable information.

All those who voluntarily access the Society website do so at the sole risk of the user/viewer. By visiting the Society website, becoming a member or customer, or otherwise voluntarily submitting information to the Society, users/viewers acknowledge that they have agreed to the terms of this use policy. 

The Society reserves the right to make changes to this policy at any time; in such case, the Society will post a notice that this policy has been modified by revising the “Last updated” date at the bottom of this page.

What information does the MSACOFP NOT collect?

The Society does not collect the credit card account information or activity of its customers. When members and customers pay using their credit cards, the Society submits this information encrypted to obtain payment from the appropriate clearing house.  Credit card numbers are not stored in the Society’s association management system.

The Society does not intentionally or knowingly collect information from children. The Society neither identifies information as originating from children nor does it market its goods and services to children.

The Society also does not make member contact information available to third parties. The Society may make your contact information and/or other personally identifiable information publicly available in connection with Society programs and events or for other purposes, as permitted by you. The Society may release personal information to third parties to comply with legal requirements.

What information does the Society collect?

The Society collects two types of information: (1) non-personally identifiable information for everyone who visits its websites; and (2) personally identifiable information for members, registered website users, and anyone who purchases or requests products, services, or information.

Non-personally identifiable information

The Society employs cookies to collect information about all visitors to its websites, including pages viewed and the order visited, terms used in searching Society websites, and products investigated or purchased. The Society uses cookies to offer greater functionality, and the information generated from these cookies is used to help determine which services are most important and to guide business decisions.

Personally identifiable information

In addition to the non-personally identifiable items listed above, the Society records the user’s name and member/customer ID number for all registered users (i.e., users who have logged into a password-protected area of the Society website). While using the Society website, a user may be asked to provide personally identifiable information (e.g., name, address, zip code, email address, telephone number, fax number, credit card payment information, and demographic information) in order to purchase a product, participate in a Society activity, request information, or otherwise interact with the Society. In addition, users may be asked to update their contact information.

The Society also collects email addresses voluntarily provided via membership applications and renewals, website registrations, product purchases, member surveys, downloads of certain materials, and email communications.

Important note for Society members: The Society also maintains a membership database. The information in this database (demographic information, such as education and specialty) is drawn from membership applications, dues payment forms, product orders, continuing medical education (CME) reporting, public databases, member surveys, and other correspondence between the Society and its members.

Credit card information: The Society does not disclose the credit card account information or activity of its customers. When members and customers pay using their credit cards, the Society submits this information encrypted to obtain payment from the appropriate clearing house. All credit card numbers stored in the Society database are encrypted.

How does the SOCIETY use information collected?

The Society uses the information it collects to better serve members, customers, and visitors to the Society website in the following ways:

Society services and products:  The Society uses information collected to improve its web content, to respond to visitor needs and preferences, and to develop new products and services.

Disclosure to third parties:  The Society makes member contact information available in its online membership directory only to other members of the Society who have verified their membership status before entering the online membership directory. The Society may also make your contact information and/or other personally identifiable information publicly available in connection with Society programs and events or for other purposes, as permitted by you. The Society also shares membership, demographic, CME, and/or contact information with organizations such as the following: American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, and the American Osteopathic Association.

The Society also may share CME activity participation records with medical licensing boards (which may include CME reporting agents and/or contractors of those boards). Such records may include, but not be limited to the member’s name and license number; the name and date of the CME activity; and the number of credits received for participation in the CME activity. In connection with the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, CME attendees’ names, addresses, license numbers, states of licensure, and any transfers of value may be shared with the CME activities’ funders.

The Society will not disclose personally identifiable information to outside service providers, unless authorized.  The Society Board of Governors shall review all requests for member contact information for approval. These include requests to offer products, services, and information.

Emails

Once someone voluntarily provides an email address, the Society assumes it has permission to email that person with questions, transaction follow-up, and advertisements, and to send bulk email messages. The Society collects data to track the effectiveness of emails, which enables the Society to better serve its audiences.

As noted earlier, there are instances in which the Society will share email addresses of its members and customers with outside service providers who are under an obligation of confidentiality; however, the Society does not sell the email addresses of its members and customers.

Disclosure required by law or emergency circumstances:  The Society may release personal information to third parties to comply with legal requirements.

Opting out:  While the Society hopes that the information in this Policy helps you understand how the Society uses and protects your information to provide you with better service, you may still choose not to receive information from the Society.

Email opt-out:  All of the Society’s marketing emails and some of its informational emails include a link for unsubscribing. Members of the Society can also log in to their MSACOFP member profile to change their email preferences. Your unsubscribe request will be applied as quickly as possible. However, because there may be email campaigns already in progress, you may continue to receive emails from the Society for a few days. You may still receive emails regarding your transactions (e.g., confirmation that you have placed an order)

For questions or concerns about this Policy, please contact [email protected]

updated November 22, 2022