Privacy Policy for Rachel Mark Acupuncture & Wellness Inc.
Last Updated: April 14, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Rachel Mark Acupuncture & Wellness Inc. (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, stores, and protects personal information when you visit our website, use our online booking tools, communicate with us, or receive services through our acupuncture practice (collectively, the “Services”).
By using this website or providing your personal information to us, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy, subject to applicable law.
Separate Business Entity
This Privacy Policy applies only to Rachel Mark Acupuncture & Wellness Inc. and its clinical acupuncture practice.
This policy does not apply to rachelmark.ca, Rachel Mark Radiant Health, or any coaching programs, courses, newsletters, digital products, or non-clinical services offered through those separate businesses unless expressly stated there.
If you interact with both this acupuncture practice and Rachel Mark’s coaching business, your information may be collected and managed under separate policies depending on which business, website, form, booking tool, or service you are using.
Our Privacy Commitment
We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information in accordance with applicable laws, including British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). PIPA governs how private-sector organizations in BC collect, use, and disclose personal information, and generally requires that this be done only for purposes a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances.
We also recognize our professional and ethical obligations to maintain patient confidentiality in the context of regulated health services.
The Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following types of personal information:
a. Contact and Identification Information
This may include:
your name
email address
phone number
mailing address
date of birth
emergency contact information
booking or account information
b. Health and Clinical Information
If you become a patient, we may collect information reasonably necessary for providing acupuncture services and managing the practitioner-patient relationship, such as:
health history
symptoms and concerns
medications and supplements
treatment goals
intake forms
consent forms
clinical notes and records
appointment history
other information you choose to share that is relevant to your care
c. Payment and Billing Information
This may include:
payment details
billing address
receipt information
transaction history
insurance information, where applicable
We generally use third-party payment processors and booking systems for payment and scheduling functions. We do not necessarily store full payment card information ourselves.
d. Website and Technical Information
When you visit our website, we or our service providers may automatically collect certain technical information, such as:
IP address
browser type
operating system
device type
referring URLs
pages visited
date and time of access
cookie and analytics data
How We Collect Information
We may collect information:
directly from you when you fill out forms, book appointments, contact us, subscribe to updates, or become a patient;
automatically through cookies, analytics, and website technologies;
from third-party booking, payment, or communication platforms you choose to use;
from another person or provider where you have authorized this or where permitted by law.
Under PIPA, in some cases consent may be express, implied, or deemed depending on the context and the sensitivity of the information, but organizations must still limit collection, use, and disclosure to appropriate purposes.
How We Use Personal Information
We may collect, use, and retain personal information for purposes such as:
providing acupuncture services and related clinic administration;
assessing whether services are appropriate;
maintaining clinical records;
scheduling, confirming, changing, or cancelling appointments;
communicating with you about your care or clinic operations;
processing payments and issuing receipts;
responding to your questions or requests;
operating, maintaining, and improving our website;
internal quality assurance and business administration;
meeting legal, regulatory, professional, insurance, tax, and record-keeping obligations.
We collect and use only the information reasonably necessary for these purposes.
Consent
By voluntarily providing personal information to us, you consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of that information for the purposes identified in this Privacy Policy or otherwise explained to you at the time of collection, subject to applicable law.
Under PIPA, an individual may withdraw consent on reasonable notice in many circumstances, but the organization may explain the likely consequences of that withdrawal and may continue collecting, using, or disclosing information where permitted or required by law.
Please note that if you withdraw consent for certain uses of your information, we may be unable to provide some services or continue the practitioner-patient relationship in the same manner.
Disclosure of Personal Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.
We may disclose personal information only as reasonably necessary and legally permitted, including in the following circumstances:
to service providers who help operate our website, booking platform, payment processing, communications, or clinic systems;
to insurers, benefit plans, or third parties where you request or authorize this;
to another health professional or provider where you ask us to coordinate care or where disclosure is otherwise permitted by law;
where required or authorized by law, court order, subpoena, regulatory process, or professional obligation;
in connection with an actual or proposed business transaction, subject to applicable legal protections.
Any third-party service provider engaged by us is expected to protect personal information in a manner appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
Clinical Records and Confidentiality
If you receive acupuncture services, we may create and maintain a clinical record as required for professional, legal, and business purposes. CCHPBC requires proper record creation, management, retention, and disposal, and note the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality for patient information.
Personal health information contained in clinical records will be handled with appropriate confidentiality and only accessed, used, or disclosed as necessary for care, clinic operations, and legal or regulatory compliance.
Retention of Information
We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and as required by applicable law, professional obligations, insurance requirements, and legitimate business needs.
Clinical records may need to be retained for specific minimum periods under applicable professional or legal standards. Because retention obligations can depend on the type of record and the circumstances, this policy does not set a fixed retention period for every category of information.
When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely destroy, delete, or anonymize it, as appropriate.
Website Cookies and Analytics
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:
support website functionality;
remember preferences;
understand website traffic and usage patterns;
improve site performance and user experience.
You can usually modify your browser settings to refuse or delete cookies, though some features of the website may not function properly as a result.
If we use analytics or third-party tools, those providers may collect technical or usage information in accordance with their own privacy practices.
Email, Forms, and Electronic Communication
If you contact us by website form, online booking platform, or email, we may collect the information you submit in order to respond to you and manage clinic operations.
Please do not send highly sensitive, urgent, or extensive personal health information through ordinary website forms or unsecured email unless specifically requested. Electronic communication carries some privacy and security risk, and no Internet transmission can be guaranteed fully secure.
Security Safeguards
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information we hold in order to protect it from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, loss, theft, or alteration.
However, no system of electronic storage, transmission, or processing is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Access, Correction, and Questions
Subject to applicable law, you may request:
access to your personal information;
correction of inaccurate personal information;
information about how your personal information has been used or disclosed, where required by law.
PIPA gives individuals rights to request access to and correction of their personal information held by organizations, subject to legal exceptions.
We may require sufficient information to verify your identity before responding to a request.
Withdrawal of Consent and Marketing Preferences
You may withdraw consent to marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link in the message or by contacting us directly.
Operational or transactional communications may still be sent where necessary, such as messages relating to appointments, receipts, clinic updates, care coordination, or legal obligations.
Third-Party Websites and Platforms
Our website may contain links to third-party platforms or websites, including booking systems, payment processors, maps, social media pages, or other external services.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of those third parties. Your use of third-party sites is governed by their own terms and privacy policies.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal obligations, or clinic operations.
The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. Continued use of the website or Services after changes are posted indicates acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or requests about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact:
Rachel Mark Acupuncture & Wellness Inc.
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Email:rachelmark.acupuncture@gmail.com