The American Medical Association (AMA) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting it at
all times. This online Privacy Policy explains how the AMA collects, uses and safeguards information
on its various websites and apps.
We collect information about our users in three ways: directly from the user, from our Web server
logs and through cookies and other technologies. We use the information primarily to provide you with
a personalized Internet experience that delivers the information, resources, and services that are
most relevant and helpful to you. We don't share any of the information you provide with others,
unless we say so in this Privacy Policy, or when we believe in good faith that the law requires it.
You should review this Policy and our related Terms of Use. By accessing our websites and using our services, you agree to this
Privacy Policy and to be bound by our Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use and
this Privacy Policy, you should end this session now and refrain from using our websites and apps
in the future.
Changes to the Privacy Policy
As our organization, membership and benefits change from time to time, we expect this Privacy
Policy to change as well. We reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, for any reason, and
will signal a change by revising the "Last updated" date at the bottom of this page.
What information we collect and how we use it
Information we collect -- When you browse our www.ama-
assn.org or www.jamanetwork.com, for example, and do not
interact with the site for any online service or product from the AMA, you browse anonymously.
Information that identifies you personally--such as your name, address, phone number and email
address--is not collected as you browse.
When you create an account to become a registered user on our sites, or choose to interact with us
in other ways, such as subscribing to AMA publications, purchasing an AMA product, applying for AMA
membership, participating in online surveys, submitting questions or comments or requesting
information or materials, we will collect certain personal information from you. The type will vary
but may include name, address, phone number, birth date, billing and delivery information, email
address, credit card information and other demographic information. We do not collect Social Security
numbers via any AMA website. The product or service that you seek will determine the personal
information collected.
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
- Process, fulfill and follow up on your orders or membership application
- Provide access to journal content
- Answer your emails or on-line requests
- Send information you request
- Send and process surveys and CME quizzes
- Ensure the AMA sites are relevant to your needs
- Deliver AMA services such as newsletters, meetings or events
- Recommend content that suits you
- Alert you when fresh content is posted or released
- Notify you about new products/services, special offers, upgrades and other related information
from the AMA, The JAMA Network and approved third parties
You can manage your account, limit alerts or opt-out of some or all future communications. All
e-mail communications contain an “unsubscribe” option in case you want to discontinue the
communication at any time. Contact us via the phone number or contact form on our website at any
time to:
- See what data we have about you, if any;
- Change/correct any data we have about you;
- Ask us to delete any data we have about you; and/or
- Opt out of some or all future communications from us.
When we hire vendors to deliver emails to you on our behalf, they are under agreement and limited
from using your email address and other personal information for any other purpose.
These email messages may contain "clear GIFs" or "Web beacons" to measure the offer’s
effectiveness so we know how to serve you better. We do not collect information that identifies you
personally through "clear GIFs" or "Web beacons." You may refuse or remove the placement of these
and other cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your web browser.
How to opt out of email -- To opt out of future emails and newsletters, go to our AMA e-newsletter sign-up page or click the "unsubscribe"
link at the bottom of any email or
e-newsletter from the AMA. You also can call the AMA Unified Service Center at (800) 621-8335.
With whom we may share information -- The AMA may share personal information (except your
email address) with our business partners in order to provide them an opportunity to offer products
or services that may be of interest to you. The AMA also occasionally hires other companies to
provide limited services on our behalf including, but not limited to, processing credit card
transactions, packaging, mailing and delivering purchases, answering customer questions about
products or services, consulting services, data modeling, printing, sending postal mail and
processing membership and event registration. We will only provide those companies the information
they need to deliver the service. They are prohibited from using that information for any other
purpose. Except as described in this section, third parties may not collect personally identifiable
information about your online activities over time or across different Web sites when you use our web
sites.
The AMA may disclose your personal information to a third party if (1) reasonably necessary to
perform a service or deliver a product or publication; (2) authorized by you; (3) permitted under
this Privacy Policy; (4) required by statue or regulation; or (5) in the good-faith belief that such
action is necessary to: (a) conform to legal requirements or comply with legal process served on the
AMA; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of AMA; (c) protect the personal safety of AMA
personnel or members of the public in urgent circumstances; or (d) enforce the AMA’s Privacy Policy
or Terms of Use. In addition to
the disclosures identified above, if you are a physician or medical student, the personal information
you provide through the AMA websites may be incorporated into the AMA’s physician database commonly
known as the Physician Masterfile. The AMA has licensed its Physician Masterfile to third parties for
more than 50 years under strict guidelines. The names and addresses of physicians and medical
students in the AMA Physician Masterfile are made available only for communications that are germane
to the practice of medicine or of interest to physicians or medical students as consumers. Read
further information about the Physician
Masterfile.
Tracking activity on our website We track how our sites are used by both anonymous visitors
and registered users 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. AMA-related websites may at times require users to accept short-lived cookies in
order for the websites to function properly. Long-lasting cookies may be used on the site to track
visitor practices to help determine which site features and services are most important and 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 reregistering, 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 can disable the long-lasting cookie function, either by indicating when asked that they do not
wish to have a long-lasting cookie created or by disabling the long-lasting cookie function on their
Web browser. Individuals can opt out of long-lasting cookie functions at any time.
Cookies are required for the Members-Only and e-commerce sections of the website. Cookies are
essential for site administration and security. Another way we track site activity is by using
transparent electronic images called "clear GIFs," "Web bugs," or "Web beacons" on Web pages. These
images count the number of users who visit that page from specific banner ads outside www.ama-
assn.org or through email links. A similar image, sometimes called a "spotlight tag," is used on Web
pages where transactions take place. The spotlight tag collects numeric information, such as the
dollar amount of an online purchase, to help us understand usage of the site. We do not use any of
these electronic images to collect personally identifiable information.
Third party tracking on our websites -- Online advertisements on the AMA’s websites do not
collect any personal information on individual visitors. Ad networks and data analytics firms track
and analyze traffic on the AMA sites, in part, to determine advertising effectiveness, browser types
and usage trends, and to present targeted ads based on anonymous information collected through
tracking. This anonymous aggregate data on visitors and their use of our content provides business
intelligence to better serve visitors, improve our content and track trends that might signal the
outbreak of an infectious disease, or contribute to improving health outcomes. If you open an ad, you
leave our sites and become subject to the terms and practices of that separate website, which may
have different rules about tracking and data usage. Activation of cookie blocking or Do Not Track
settings in your browser, or other mechanisms that block cookies or other tracking technologies, will
not affect the collection or use of personal information as outlined elsewhere in this Privacy
Policy.
Children under 13 -- We do not knowingly solicit data online from or market online to
children under the age of 13.
Information security -- The AMA implements security measures to protect against
unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of data. We restrict
access to personal information to our employees and the AMA’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.
How we safeguard information
Site security features
SSL technology and how you benefit from it -- AMA realizes the importance of security, so
we've taken a number of steps to enhance the protection of personal information sent to or from AMA
over the Internet. First, we require that a "secure session" be established, using Secure Socket
Layer (SSL) technology. This is done any time you supply or access information in one of our secure
online areas.
SSL technology creates a private conversation that only your computer and AMA systems can
understand. The SSL technology encodes information as it is being sent over the Internet between your
computer and AMA systems, helping to ensure that the transmitted information remains
confidential.
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 AMA to verify who you
are, thereby allowing you access to your account information and preventing unauthorized access.
When you have finished using a secure area of AMA’s website, make sure you always click on the "Log
Out" link which appears on every secure page. When you click on the "Log Out" link, you will be given
the option to end your secure session. No further secure transactions can be conducted without re-
entering your user ID and password. You should be aware that browser software often "caches" a page
as you look at it, meaning that some pages are saved in your computer's temporary memory. Therefore,
you may find that clicking on your "Back" button shows you a saved version of a previously viewed
page. Caching in no way affects the security of your confidential user ID or password.
No guarantee -- Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to
be 100% secure. Accordingly, and despite our efforts, AMA cannot guarantee or warrant the security of
any information you transmit to us, or to or from our online products or services. Email messages
sent to or from a website may not be secure. Confidential information should not be sent by e-mail.
Site visitors sending e-mail accept the risk that a third party may intercept e-mail messages.
Linking to other Internet sites
You should be aware that other Internet sites that link to the AMA sites or to an AMA email may
contain privacy provisions that differ from these. To ensure your privacy is protected, we recommend
that you review the privacy statements of other Internet sites you visit.
How you can access and change information
If you are a registered user of an AMA website, subscriber to AMA publications, purchaser of AMA
products or an AMA member, you may review and update or correct your information online or by
contacting the AMA Unified Service Center at (800) 621-8335.
Physicians and medical students may update or correct
any information the AMA may have on file by going online or calling (800) 621-8335. Updates or
corrections to certain types of information (e.g., physician licensure, medical education or
training, etc.) will require independent verification prior to effectuating any (permanent) change to
our files.
Last Updated: December 19, 2013