Legal & Privacy
How we protect your information — online and in our clinic.
Five Elements Care (“we,” “us,” “our”) operates this website (the “Site”). This Website Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through the Site, how we use it, and with whom we share it. It applies to the website only. It is not our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. For how we handle your medical (health) information, please see our Notice of Privacy Practices below.
In short We collect only the information you choose to send us (by phone or email) plus basic technical data — and we never sell it.
(a) Information you give us. The Site does not currently contain forms. If you phone or email us using the contact details on the Site, we receive the information you choose to provide — such as your name, phone number, email address, and the content of your message.
(b) Information collected automatically. When you visit, our hosting provider (Netlify, Inc.) and other third-party services may automatically collect: IP address, browser and device type, operating system, referring/exit pages, pages viewed, and date/time of your visit.
(c) Cookies and similar technologies. The Site uses limited cookies and embedded content from third parties (see Section 4). We do not currently use advertising or behavioral-tracking cookies.
We use the information above to:
If you provide your mobile phone number and agree to receive text messages from us, we may send appointment reminders, scheduling updates, and clinic notifications. Your mobile number and your consent to receive texts are not shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only with:
Information about your health is handled under HIPAA and California's Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices — not under this website policy. Please avoid sending detailed medical information by ordinary email; call us to discuss sensitive matters.
As a California resident you may have the right to: know/access the personal information we hold about you; delete it; correct it; opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell or share it); limit the use of sensitive personal information; and not be discriminated against for exercising these rights. To make a request, contact us using the details in Section 10. We take reasonable steps to verify your identity before acting. These rights apply to the extent the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended, applies to our practice.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
We do not currently respond to “Do Not Track” browser signals. Because we do not sell or share personal information, Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals do not require any additional action by us.
We keep information only as long as needed for the purposes described, or as required by law (medical-record retention is governed by California law). We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards; no website transmission is perfectly secure.
We may update this policy. The revised version will be posted here with a new Effective Date.
Five Elements Care · 12335 World Trade Dr., Ste. 1A, San Diego, CA 92128
Phone: 858-705-6024 · Email: FiveElementCare@gmail.com
Five Elements Care · 12335 World Trade Dr., Ste. 1A, San Diego, CA 92128 · 858-705-6024
Effective Date: October 3, 2026
In short We use your health information to treat you, to be paid, and to run our practice — and you have rights over that information.
Five Elements Care provides acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, massage therapy, and ultrasound imaging, along with related wellness services. This notice applies to our clinic, our licensed practitioner(s), employees, and volunteers who handle your health information. It covers the protected health information (PHI) we create or receive about you — information that identifies you and relates to your health, care, or payment for care.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI, to give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, to notify you if a breach of your unsecured PHI occurs, and to follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.
Treatment. We may use and share your PHI to provide, coordinate, and manage your care — for example, to record your treatment, consult with other providers, and follow up with you. We may leave appointment reminders (message, phone) and tell you about treatment options and health-related services we offer.
Payment. We may use and share your PHI to bill and be paid — for example, to verify insurance coverage, submit claims to your health plan or clearinghouse, and collect payment (including self-pay packages).
Health care operations. We may use and share PHI to run our practice — for example, quality and safety reviews, staff training, business planning, licensing, and audits.
Other uses and disclosures required or permitted by law (examples):
Your written authorization is required for uses and disclosures not described here — including most marketing, most sales of PHI, and most uses of psychotherapy notes. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted.
Ultrasound imaging. Our ultrasound exams create images, measurements, and reports — protected health information that this notice covers. Screening exams are typically self-pay; when you use insurance, we may share information with your health plan for payment. For diagnostic exams requested by your physician, we send results to that physician, and on request an exam may be reviewed by a board-certified radiologist. Where imaging is performed in partnership with an imaging provider, that provider handles your information on our behalf and is bound by confidentiality requirements.
We will use and disclose your PHI only as described here or as required/permitted by law. We will not use or share your information other than as stated without your written permission. Where California law is stricter than HIPAA (including the CMIA), we follow the stricter law.
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, contact our Privacy Officer (Section 7). You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights — online at www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints, by phone at 1-800-368-1019 (TDD 1-800-537-7697), or by mail to the OCR regional office serving California. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Privacy Officer: Young Shig Oh, L.Ac., M.S.
Five Elements Care, 12335 World Trade Dr., Ste. 1A, San Diego, CA 92128
Phone: 858-705-6024 · Email: FiveElementCare@gmail.com
We reserve the right to change this notice and to make the revised notice effective for PHI we already have and any information we receive in the future. The current notice will be posted on our website and available at our office.
In short This website is general information, not medical advice — and it does not create a provider–patient relationship. In an emergency, call 911.
The content on this website — including text, images, and educational material about acupuncture, herbal medicine, and ultrasound — is provided for general information only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for a professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a qualified provider.
Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice, or delay seeking it, because of something you have read on this website.
Governing law. This disclaimer and your use of this website are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules.
