Privacy Policy

Florida Healthcare Collective ("we," "our," or "us") is a licensed nurse registry operating in the State of Florida under Florida Statute Chapter 400, Part III. We connect patients and families with independent, credentialed healthcare professionals — including Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and Home Health Aides (HHAs) — for in-home care services.

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our website, patient intake processes, caregiver referral processes, portals, forms, and any other interactions with Florida Healthcare Collective.

We collect information through the following means:

• Intake forms completed by patients, family members, or authorized representatives
• Applications submitted by healthcare professionals seeking referral
• Telephone calls and email correspondence with our staff
• Our website contact forms, inquiry submissions, and newsletter sign-ups
• Our digital portals (patient portal, provider portal, partner portal)
• Referrals from physicians, hospitals, discharge planners, or partner organizations
• Background screening and credentialing agencies (for caregiver verification)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website (described in Section 9)

We share information only as necessary to operate our nurse registry, comply with the law, or protect safety. We do not sell personal information.

• Referred Independent Contractors: We share relevant patient care information with the independent healthcare professional referred to you so they can understand and meet your care needs. You will be informed before any referral is made.
• Regulatory Agencies: We may disclose information to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, or other regulatory bodies as required by Florida law or in response to lawful investigations.
• Background Screening Providers: We share caregiver applicant information with AHCA-authorized Level 2 background screening vendors as required by Florida Statute Chapter 435.
• Insurance and Billing: We may share information with insurance companies, Medicaid managed care plans, or billing processors as necessary and as authorized by you or required by law.
• Partner Organizations: With your knowledge and consent, we may coordinate with referring physicians, hospitals, discharge planners, or partner facilities to facilitate continuity of care.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by a court order, subpoena, or other lawful legal process, or to protect the safety of any individual.
• Abuse, Neglect, and Fraud Reporting: We are required by Florida law to report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or Medicaid fraud to the appropriate authorities.
• Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party vendors who assist us with IT services, data storage, or communications — subject to confidentiality agreements and security requirements.

Florida law provides patients with specific privacy protections. Under Florida's Patient's Bill of Rights and applicable nurse registry statutes, you have the right to:

• Have your personal and health information kept private and shared only as allowed by law or your authorization.
• Know who has access to your information within Florida Healthcare Collective and why.
• Request access to records the registry maintains about your services, subject to applicable legal limits and fees.
• Receive a reasonable explanation of registry fees and charges and an itemized bill upon request.
• File a complaint about privacy concerns with Florida Healthcare Collective or with the applicable regulatory agency without fear of retaliation.
• Be informed when required notice of privacy practices or complaint procedures is distributed by Florida law.

We implement reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect your information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encrypted transmission of data via HTTPS/TLS for all website and portal communications
• Access controls that limit information access to authorized staff with a legitimate need
• Secure, password-protected systems with role-based access for portal users
• Physical security controls for paper records containing personal or health information
• Regular review of our security practices and procedures
• Confidentiality agreements with staff and contracted service providers

We retain personal and health information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and resolve disputes.

• Patient and service records are retained in accordance with Florida nurse registry recordkeeping requirements and applicable HIPAA retention standards — generally a minimum of five years from the date of service or last contact.
• Caregiver credentialing records are retained for the duration of the caregiver's active status with our registry and for a minimum period thereafter as required by Florida law.
• Website and contact inquiry records are retained for a period sufficient to respond to and document the inquiry, typically up to three years.
• Billing and financial records are retained for a minimum of seven years in compliance with state and federal tax and accounting requirements.

When records are no longer required, we dispose of them securely — shredding paper records and permanently deleting electronic records in a manner that prevents unauthorized recovery.

Florida Healthcare Collective provides services to pediatric patients when medically appropriate, and we collect information about minors only as necessary to coordinate their care. Such information is collected with the knowledge and consent of a parent, legal guardian, or authorized representative.

Our website is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 for marketing or non-care purposes. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please reach out to us directly. We are committed to responding promptly and transparently.