Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

drgracekimaustin.com
Effective Date: June 21, 2026

1. Website Purpose

This website is operated by Dr. Grace Kim Austin, MD, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and otolaryngology/head and neck surgery practice.

The purpose of this website is to provide general information about the practice, educational content, and ways to contact or schedule appointments.

All content on this website is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

2. Medical Disclaimer

Information on this website should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice from a qualified healthcare provider.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment. Never disregard or delay seeking medical advice because of information found on this website.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

3. No Physician-Patient Relationship

Use of this website, including submitting forms, contacting the office, or requesting an appointment, does not create a physician-patient relationship.

A physician-patient relationship is established only after a formal consultation and acceptance of care by the practice.

4. Appointment Requests and Scheduling

This website allows users to request appointments and contact the office.

Appointment requests submitted through the website are not guaranteed and are subject to availability and office review.

We also provide online scheduling through Acuity Scheduling, which is configured with HIPAA-enabled services and operated under a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with the provider.

Information submitted through Acuity Scheduling is handled in accordance with applicable privacy and security safeguards.

5. Contact Forms and Communication

Contact forms on this website are intended for general inquiries and appointment requests only.

Please do not submit sensitive medical information, protected health information (PHI), insurance details, or Social Security numbers through website forms unless specifically requested by our office.

Website form submissions are transmitted to our office via email using Google Workspace, which is operated under a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).

While we use reasonable safeguards to protect communications, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure.

6. Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including:

Name
Phone number
Email address
Appointment request details
Messages submitted through forms or email

How We Use Information

We use this information to:

Respond to inquiries
Schedule and manage appointments
Communicate with patients and prospective patients
Operate and improve our website and services
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information.

HIPAA and Medical Information

If you become a patient of our practice, your protected health information (PHI) will be handled in accordance with applicable federal and state privacy laws, including HIPAA.

Separate Notices of Privacy Practices may be provided during clinical care.

Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services to operate our website and scheduling, including:

Squarespace (website hosting platform)
Google Workspace (email communication under BAA)
Acuity Scheduling (online appointment scheduling under HIPAA-enabled configuration and BAA)

Each third-party provider may collect or process data in accordance with its own privacy policies and agreements.

We encourage users to review those policies when interacting with these services.

Cookies and Analytics

This website may use cookies or similar technologies to:

Improve website functionality
Analyze website traffic and performance

You may disable cookies through your browser settings, though some features of the site may not function properly.

Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information.

However, no website, electronic system, or email transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children’s Privacy

This website is not intended for children under 13 years of age, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Third-Party Links

This website may contain links to third-party websites for convenience. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or security of those websites.

7. Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, images, graphics, logos, and design, is the property of Grace Kim Austin, MD, Inc. unless otherwise stated.

Content may not be copied, reproduced, or used for commercial purposes without written permission.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Grace Kim Austin, MD, Inc. and affiliated parties are not liable for any damages arising from the use or inability to use this website or reliance on its content.

9. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms of Use and Privacy Policy at any time. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

10. Contact Information

Grace Kim Austin, MD, Inc.
Website: drgracekimaustin.com
📧 Email: info@drgracekimaustin.com
📞 Phone: (747) 203-7750

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Grace Kim Austin, MD, Inc.

Effective Date: January 3, 2019
Last Updated: June 21, 2026

Location: 3527 Oceanview Blvd, Glendale, CA 91208
Phone: 747-203-7750

Overview

This Notice explains how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can access your health information. We are required by law (HIPAA) to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI) and to provide this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.

We may update this Notice at any time. Any updates apply to all PHI we maintain.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We may use or share your health information without your written permission in the following situations:

Treatment

To provide, coordinate, or manage your medical care. This may include sharing information with doctors, pharmacies, labs, or other healthcare providers involved in your care.

Payment

To bill and receive payment from you, your insurance company, or other responsible parties.

Healthcare Operations

To run our practice and improve care. This includes quality review, staff training, audits, compliance, and administrative activities.

Appointment & Communication

We may contact you for:

Appointment reminders
Check-in and waiting room callouts
Treatment or care-related information

Family & Caregivers

We may share limited information with individuals involved in your care or payment, unless you object.

Required by Law

We will disclose information when required by federal, state, or local law.

Public Health & Safety

We may disclose information to:

Public health authorities
Report disease, injury, or adverse events
Report abuse or neglect (as required or permitted by law)
Prevent a serious threat to health or safety

Health Oversight & Legal Processes

We may disclose information for audits, licensing, investigations, court orders, subpoenas, or law enforcement requests when legally required.

Workers’ Compensation

We may disclose information for workers’ compensation or similar programs.

Business Transfers

If the practice is sold or merged, your medical records may be transferred to the new owner.

Breach Notification

We will notify you if a breach of unsecured PHI occurs, as required by law.

When We Need Your Written Authorization

We will obtain your written permission before using or disclosing your health information for purposes not described in this Notice, including:

Marketing activities
Sale of health information
Certain sensitive uses of medical data

You may revoke authorization at any time in writing, except where action has already been taken.

Your Health Information Rights

You have the right to:

Access Your Records

Request copies or view your medical records in paper or electronic form. Fees may apply as allowed by law.

Request Restrictions

Ask us to limit how your information is used or shared. We must honor requests not to share information with a health plan when you pay in full out-of-pocket.

Request Confidential Communications

Ask us to contact you in a specific way (e.g., phone, email, or mailing address).

Request Corrections

Request that we correct or update your medical records if you believe they are inaccurate.

Receive an Accounting of Disclosures

Request a list of certain disclosures of your health information, excluding those related to treatment, payment, operations, and other legally exempt categories.

Obtain a Paper Copy

Request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you received it electronically.

Our Responsibilities

We are required by law to:

Maintain the privacy and security of your health information
Provide you with this Notice
Follow the terms currently in effect
Notify you in the event of a breach involving your information

We reserve the right to change this Notice. Any changes will apply to all PHI we maintain.

Changes to This Notice

We may update this Notice at any time. The revised version will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date and will be available upon request.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint without penalty or retaliation.

Contact Us

Privacy Officer
Grace Kim Austin, MD, Inc.
Phone: 747-203-7750

Or Contact:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
90 7th Street, Suite 4-100
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (800) 368-1019
TTY: (800) 537-7697
Fax: (202) 619-3818
Email: OCRMail@hhs.gov

Full Notice Availability

A full printed copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices is available upon request at our office.