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Disclaimer

Organization Status

Mind The Gap is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue service code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

General Disclaimer

Mind The Gap does not provide professional medical advice. The information contained on this website, including any inferred or implied information, is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional concerning your health-related questions. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional or delay seeking the advice of a medical professional because of something you read on this or any other website.

Emergency Situations

If you think you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health emergency, call a medical professional or emergency services immediately.

Crisis Resources

In addition to emergency services (911), Mind The Gap provides links to the following crisis resources:

Please note that these crisis resources are not operated or controlled by Mind The Gap. Response times may vary, and in immediate danger situations, always call 911 first. Mind The Gap is not responsible for the availability or response time of these crisis services. We recommend saving these numbers in your phone and discussing crisis plans with your mental health provider before an emergency occurs.

Liability and Disclaimer of Warranties

While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, Mind The Gap makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on this website.

Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Mind The Gap shall not be liable for any loss or damage, including without limitation indirect or consequential loss or damage, arising from the use of this website.

Provider Directory and Telehealth Services

Provider Listings

While Mind The Gap maintains a directory of mental health providers and resources, our listing process includes only basic verification of professional licenses. Listed providers are not employees or agents of Mind The Gap. We do not:

  • Evaluate the quality of care provided
  • Monitor ongoing license status or disciplinary actions
  • Verify insurance acceptance or current availability
  • Guarantee appointment availability or treatment outcomes

Users should independently verify provider credentials, insurance acceptance, and availability. We encourage users to report any concerns about listed providers to both Mind The Gap and appropriate licensing boards.

Telehealth Services

Some mental health providers listed on our website may offer telehealth services. Mind The Gap does not endorse, verify, or guarantee the quality of any telehealth services. Telehealth may not be appropriate for all mental health conditions or situations. Insurance coverage for telehealth services varies by provider and insurance plan. Users should verify their insurance coverage, provider credentials, and state licensing requirements. Telehealth services may be subject to different state regulations, particularly for cross-state services.

Social Media Usage

Mind The Gap maintains social media accounts to share mental health information and resources. Our social media presence:

  • Does not constitute medical advice
  • Cannot guarantee response to messages or comments
  • May share third-party content that we do not endorse
  • Is not a secure channel for sharing personal health information
  • Should not be used for crisis communication

Comments on our social media platforms are not confidential. Users should never share personal health information through social media. Mind The Gap reserves the right to remove inappropriate content and block users who violate our social media guidelines. Likes, shares, or comments by Mind The Gap do not constitute endorsement.

External Links

This website may include links to external websites operated by third parties, including but not limited to healthcare providers, community resources, and support organizations. These links are provided for your convenience only. Mind The Gap has no control over the content of these sites and assumes no responsibility for them.

Content Contributor Disclaimer and Agreement

Content Contributor Terms

The following terms apply to all content contributed to Mind The Gap by mental health professionals, healthcare providers, and other expert contributors (“Contributors”).

Contributor Disclaimer

Content provided by Contributors represents their professional opinion based on their experience and expertise. Contributors’ views and opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mind The Gap. All content is provided for informational purposes only and does not establish a provider-patient relationship with readers.

Contributor Representations and Warranties

By submitting content to Mind The Gap, Contributors represent and warrant that:

  1. Professional Credentials
    • They hold current, valid professional licenses and credentials as claimed
    • They are in good standing with all relevant licensing boards
    • They will promptly notify Mind The Gap of any changes to their licensure status
  2. Content Quality
    • All submitted content is their original work or properly attributed
    • Content is based on current, evidence-based practices and research
    • Sources and references are properly cited where applicable
    • Content has not been published elsewhere unless explicitly agreed upon
  3. Professional Standards
    • Content adheres to all applicable professional ethical guidelines
    • Content respects patient confidentiality and HIPAA requirements
    • Any case studies or examples are appropriately anonymized
    • Content avoids absolute guarantees about treatment outcomes

Liability Protection

  1. Contributors acknowledge that:
    • Their content will include appropriate disclaimers
    • Content will be clearly marked as educational/informational only
    • Readers will be directed to seek professional help for specific concerns
    • Mind The Gap may edit content for clarity while maintaining clinical accuracy
  2. Mind The Gap agrees to:
    • Maintain appropriate disclaimers on all published content
    • Not materially alter clinical content without Contributor approval
    • Remove content upon legitimate Contributor request
    • Protect Contributor privacy according to agreed-upon terms

Content Guidelines

Contributors agree to:

  1. Include appropriate disclaimers specific to their content topic
  2. Clearly state when content may not be appropriate for all readers
  3. Include crisis resources when discussing sensitive topics
  4. Avoid language that could be interpreted as direct medical advice
  5. Use inclusive and culturally sensitive language
  6. Clearly differentiate between facts, professional opinion, and personal experience

Required Disclaimer Language

All contributed content must include or be published with the following disclaimer:

“This content was written by [Contributor Name with credentials] and represents their professional opinion and expertise. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It does not create a provider-patient relationship between the author and readers. Always seek the advice of your own qualified health providers with any questions regarding your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this content.”

Content Rights and Usage

  1. Contributors retain intellectual property rights to their original content
  2. Contributors grant Mind The Gap a non-exclusive license to:
    • Publish the content on its platforms
    • Edit for clarity and format (while maintaining clinical accuracy)
    • Use for promotional purposes
    • Archive content indefinitely

Indemnification

Contributors agree to indemnify and hold harmless Mind The Gap from any claims arising from:

  1. Violation of these terms
  2. Inaccurate representation of credentials
  3. Plagiarism or copyright violation
  4. Breach of confidentiality or HIPAA violations
  5. Clinical content errors attributable to the Contributor

Content Review Process

All contributed content will undergo:

  1. Initial clinical accuracy review
  2. Editorial review for clarity and style
  3. Legal compliance review
  4. Final Contributor approval before publication

Required Citations and Attributions

Contributors must:

  1. Cite current research and evidence-based practices
  2. Attribute all quoted material and sources
  3. Use APA or other approved citation format
  4. Include references for further reading when appropriate

Youth and Minor Access

If you are under 18, we encourage you to review this website with a parent or legal guardian. Some resources listed may require parental consent for access or participation. Mind The Gap does not knowingly collect personal information from minors without parental consent.

Governing Law

This website and disclaimer are governed by the laws of North Carolina. Any disputes arising from the use of this website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of North Carolina.

HIPAA Compliance Statement

Protected Health Information (PHI)

Mind The Gap is committed to maintaining the privacy and security of Protected Health Information (PHI) in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and all applicable state laws.

Data Collection and Processing

  1. Mind The Gap specifically does NOT:
    • Collect or store detailed medical records
    • Maintain patient treatment information
    • Process insurance claims
    • Store clinical notes or diagnostic information
    • Receive or store protected health information from healthcare providers
  2. If any PHI is inadvertently submitted through our website or communications channels, we will:
    • Immediately delete such information
    • Notify the sender of the inappropriate transmission
    • Document the incident and resolution
    • Take steps to prevent future occurrences

Website Forms and Communications

Any forms on our website:

  • Explicitly warn users NOT to submit protected health information
  • Include clear disclaimers about data usage
  • Specify what information should and should not be shared
  • Provide secure transmission methods for appropriate information

Resource Directory

Our provider and resource directory:

  • Contains only publicly available information
  • Does not store patient reviews or feedback containing PHI
  • Does not maintain appointment schedules or patient information
  • Includes HIPAA compliance requirements in provider listings

Third-Party Services

  1. Any third-party services we use are:
    • Evaluated for HIPAA compliance
    • Bound by Business Associate Agreements where applicable
    • Regularly monitored for security standards
    • Required to maintain appropriate safeguards
  2. We do not share any personal information with third parties unless:
    • Explicitly authorized by the user
    • Required by law
    • Necessary for the operation of our services (and covered by appropriate agreements)

Breach Notification

In the unlikely event of a data breach involving personal information, we will:

  1. Notify affected individuals as required by law
  2. Investigate the cause
  3. Take appropriate corrective action
  4. Report to relevant authorities as required
  5. Document all aspects of the incident and response

State-Specific Requirements

As a North Carolina-based organization, we comply with:

  • North Carolina Identity Theft Protection Act
  • NC General Statute § 75-65 (Security Breach Notification)
  • All applicable state privacy and security regulations

Business Associate Agreements

A Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is a legal contract required by HIPAA that must be established between a healthcare provider, health plan, or healthcare clearinghouse (known as “Covered Entities”) and any vendor or subcontractor (known as “Business Associates”) who will have access to, transmit, or store Protected Health Information (PHI).

Mind The Gap, does NOT store or maintain patient records; provide data analysis of patient information; process or transmit health records; handle billing that contains medical information; provide patient scheduling services; host applications containing PHI; provide IT services with access to PHI

Mind The Gap:

  • Only provides general educational content
  • Maintains a provider directory with public information
  • Simply links to healthcare providers
  • May host forums where users might discuss health (with appropriate disclaimers)
  • Offers general resource information
  • Have contributors write articles about mental health topics

While Mind The Gap primarily operates as a resource and information platform:

  1. We maintain Business Associate Agreements where required
  2. We comply with all BAA obligations
  3. We regularly review and update our BAA compliance
  4. We maintain documentation of all BAA relationships

Individual Rights

Under HIPAA, individuals have certain rights regarding their health information. While Mind The Gap does not maintain individual health records, we:

  1. Respect and support these rights
  2. Provide information about how to exercise these rights
  3. Assist in directing individuals to appropriate resources
  4. Maintain procedures for handling privacy-related requests

Privacy Official

Mind The Gap maintains a designated Privacy Official responsible for:

  1. Overseeing HIPAA compliance
  2. Responding to privacy concerns
  3. Maintaining and updating privacy policies
  4. Conducting regular policy reviews
  5. Training staff on privacy procedures

Documentation

We maintain documentation of:

  1. Privacy policies and procedures
  2. Staff training records
  3. Risk assessments
  4. Security incidents and responses
  5. Policy reviews and updates

Contact Information

If you have questions about our services or this disclaimer, please contact us at [info@mindthegapconnects.org].

Updates to This Disclaimer

Mind The Gap reserves the right to update or modify this disclaimer at any time without prior notice. Your continued use of this website following any changes constitutes your acceptance of such changes.

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