Privacy Policy

Last Updated: [September 14, 2026]

The American College of Hyperbaric Medicine (“ACHM,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide when you visit our website, become a member, apply for a program, communicate with ACHM, or otherwise interact with our organization.

This Privacy Policy explains the types of information we may collect, how we use and disclose that information, and the choices available to you.

By using the ACHM website or submitting information to ACHM, you acknowledge the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

The information ACHM collects depends on how you interact with us.

Information You Provide Directly

We may collect information you voluntarily provide through website forms, applications, membership registrations, program inquiries, event registrations, email communications, and other interactions with ACHM.

This information may include:

Name
Email address
Mailing address
Telephone number
Organization, employer, or practice name
Professional title
Professional credentials
Membership information
Education or training information
Payment and transaction information
Information submitted through contact or inquiry forms
Information submitted in connection with ACHM programs, applications, or professional recognition processes

Membership Information

When you apply for or maintain ACHM membership, we may collect information necessary to determine membership eligibility, administer your membership, process dues, communicate with you, and provide member benefits.

This may include professional role, employer or practice information, membership category, contact information, and payment records.

ACHM memberships are currently renewed annually. ACHM may update its membership and renewal processes as its systems evolve.

Fellowship Applications

Individuals applying for Fellowship in the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine may be asked to provide additional professional and identifying information necessary to evaluate eligibility.

This may include information such as:

Date of birth
Professional and personal contact information
Medical license information
Board-certification documentation
Hyperbaric medicine certification documentation
Curriculum vitae
Professional practice information
Letters of recommendation
Information related to teaching, research, leadership, service, and professional activities

ACHM uses this information to review Fellowship eligibility, administer the application and election process, communicate with applicants, and maintain appropriate organizational records.

Clinical Hyperbaric Safety CAQ / Facility Accreditation Information

Facilities applying for ACHM’s Clinical Hyperbaric Safety Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) may provide information related to the facility and its hyperbaric program.

This may include:

Applicant and facility contact information
Facility address and organizational information
Leadership and governance information
Chamber type and scope of services
Staff names and professional credentials
Staff license documentation
Safety and operational documentation
Quality and program information
Attestations and signatures
Information provided during application review or facility evaluation

ACHM uses this information to evaluate facility eligibility, administer the accreditation process, communicate with applicants, conduct reviews and evaluations, and maintain program records.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit ACHM.org, certain information may be collected automatically by the website, hosting provider, analytics services, security tools, or other technologies used to operate the site.

This information may include:

Internet Protocol (IP) address
Browser type
Device type
Operating system
Referring website
Pages viewed
Date and time of access
General geographic information
Website interactions and navigation activity

ACHM may use this information to operate, secure, analyze, and improve the website.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

ACHM may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, remember preferences, improve security, understand website usage, and evaluate site performance.

We may also use third-party analytics services, such as Google Analytics, to help us understand how visitors interact with the website.

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may be provided with options to accept, reject, or manage certain categories of cookies.

You may also adjust cookie settings through your browser. Disabling some cookies may affect the functionality of certain portions of the website.

How We Use Personal Information

ACHM may use information we collect to:

Operate and maintain the website
Respond to questions and inquiries
Process and administer memberships
Process membership dues and other payments
Review Fellowship applications
Review Clinical Hyperbaric Safety CAQ applications
Administer course-approval applications
Manage professional awards, recognition, education, and organizational programs
Provide member benefits and resources
Manage members-only website areas and forums
Communicate organizational news and announcements
Provide information about education, programs, events, and professional opportunities
Process registrations or applications
Verify professional eligibility or credentials where required
Improve website content and user experience
Monitor website security and prevent misuse
Maintain organizational and administrative records
Comply with applicable legal, regulatory, contractual, and organizational requirements

Email and Organizational Communications

ACHM may use your contact information to send communications related to membership, applications, programs, events, organizational updates, education, professional opportunities, and other ACHM activities.

You may unsubscribe from promotional email communications by using the unsubscribe option included in those messages where available.

Certain administrative or transactional communications may still be sent when necessary, such as communications concerning membership status, an application, payment, accreditation process, or other active relationship with ACHM.

Member Forums and Community Features

ACHM may provide members-only forums or other community features.

Information you voluntarily post in these areas may be visible to other authorized members or participants. Users should exercise care when deciding what information to share and should not post confidential information, patient information, or other sensitive personal information in forums or community areas.

ACHM may establish additional rules governing member forums and community participation.

Payments

ACHM uses Stripe, a third-party payment processor, to process membership dues, application fees, accreditation fees, event registrations, and other online payments.

When ACHM uses Stripe-hosted payment technology, payment-card information is transmitted directly to Stripe and is not stored in full on ACHM’s website servers. ACHM may receive and retain limited transaction information such as the payer’s name, payment amount, transaction date, payment status, and Stripe-generated customer or payment-method identifiers.

Stripe processes payment information in accordance with its own privacy, security, and PCI-compliance practices.

Analytics

ACHM uses Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to better understand how visitors use the website and to evaluate website performance.

Google Analytics may collect information such as pages viewed, website interactions, session information, browser and device characteristics, approximate geographic information, and identifiers stored through cookies or similar technologies.

ACHM uses this information to understand website usage, improve content and navigation, evaluate website performance, and support organizational planning.

Where required by applicable law, analytics technologies will be managed through appropriate consent controls.

Google prohibits Analytics customers from sending personally identifiable information to Google Analytics.

Advertising and Remarketing Technologies

ACHM may in the future use advertising, remarketing, or similar technologies to help communicate information about its programs, education, membership, events, or other organizational activities.

If ACHM implements advertising or remarketing technologies that collect or share personal information beyond the practices described in this Privacy Policy, ACHM will update its privacy disclosures and consent mechanisms as appropriate before or when those technologies are implemented.

How We Share Information

ACHM does not sell personal information for monetary compensation.

We may disclose personal information when reasonably necessary to organizations or individuals that help us operate ACHM and provide its programs and services, including:

Website hosting and technology providers
Website security providers
Payment processors
Email and communication platforms
Membership-management systems
Professional advisers
Program reviewers, committee members, or evaluators involved in an application or accreditation process
Vendors supporting events, education, or ACHM operations

These parties may receive only the information reasonably necessary to perform their services or responsibilities.

ACHM may also disclose information when required by law, legal process, court order, governmental request, or when reasonably necessary to protect ACHM, its members, applicants, users, or others.

Professional Application Review

Certain ACHM programs require information to be reviewed by individuals acting on behalf of ACHM.

For example, Fellowship applications may be reviewed by Fellowship leadership and ACHM governing bodies as part of the election process, while Safety CAQ applications may be reviewed by individuals involved in ACHM’s facility accreditation process.

Information submitted for these programs may therefore be shared internally or with authorized reviewers to the extent necessary to evaluate the application and administer the program.

Third-Party Websites

The ACHM website may contain links to websites operated by independent organizations, including education providers, professional organizations, event providers, industry partners, and other third parties.

ACHM does not control the privacy practices of those websites.

When you leave ACHM.org, the privacy policy and terms of the destination website govern your interaction with that site.

This is especially relevant to the ACHM-Approved Hyperbaric Medicine Courses directory, where enrollment, payment, course administration, and participant information may be handled directly by independent education providers.

Medical and Patient Information

ACHM is a professional membership, education, and accreditation organization. The general ACHM website is not intended to be used to communicate with a healthcare provider or to transmit patient medical information.

Please do not submit protected health information, patient records, or other confidential patient information through general website contact forms, member forums, or email unless ACHM has specifically instructed you to do so through an approved secure process.

Information on ACHM.org is intended for professional and educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

This is an important section for ACHM. I would definitely include it.

Data Security

ACHM uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, misuse, or destruction.

However, no website, electronic communication, or information-storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Users should use appropriate caution when transmitting sensitive information electronically.

Data Retention

ACHM retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, administer memberships and programs, maintain appropriate organizational records, satisfy legal or contractual requirements, resolve disputes, and protect ACHM’s legitimate interests.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the program involved.

For example, records associated with membership, Fellowship, professional recognition, accreditation, payments, or organizational governance may need to be retained for longer periods than ordinary website inquiries.

Your Privacy Choices and Rights

Depending on where you reside, applicable law may provide certain rights regarding your personal information.

These rights may include the ability to request:

Access to certain personal information ACHM maintains about you
Correction of inaccurate information
Deletion of certain information
Information about how your personal information is used or disclosed
Withdrawal of certain consent where consent is the basis for processing
Opt-out from certain communications

Some information may be exempt from these requests or may need to be retained for legal, contractual, accreditation, professional, or legitimate organizational purposes.

To make a privacy-related request, contact ACHM using the information provided below.

ACHM may need to verify your identity before completing certain requests.

California and Other U.S. State Privacy Rights

Residents of certain U.S. states may have additional privacy rights under applicable state law.

ACHM will respond to verified privacy requests as required by applicable law.

ACHM does not sell personal information for monetary compensation.

INTERNAL — VERIFY BEFORE FINAL: If the new site uses advertising pixels, remarketing technology, targeted advertising platforms, or other technologies that may constitute “sharing” under certain state privacy laws, this section should be expanded before launch.

International Visitors

ACHM serves a professional community that may include individuals located outside the United States.

If you access the ACHM website or submit information from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your country.

Where required by applicable law, ACHM will take appropriate steps concerning the processing of personal information.

Children’s Privacy

The ACHM website is intended primarily for healthcare professionals, students pursuing healthcare education, organizations, and other adults involved in hyperbaric medicine.

ACHM does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 through its general website.

If ACHM becomes aware that personal information from a child under 13 has been collected inappropriately, reasonable steps will be taken to delete it.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

ACHM may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in its website, programs, technology, organizational practices, or applicable legal requirements.

When changes are made, the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page will be revised.

We encourage visitors to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

Contact ACHM About Privacy

Questions or requests concerning this Privacy Policy or ACHM’s handling of personal information may be directed to:

American College of Hyperbaric Medicine
Email: admin@achm.org
Website: ACHM.org

Mailing Address: 6737 W Washington Street, Suite 3273, West Allis, WI 53214
Phone: (414) 269-4615