Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Effective date: October 1, 2026
The Wellness Abode ("we," "us," or "our"), respects your privacy. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use and protect it, and the choices you have. It applies to our websites, online store, and virtual care services.
1. Who we are
The Wellness Abode is a virtual functional medicine practice led by Dr. Melissa Esguerra, DC, located at 1611 S Melrose Dr., Ste. A, Vista, CA 92081. Prescription medications, when appropriate, are prescribed by independent licensed providers in the MD Integrations network. Questions about this policy can be sent to clinic@thewellnessabode.com.
2. Information we collect
Effective date: October 1, 2026
The Wellness Abode ("we," "us," or "our"), respects your privacy. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use and protect it, and the choices you have. It applies to our websites, online store, and virtual care services.
1. Who we are
The Wellness Abode is a virtual functional medicine practice led by Dr. Melissa Esguerra, DC, located at 1611 S Melrose Dr., Ste. A, Vista, CA 92081. Prescription medications, when appropriate, are prescribed by independent licensed providers in the MD Integrations network. Questions about this policy can be sent to clinic@thewellnessabode.com.
2. Information we collect
- Contact information: your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.
- Health information: the medical history, symptoms, medications, lab results, and other details you share in intake forms, visits, and messages.
- Payment information: payments are processed by secure third-party payment processors. We do not store full card numbers.
- Technical information: your IP address, device and browser type, and how you use our website, collected through cookies and similar tools.
3. How we use your information
We use your information to provide and coordinate your care, schedule visits, process payments and orders, communicate with you, improve our services, keep our systems secure, and meet legal obligations. We do not sell your personal information.
4. HIPAA and Protected Health Information
Health information that identifies you and relates to your care is called protected health information ("PHI"). We handle PHI in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") and applicable state privacy laws, including the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, wherever they apply to us.
- How we use and share PHI: we use and share PHI for treatment (for example, with the licensed prescriber who evaluates you and the pharmacy that dispenses your medication), for payment, and for our health care operations. We share only the minimum information needed for each purpose.
- Our service providers: companies that handle PHI for us, including our prescribing network and patient management software, are required to protect it and sign agreements limiting how they may use it.
- No sale or marketing use: we do not sell PHI, and we will not use or share your PHI for marketing without your written authorization.
- Other disclosures: we may disclose PHI when required by law, such as in response to a valid legal request, or to prevent a serious threat to health or safety.
- Your rights: you may request a copy of your records, ask us to correct them, request a list of certain disclosures, ask us to limit certain uses, and ask us to contact you in a particular way. To make a request, email clinic@thewellnessabode.com.
- Complaints: if you believe your privacy rights were violated, you may contact us at the email above or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
- Notice of Privacy Practices: our full HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is available at https://shop.thewellnessabode.com/pages/notice-privacy.
5. How we share information
Besides the sharing described above, we share information with service providers who help us run our business (such as payment processors, email and scheduling tools, and website hosts), and with authorities when legally required. We do not share your information with third parties for their own marketing.
6. Cookies and tracking technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to operate our websites, remember your cart, and understand how our sites are used. We do not use advertising or tracking pixels on pages where you enter health information, including booking, intake, patient portal, and checkout pages. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Where required by law, we honor opt-out preference signals, such as Global Privacy Control.
We use cookies and similar technologies to operate our websites, remember your cart, and understand how our sites are used. We do not use advertising or tracking pixels on pages where you enter health information, including booking, intake, patient portal, and checkout pages. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Where required by law, we honor opt-out preference signals, such as Global Privacy Control.
7. Text messages
If you give us your mobile number, you agree to receive appointment reminders and care-related texts from us. Message and data rates may apply. You can reply STOP at any time to opt out. We do not share your mobile number or text consent with third parties for their marketing.
If you give us your mobile number, you agree to receive appointment reminders and care-related texts from us. Message and data rates may apply. You can reply STOP at any time to opt out. We do not share your mobile number or text consent with third parties for their marketing.
8. Your privacy choices and state rights
You may ask us to access, correct, or delete your personal information, and you may opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under state law, including the right to know what personal information we collect and to opt out of its sale or sharing. We do not sell your personal information or share it for cross-context advertising. Information covered by HIPAA is governed by Section 4 above. To make a request, email clinic@thewellnessabode.com. We will verify your identity and respond as required by applicable law. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights. Some health records must be kept for a legal minimum period and cannot be deleted before then.
You may ask us to access, correct, or delete your personal information, and you may opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under state law, including the right to know what personal information we collect and to opt out of its sale or sharing. We do not sell your personal information or share it for cross-context advertising. Information covered by HIPAA is governed by Section 4 above. To make a request, email clinic@thewellnessabode.com. We will verify your identity and respond as required by applicable law. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights. Some health records must be kept for a legal minimum period and cannot be deleted before then.
9. Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including secure, access-controlled systems. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including secure, access-controlled systems. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Retention
We keep health records for the period required by applicable law, and other information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy.
11. Children
Our services are intended for adults 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect information from children.
Our services are intended for adults 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect information from children.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The effective date above shows when it was last revised, and we will post changes on this page.
We may update this policy from time to time. The effective date above shows when it was last revised, and we will post changes on this page.
13. Contact us
The Wellness Abode
1611 S Melrose Dr., Ste. A, Vista, CA 92081
Email: clinic@thewellnessabode.com
The Wellness Abode
1611 S Melrose Dr., Ste. A, Vista, CA 92081
Email: clinic@thewellnessabode.com