Welcome to Syndicom SpineConnect

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. How do I join SpineConnect?

SpineConnect is a free service available for board-eligible or board-certified spine surgeons. Surgeons can register on the SpineConnect website (https://www.spineconnect.com/registration/) or through an invitation issued from another SpineConnect member. Please contact us at 970-385-4250 (9-5 Monday-Friday, Mountain Time), or send us an email if you need additional assistance.

2. I was told I was sent an invitation to join SpineConnect; however, I have not received it. What should I do?

If you know you have been sent an invitation to join SpineConnect, but it's not in your inbox, check your "Bulk Mail" or "Spam" folder. You can search for the term "SpineConnect" in the subject line. Below are tips (or links to tips) for Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail, Comcast, Cox Internet, and Juno.

If you download and save all copies of your email locally (using Outlook, Apple Mail, Entourage, etc.) you'll need to read the help files for your flavor of email reader.

• YAHOO
  Check your "Bulk Mail" folder by logging into your online Yahoo account. Chances are very good that the email sent from the inviting physician (via SpineConnect) is there. You'll need to tag the message as "not spam", and add the sender to the online Yahoo Address Book (the action "Add to Address Book" is located beside the from address) to prevent it from happening in the future.
• AOL
  Check your "Spam" folder. You'll need to add the sender to your Address Book to prevent it from happening in the future.
• HOTMAIL
  Hotmail's Junk Mail Filter has 3 settings: Low, Enhanced and Exclusive. If your account is set to Enhanced it's likely that email from SpineConnect is not arriving in your inbox. If it's set to Exclusive then More information is available here: http://postmaster.aol.com/selfhelp/missing.html only addresses you've added to your Safe List are allowed in your inbox. In either event, please add spineconnect.com to your Safe List. Click here for a Step by Step Screenshot Walkthrough.
• COMCAST
  Comcast requires its users to "Enable Spam Filtering" after which it filters suspected email to the Screened Mail folder. Instructions for adding SpineConnect.com addresses to your Comcast Webmail address book are available here.
• COX INTERNET
  Cox has an opt-in service called Spam Blocker - click here for more information.
• JUNO
  For Juno's email support - click here for more information.
• Other ISP
  If your ISP is not listed above, you'll need to contact their tech support for information on how they filter their email. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

3. Does SpineConnect comply with HIPAA regulations?

Yes. SpineConnect is not a regulated entity under HIPAA, and sharing of patient data with other physicians for the purpose of treatment is generally permitted under HIPAA. Nevertheless, SpineConnect's terms of use do not permit posting of patient identifiable information, and the application does not request or store such information. While SpineConnect is careful to comply with privacy and security guidelines, it is up to each member of SpineConnect to ensure patient identifiable information is not posted.

4. How secure is SpineConnect?

SpineConnect's entire site uses 128-bit SSL encryption. This is the web standard for secure information transactions. You would normally encounter an SSL site when you begin a credit card transaction, for instance. SSL sites encrypt all communications with the server, including your username and password during login, so no data you input can be intercepted. SSL is the highest level of security available for web sites, and SpineConnect uses it for all of your interactions with the site. SpineConnect's SSL security is verified by Verisign, and the Verisign link is available from the site for verification.

5. Who is eligible to participate in SpineConnect Community?

SpineConnect is open to board certified and board eligible orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons only. SpineConnect is not available to students, industry representatives, or 3rd parties. SpineConnect is here to assist physicians in collaborating with each other.

6. How are my contributions protected?

A Creative Commons attribution license is attached to each submission to the SpineConnect network. The attribution license allows others to use and build upon your submission for non-commercial purposes only and only if credit is given. Read more about the Creative Commons attribution license here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

7. What does SpineConnect do?

SpineConnect is a tool to help physicians collaborate with each other. The core of SpineConnect is the ability to submit a case, including diagnostic images, which can be viewed by physicians participating in the SpineConnect network. Since SpineConnect is web-based, participating physicians can be located anywhere in the world. SpineConnect allows physicians to view submitted cases and to provide reviews, helping you to get the best information available to treat your patient. In turn, you have the opportunity to review other physician's cases and contribute your knowledge.

As cases are added, they are stored in a searchable database. When your case is submitted, SpineConnect automatically searches the database, providing you with a list of similar cases if any are found, so you can immediately see how a similar case was handled. More advanced searches can be performed as well. SpineConnect also allows you to customize how you are notified about new cases.

Altogether, SpineConnect provides a more efficient and data-rich way of performing case reviews you do today while expanding your reach to the worldwide community of spine surgeons.

8. How do I use SpineConnect to collaborate?

Collaboration in SpineConnect centers on cases and "trusted" groups. When first joining SpineConnect, new members can join an existing group of surgeons whom they already know (and trust), or create their own group. These groups of physicians help each other by posting and reviewing cases and sharing knowledge. By working together, physicians benefit from exposure to cases they may not see otherwise, fast and efficient case reviews, and the experience and knowledge of the entire group. Patients benefit from more and higher quality reviews of their cases and the sharing of successful therapies among physicians.

The keys to successful collaboration in SpineConnect are:

• Submit interesting, unusual or difficult cases.
• Respond quickly to submitted cases.
• Acknowledge help you have received.

9. Terms and Conditions for using SpineConnect

Terms and Conditions of Use of Syndicom SpineConnect

This Agreement ("Agreement"), effective as the registration date ("Effective Date"), is by and between Syndicom, Inc.("Syndicom") and the registering physician ("User",as defined below).

1.    Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

"Content" means the audio and visual information, documents, software, products and services contained or made available to User in the course of using the Service;

"Customer Data" means any data, information or material provided or submitted by User to the Service in the course of using the Service;

"Intellectual Property Rights" means unpatented inventions, patent applications, patents, design rights, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain name rights, mask work rights, know-how and other trade secret rights, and all other intellectual property rights, derivatives thereof, and forms of protection of a similar nature anywhere in the world;

"Participant" means any physician or medical professional who provides or posts any information using the Service. Participants include User, as defined below.

"Practice of Medicine" means holding one's self out to the public as being able to diagnose, treat, prescribe for, palliate, or prevent any human disease, ailment, pain, injury, deformity, or physical or mental condition, whether by the use of drugs, surgery manipulation, electricity, or any physical, mechanical, or other means whatsoever.

"Professional Services" mean services provided to any member of the public in a professional capacity or under the auspices of being performed by a member of a profession within the fields encompassed by the profession, including the Practice of Medicine.

"Medical Consultation" means the providing of medical opinions in the context of a professional relationship with another physician upon which consultation the consulting physician may rely in providing professional services to a patient or patients.

"Syndicom Technology" means all of Syndicom's proprietary technology (including software, hardware, products, processes, algorithms, user interfaces, know-how, techniques, designs and other tangible or intangible technical material or information) made available to User by Syndicom in providing the Service;

"Service" means Syndicom's online site, currently known as SpineConnect, for collaboration, feedback, analysis, or other services developed, operated, and maintained by Syndicom, accessible via http://www.Syndicom.com, http://www.spineconnect.com or another designated web site or IP address, or ancillary services rendered to User by Syndicom, to which User is being granted access under this Agreement, including the Syndicom Technology and the Content.

"User" means you upon acceptance of these Terms and Condition of use, which acceptance is a condition precedent to any use of the Service.

2.    Medical Use of SpineConnect.

1. For Educational Use Only; No Medical Diagnoses. User agrees that the use of Syndicom's SpineConnect Service and all information obtained from that use is for educational and general discussion purposes only. Syndicom and participating physicians are not in a position to provide actual medical examination, diagnosis, or treatment. User has an independent duty of examination, diagnosis and treatment. Opinions expressed on the Service are those of individual authors only, not of Syndicom.

2. No Medical Consultation; No Practice of Medicine. User agrees and understands that the provision of any information by Syndicom and/or any Participant on the Service does not constitute and may not be relied upon as Medical Consultation, the Practice of Medicine, or Professional Services. User agrees that no monetary compensation will be exchanged between Participants related to the use of the Service. If a Medical Consultation is desired, contact the Participant directly.

3. No Patient/Physician Relationship. Obtaining or using information from the Service or otherwise participating in the Service shall not create a patient/physician relationship between any patient of User and Syndicom or any other Participant.

4. Information is Confidential. User will hold in confidence and not produce to any person or entity any information learned as a result of any use of the Service, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. If any such information is subject to any subpoena or other legal requirement for production, User will provide notice to Syndicom in sufficient time for Syndicom to intervene and defend against the production of the information. User will cooperate with Syndicom in intervening and resisting the production of the information.

5. No Standards of Care Created. User agrees and acknowledges that postings shall not be construed as establishing or stating standards of care applicable to a particular patient. User and Participants recognize that they have an independent duty of examination, diagnosis, and treatment, and cannot base medical decisions upon postings on the Service, which are for educational purposes only. Participants agree to refrain from representing that any information posted by Participants or Syndicom constitutes a Medical Consultation or statement as to particular medical standards of care.

6. No Responsibility for Use of Medical Devices. Syndicom and Participants are not responsible for the usage of medical devices described or discussed on the Service, including any "off-label" usage. User and Participants are responsible for making all medical decisions with respect to the use of specific medical devices.

7. Professional Status; Professional Liability Insurance. A User who represents to Syndicom or otherwise that he/she is a physician warrants that he/she is a Board Certified or Board Eligible physician. Each physician User agrees and covenants that he/she has and will maintain in place professional liability insurance in at least the amount of $1,000,000 in coverage per occurrence. Each participating medical professional agrees to cease the use of SpineConnect immediately if their professional certification, eligibility or liability coverage is interrupted for any reason, and to notify Syndicom immediately in any such case.

3.    License Grants & Restrictions. Syndicom hereby grants User a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide right to access and use the Service, solely with supported browsers through the Internet for User's own internal non-commercial purposes, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. User may not permit the Service to be used by or for the benefit of unauthorized third parties. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to grant User any right to transfer or assign rights to access or use the Service. All rights not expressly granted to User are reserved by Syndicom and its licensors. User shall not (i) license, sublicense, sell, resell, transfer, assign, distribute or otherwise commercially exploit or make available to any third party the Service in any way; (ii) modify or make derivative works based upon the Service; (iii) reverse engineer or access the Service in order to (a) build a competitive product or service, (b) build a product using similar features, functions or graphics of the Service, or (c) copy any features, functions or graphics of the Service.

User acknowledges and agrees that, as between the parties, Syndicom owns all right, title, and interest in and to the Service, including all Intellectual Property Rights therein.

4.    Privacy & Security. Syndicom's privacy and security policies are incorporated herein by reference upon User's review and acknowledgement, may be viewed at http://www.Syndicom.com.

5.    HIPAA Business Associate Agreement. Syndicom will appropriately safeguard any protected health information as required by the Health Insurance Portability Act, as codified at 43 U.S.C. 1320d and any current and future regulations promulgated thereunder including without limitation the federal privacy regulations contained in 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164 (the "Federal Privacy Standards") and the federal security standards contained in 45 CFR Parts 160, 162 and 164 (the "Federal Security Standards"), all collectively referred to as "HIPAA Requirements". Syndicom agrees not to use or further disclose any Protected Health Information (as defined in 45 CFR 164.501) or Individually Identifiable Health Information (as defined in 42 USC 1320d), other than as permitted by the HIPAA Requirements, the terms of this License or the normal functionality of the Service. To the extent applicable under HIPAA, Syndicom shall make its internal practices, books, and records relating to the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information available to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the extent required for determining compliance with the Federal Privacy Standards.

Notwithstanding the above, Syndicom strongly urges Users to remove all Protected Health Information from their case postings, including by covering over any such information prior to attaching images.

6.    User Responsibilities. User is responsible for all activity occurring under User's user accounts and is solely responsible for compliance with all applicable local, state, national and foreign laws, treaties and regulations relating to User's use of the Service, including those related to the practice of medicine, privacy and security of medical information (e.g. HIPAA), protection of intellectual property, data privacy, international communications and the transmission of technical or personal data. User shall: (i) notify Syndicom immediately of any unauthorized use of any password or account or any other known or suspected breach of security; and (ii) report to Syndicom immediately and use reasonable efforts to stop immediately any copying or distribution of Content that is known or suspected by User.

User is responsible for obtaining and maintaining any equipment and ancillary services needed to connect to, access or otherwise use the Service, including, without limitation, modems, hardware, server, software, Internet browsers operating system, networking, web servers, long distance and local telephone service, but excluding the Service itself (collectively, "Equipment"). User shall be responsible for ensuring that such Equipment is compatible with the Service. User shall also be responsible for the use, and maintaining the security, of the Equipment.

As a condition to User's use of the Service, User agrees not to:

1. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any information, materials or other content that is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, offensive, invades another's privacy, or promotes bigotry, racism, hatred for harm against any individual or group;

2. impersonate any person or entity or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent User's affiliation with a person or entity;

3. forge headers or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any content transmitted through the Service;

4. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any information, materials or other content that User knows to infringe another's rights, including any intellectual property rights;

5. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any material that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment;

6. reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble any of the software used to provide this web site or the Service;

7. interfere with or disrupt this web site or the Service, or any servers or networks connected to the Service, or disobey any requirements, procedures, policies or regulations of networks connected to the Service; or

8. obtain, collect, store or modify the personal information about other users.

Syndicom reserves the right to investigate and prosecute violations of any of the above to the fullest extent of the law. Syndicom may involve and cooperate with law enforcement authorities in prosecuting Users who violate this Agreement. User acknowledges that Syndicom has no obligation to pre-screen or monitor User's access to or use of the Service or any information, materials or other content provided or made available through this web site, but has the right to do so for the purpose of operating the Service, to ensure User's compliance with this Agreement, or to comply with applicable law or the order or requirement of a court, administrative agency or other governmental body. User hereby agrees that Syndicom may, in the exercise of Syndicom's sole discretion, remove or delete any postings, information, materials or other content that violates this Agreement or that is otherwise objectionable; provided that Syndicom provides notice to User of such deletion or removal.

7.    Fees. As consideration for the Services to be provided under this Agreement, User shall pay Syndicom the fees set forth in this Agreement or otherwise set-forth at any time by Syndicom upon registration or log-in to the Service. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, Syndicom shall be responsible for payment of all expenses and all costs incurred in performance of its obligations under this Agreement.

8.    User Data. In the course of using the Service, User may submit data, information or material ("Customer Data"). As between User and Syndicom, User shall remain the sole owner of all Customer Data, provided however that User hereby grants to Syndicom a non-exclusive, worldwide right to use, copy, distribute, display, disclose and perform such Customer Data and sublicense such rights, solely in connection with Syndicom's operation of the Service on User�s behalf, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. User, not Syndicom, shall have sole responsibility for the accuracy, quality, integrity, legality, reliability, appropriateness, and intellectual property ownership or right to use of all Customer Data, and Syndicom shall not be responsible or liable for the deletion, accuracy, correction, disclosure, destruction, damage, loss or failure to store any Customer Data.

9.    Intellectual Property Ownership. Syndicom alone (and its licensors, where applicable) shall own all right, title and interest, including all related Intellectual Property Rights, in and to the Syndicom Technology, the Content and the Service. This Agreement is not a sale and does not convey to User any rights of ownership in or related to the Service, the Syndicom Technology or the Intellectual Property Rights owned by Syndicom. The Syndicom name, the Syndicom logo, and the product names associated with the Service are trademarks of Syndicom or third parties, and no right or license is granted to use them. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, User shall retain all right, title and interest to Customer Data. Syndicom agrees to retain in confidence the non-public terms in this Agreement and all other non-public information disclosed or provided under this Agreement (including without limitation all Customer Data) which is either designated as proprietary and/or confidential, or by the nature of the circumstances surrounding disclosure, should reasonably be understood to be confidential.

10.    Term and Termination. This Agreement shall take effect on the Effective Date and will continue in effect for one (1) year and may be renewed for an additional one (1) year period by mutual agreement of the parties. Either party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice, if the other party breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement in any material respect, which breach is not remedied within thirty (30) days following written notice to such breaching party.

11.    Representations & Warranties. Each party represents and warrants that it has the legal power and authority to enter into this Agreement.

12.    Disclaimer of Warranties. THE SERVICE AND ALL CONTENT IS PROVIDED TO USER STRICTLY ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. ALL CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW BY SYNDICOM.COM AND ITS LICENSORS. SYNDICOM.COM AND ITS LICENSORS MAKE NO REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY, OR GUARANTY AS TO THE RELIABILITY, TIMELINESS, QUALITY, SUITABILITY, TRUTH, AVAILABILITY, ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE SERVICE OR ANY CONTENT. SYNDICOM.COM AND ITS LICENSORS DO NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT (A) THE USE OF THE SERVICE WILL BE SECURE, TIMELY, UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OR OPERATE IN COMBINATION WITH ANY OTHER HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, SYSTEM OR DATA, (B) THE SERVICE WILL MEET User's REQUIREMENTS OR EXPECTATIONS, (C) ANY STORED DATA WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE, (D) THE QUALITY OF ANY PRODUCTS, SERVICES, INFORMATION, OR OTHER MATERIAL PURCHASED OR OBTAINED BY USER THROUGH THE SERVICE WILL MEET USER'S REQUIREMENTS OR EXPECTATIONS, (E) ERRORS OR DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR (F) THE SERVICE OR THE SERVER(S) THAT MAKE THE SERVICE AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.

User acknowledges that the Service may be temporarily unavailable for scheduled maintenance or for unscheduled maintenance, either by Syndicom or by third-party providers, or because of other causes beyond Syndicom's reasonable control. Syndicom will not be liable for any such unavailability, but Syndicom shall use reasonable efforts to provide advance notice in writing or by e-mail of any scheduled service disruption.

Do Not Rely on Information on SpineConnect: User agrees and understands that information provided by Syndicom or any Participant or taken from use of the Service does not constitute, and may not be construed as, Medical Consultation, the provision of Professional Services or the Practice of Medicine and User covenants that User will not rely upon any information so obtained as resulting from Medical Consultation, the provision of Professional Services or the Practice of Medicine. User agrees to not represent to anyone that information learned from the website constitutes a Medical Consultation. The information provided by Participants on the Service is strictly that of the Participants and is not reviewed in any way nor endorsed by Syndicom. Syndicom shall have no duty to insure the accuracy or appropriateness of any information on the Service.

13.    Limitation of Liability. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNTS ACTUALLY PAID BY USER IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTH PERIOD IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO SUCH CLAIM. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY AND/OR ITS LICENSORS BE LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR ANY INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES OF ANY TYPE OR KIND (INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, REVENUE, PROFITS, USE OR OTHER ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE) ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THIS SERVICE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, OR FOR ANY CONTENT OBTAINED FROM OR THROUGH THE SERVICE, ANY INTERRUPTION, INACCURACY, ERROR OR OMISSION, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE IN THE CONTENT, EVEN IF SUCH PARTY OR SUCH ITS LICENSORS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Syndicom and its licensors make no representation that the Service is appropriate or available for use in other locations. If User uses the Service from outside the United States of America and/or the European Union, User is solely responsible for compliance with all applicable laws, including without limitation export and import regulations of other countries. Any diversion of the Content contrary to United States or European Union (including European Union Member States) law is prohibited.

14.    Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned, whether by operation of law or otherwise, except in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or substantially all of User's assets or business to which this Agreement pertains, by User without the prior written approval of Syndicom. Any purported assignment in violation of this section shall be void.

15.    No Legal Duty to User. Syndicom and Participants have no legal duty to User or other recipient of Service information, or to third parties or entities, including patients of Participants or User.

16.    Agreement Not to Assert Claims Against Syndicom or Participants; Waiver of Claims. User agrees that user will not assert against Syndicom, or other Participants, any legal claims, demand, or actions, however described, in law or in equity. User specifically agrees to waive any and all rights to assert any type of legal claim against Syndicom or other Participants for any reason whatsoever relating to, or arising from, the use of the Service.

17.    Indemnification of Syndicom and Participants. User agrees to defend, indemnify and hold Syndicom, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, suppliers and its Participants harmless from and against any claims, actions or demands, liabilities and settlements, including without limitation, reasonable legal, accounting and expert fees, arising or resulting from, or alleged to result from, User's use of the Service, including information or advice obtained from use of the Service, in the Practice of Medicine and/or in providing Medical Consultation. Syndicom will provide notice to you within a reasonable time or any such claim, suit or proceeding and shall reasonably cooperated with you, at your expense, in your defense of any such claim, suit or proceeding.

18.    General. This Agreement shall be governed by Colorado law and controlling United States federal law, without regard to the choice or conflicts of law provisions of any jurisdiction, and any disputes, actions, claims or causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Denver, Colorado. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, then such provision(s) shall be construed, as nearly as possible, to reflect the intentions of the invalid or unenforceable provision(s), with all other provisions remaining in full force and effect. No joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relationship exists between User and Syndicom as a result of this agreement or use of the Service. The failure of Syndicom to enforce any right or provision in this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision unless acknowledged and agreed to by Syndicom in writing. This Agreement comprises the entire agreement between User and Syndicom with respect to User's use of the Service and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous negotiations, discussions, terms and conditions or agreements, whether written, oral or online, between the parties regarding the subject matter contained herein. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and such additional terms and conditions, this Agreement shall govern.