Cookie Policy

1. What is a Cookie?

Cookies are small bits of data we store on the device (computer, mobile phone, tablet or any other mobile device) that you use to access any of the websites (the Sites), so we can recognize repeat users. Each cookie expires after a certain period of time depending on what we use it for. Like most commercial websites we use cookies on web pages. We use cookies for several reasons. Below we list and describe the various types of cookies we use on our site.

By using websites, you expressly consent to the use of cookies as described on this page as well as in our PRIVACY POLICY. Please see below for details on each of the types of cookies we use.

2. What Cookies Do We Use?

Below we list the different types of cookies that may be used on the Sites. We have updated this policy to include a detailed list of cookies used on each of our Sites, that include information about type of cookie, expiry periods, and links to third party sites where applicable.

The Sites use both 1st party cookies (which are set by the Sites being visited) and 3rd party cookies (which are set by a server located outside the domain of our Sites).

3. Required or Essential Cookies

Certain cookies are necessary for the Sites to operate correctly. For example, we use cookies to authenticate you. When you log on to our websites, authentication cookies are set which let us know who you are during a browsing session. These are set automatically.

4. Functionality Cookies

These cookies are used to enable certain additional functions on our websites, such as storing your preferences (e.g. username and language selection) and preventing users from taking the same form multiple times. These functions improve user experience.

5. Preference Cookies

Preference cookies collect information about your choices and preferences and allow us to remember language or other local settings to customize the Sites accordingly.

6. Social Media Cookies

Social media cookies collect information about social media usage to target relevant ads to users.

7. Analytics Cookies

Analytic cookies collect information about your use of the sites that enable us to improve the way it works. For example, analytics cookies show us which are the most frequently visited pages on the Sites, help us record any difficulties you have with the Sites, and show us whether our advertising is effective or not. This allows us to see the overall patterns of usage on the Sites, rather than the usage of a single person. We use the information to analyze the Sites’ traffic.

8. Targeting or Advertising Cookies

We may use cookies to market services to you on third-party websites. For example, if you visit our website, you may then see an advertisement for services on certain third party websites you visit in the future. Information about this is described under the paragraph in our Privacy Policy which is entitled “We may disclose the presence of a cookie to advertise our services.”

We sometimes use cookies delivered by third parties to track the performance of our advertisements. For example, these cookies remember which browsers were used to visit our websites. The information provided to third parties does not include personal information, but this information may be re-associated with personal information after we receive it. This process helps us manage and track the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.

We also contract with third-party advertising networks that may collect IP addresses and other information from web beacons on our websites, emails, and on third-party websites. Ad networks follow your online activities over time by collecting website navigational information through automated means, using cookies. They use this information to provide advertisements about products and services that may be of interest to you. You may see these advertisements on other websites. This process also helps us manage and track the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.

9. How Do I Manage Cookies?

If you’d like to remove or disable cookies via your browser, you certainly can.

We provide you with a choice on the use of cookies as described in this policy. Please note that our websites may not work correctly if you change certain preferences, such as disabling all cookies.

Please also note that after applying these settings, you will continue to receive advertising, although it may not be tailored to your preferred interests using information collected from cookies and similar technologies on your device.

First Party Cookies. If you’d rather we didn’t use cookies when you visit us, click here for information on how to configure your browser settings to reject cookies. Please note, disabling these types of cookies won’t turn off advertising on our websites and the advertising you see may be less relevant to you.

Third Party Cookies. If you would like to opt-out of third-party cookies, here are some options:

If you would like to opt-out of receiving personalized ads from third party advertisers and ad networks who are members of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), or who follow the Digital Advertising Alliance’s (DAA) Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising, you can by visiting the opt-out pages on the NAI website and DAA website or click here to opt out.
Google provides a suite of tools to control its cookies:
- - Google Analytics, which is a tool used to track and report website traffic, provides an out-out browser add-on that can be downloaded here.
Google Safety Centre has a tool where you can control the ads you see on Google and control the data used for serving ads to you. It can be found here.
If you wish to block other cookies, including those being served by companies that are not part of the NAI or the DAA you can use the browser-level cookie controls described below.

Browser-level cookie controls

Most browsers allow you to manage cookie settings. These settings can usually be found in the ‘Settings’, ‘Options’ or ‘Preferences’ menu of your browser. The links below are provided to help you find the settings for some common browsers.

Manage cookie settings in Chrome and Chrome Android and Chrome iOS
Manage cookie settings in Firefox
Manage cookie settings in Internet Explorer
Manage cookie settings in Microsoft Edge
Manage cookie settings in Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

10. Lists of Cookies Used Broken Down by Site

Essential Website Cookies

Name

Category

Expiry

Description

language

Functional

1 Day

Used by Sites to track visitors’ language

PHPSESSID

Functional

Session

Preserves user session state across page requests

wp-settings*

Functional

1 year

WordPress sites use to store site related settings

ci_session

Functional

1 Day

Used by Sites to clear session once user leaves the browser

currency

Functional/E-Commerce Sites

1 Day

Used by Sites to track visitor’s currency

chat-window

Offhour Patients/Functional

1 Day

Used by Offhour Patients ChatBot to remember chat window minimized, maximized status

TawkConnectionTime

Tawk ChatBot/Functional

1 Day

Used by Tawk ChatBot to track successful connection

viewedOuibounceModal, hp_popup, hidepopup

Functional

1 Day

Used to remember popup is activated for user.

spu_*, spruceup_*, effects_*

Spruceup/Functional

1 Day

Used to remember effects activation and user interaction with the effects

Analytics and Customization Cookies

Name

Category

Expiry

Description

__utma

Google/Analytics

2 years

Used to distinguish users and sessions

ACCOUNT_CHOOSER, LSOLH, LSID, GAPS

Google Accounts/Functional

2 years

Used by Google to store account related data

OTZ

Google Apis/Functional

2 years

Used by Google for functional data.

__utmb

Google/Analytics

30 minutes

Used to determine new sessions and visits

__utmc

Google/Analytics

session

Used for Google Analytics

__utmt

Google/Analytics

10 minutes

Used to throttle request rates

__utmz

Google/Analytics

6 months

Stores the traffic source for campaign that explains how the user reached your site

__utmv

Google/Analytics

2 years

Used to store custom variables per visit. Updated whenever new data is sent to Google Analytics.

__utmz

Google/Analytics

6 Months

Used to keep track of the traffic source or campaign, revealing some information on how the user reached the website. Updated whenever new data is sent to Google Analytics.

_ga

Google/Analytics

2 years

Registers a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data

_gid

Google/Analytics

1 Day

Google Analytics Registers a unique ID that is used to generate statistical data

_dc_gtm_UA-XX

Google/Analytics

Session

Google Analytics Used by Google Tag Manager to control the loading of a page

__atssc

Google/Analytics

2 years

Used to manage the share count, until the sharing cache is updated.

__atssc

AddThis/Functional

2 years

Used to manage the share count, until the sharing cache is updated.

__atuvc

AddThis/Functional

2 years

Used to show you an updated share count for an article, if you yourself share it and return to page later, but before the sharing cache was updated. No info from this cookie is sent back to AddThis. It is created and used only by the client.

__atuvc

AddThis/Functional

30 mins

AddThis/Functional

2 years

Used to keep track of the expiration time of other cookies.

di2

AddThis/Functional

2 years

Used to keep track of the expiration time of other cookies.

AddThis/Functional

1 month

Used to keep track of the expiration time of other cookies.

loc

AddThis/Functional

2 years

Used to help publishers understand approximately where in the world their content is being shared. (Geolocation.)

ssc

AddThis/Functional

2 years

Used to register shares and social activity.

psc

AddThis/Functional

2 years

Used to register shares and social activity.

uid

AddThis/Functional

2 years

Used to differentiate between users.

AddThis/Functional

2 years

Used to register shares and social activity.

DSID, IDE, FLC, AID, TAID, __ar_v4, exchange_uid

Double Click by Google/Analytics

2 years

Used by Google Advertising services to store user unique IDs and advertising related data.

MUID, MUIDB,_uet_sid, _uetsid

Bing/Analytics

2 years

Used by Bing to store analytics related data.

sb, xs, spin, wd, act, tr, presence

Facebook/Analytics

Session

Used by Facebook to store analytics and tracking related data.

Facebook/Analytics

3 month

Used by Facebook to store Encrypted Facebook ID and Browser ID.

c_user

Facebook/Analytics

1 months

Used by Facebook to store Facebook ID.

datrr

Facebook/Analytics

2 years

Used by Facebook to store Browser ID.

ct0

Twitter/Analytics

Continuously