Terms of Use
These Terms of Use govern your access to and use of the website located at thenightingalestandard.com (the "Site"), operated by The Nightingale Standard ("we," "us," or "the firm"). By accessing or using this Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use this Site.
These Terms apply to your use of the Site only. They do not govern the terms of any professional engagement, which are addressed in a separate written engagement agreement and Business Associate Agreement executed between the firm and the client organization.
Use of the Site
This Site is intended for healthcare professionals, organizational leaders, and others seeking information about clinical documentation auditing and compliance services. You agree to use the Site only for lawful purposes and in a manner consistent with these Terms.
You may not use this Site to:
- Transmit any content that is unlawful, harmful, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable
- Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation with any organization
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Site or its underlying systems
- Use automated tools, scrapers, or bots to collect information from the Site without prior written consent
- Interfere with the security, integrity, or availability of the Site
- Upload or transmit protected health information (PHI) through the Site's contact or inquiry forms
Nature of Site Content
The content on this Site — including descriptions of services, methodology, regulatory guidance, and industry information — is provided for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, compliance, or professional advice and does not create a professional relationship of any kind.
No information provided on this Site should be relied upon as a substitute for qualified legal counsel, compliance consultation, or direct professional engagement. Regulatory requirements vary by jurisdiction, care setting, and organizational circumstance. Always consult qualified professionals before making compliance decisions.
A professional relationship is established only through a signed engagement agreement and Business Associate Agreement. Submitting an inquiry, scheduling a consultation, or exchanging email correspondence does not constitute the formation of a professional engagement or create any duty of care on the part of the firm.
Intellectual Property
All content on this Site — including text, design, graphics, logos, methodology descriptions, report frameworks, and other materials — is the property of The Nightingale Standard and is protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.
You may view, download, and print content from this Site solely for your personal, non-commercial informational use. You may not:
- Reproduce, republish, or redistribute Site content without prior written permission
- Use the firm's name, logo, or branding in any manner that suggests affiliation or endorsement without written consent
- Use Site content for commercial purposes, competitive analysis, or resale
- Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or proprietary notices from any content
Audit findings reports, remediation matrices, and other deliverables produced in connection with a professional engagement remain the work product of The Nightingale Standard and are subject to the intellectual property terms of the applicable engagement agreement.
No PHI Through This Site
This Site is not a secure channel for the transmission of protected health information. Do not submit patient records, clinical documentation, or any PHI through the contact form, consultation request form, or any other feature of this Site.
Clinical records and engagement-related materials are transferred exclusively through the firm's HIPAA-compliant secure file transfer process, established after the execution of a signed BAA. Instructions for secure record transfer are provided to clients at the commencement of each engagement.
Disclaimers
This Site and its content are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, The Nightingale Standard disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to:
- Implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
- Warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or currency of Site content
- Warranties that the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components
Regulatory guidance, CMS standards, and compliance requirements referenced on this Site are subject to change. We make reasonable efforts to keep content current but do not warrant that all information reflects the most current standards at the time of your access.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, The Nightingale Standard, its founder, and any affiliated personnel shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of this Site or reliance on its content — including but not limited to loss of revenue, loss of data, business interruption, or regulatory penalties.
Our total liability to you for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the Site shall not exceed one hundred dollars ($100), regardless of the form of the claim or the theory of liability.
Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. In such jurisdictions, the limitations above apply to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Third-Party Links & Services
This Site may contain links to third-party websites, including scheduling platforms, professional associations, and reference resources. These links are provided for convenience only. We do not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or availability of any third-party site.
Your use of any third-party site is governed by that site's own terms and policies.
Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the Site shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Connecticut, and you consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts.
Disputes arising from a professional engagement agreement are governed by the terms of that agreement, which may specify a different dispute resolution process.
Changes to These Terms
We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. When we do, we will update the effective date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the Site following any modification constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.
Contact
Questions or concerns regarding these Terms of Use may be directed to:
The Nightingale Standard
Attn: Legal Inquiries
[Madison@TheNightingaleStandard.com]
We will acknowledge receipt of your inquiry within two business days.
The Nightingale Standard — Nurse-Led Clinical Documentation Auditing