East Tennessee Focus Center Text Messaging Privacy Policy

At East Tennessee Focus Center, we take your privacy seriously. This policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your information when you opt in to receive text messages from our healthcare practice. For details about how we handle your Protected Health Information (PHI) under applicable privacy laws, please review our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.

Information We Collect & How We Collect It

When you opt in to receive text messages from us, we collect personal information, including your name and phone number. We may also collect message interaction data, such as delivery status, responses, and opt-in methods.

How We Collect Information

You provide personal information when you contact us to schedule an appointment or if you are referred to our office.

How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

Sending healthcare-related text messages, including appointment reminders, text-to-pay links, mobile check-in links, and office closure notifications.

Monitoring and improving our text messaging services.

For certain uses, we may also share your information as required under HIPAA and as detailed in our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.

Data Sharing & Disclosure

We respect your privacy. Your personal information is never sold or shared with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes without your explicit consent.

Exceptions:

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who help us deliver text messaging services.

We may also disclose your information when required by law, to comply with legal processes, in the event of corporate transactions (such as a merger or sale), or to ensure safety and security (e.g., to prevent harm or respond to emergencies).

Consent to Receive Text Messages

Your consent to receive text messages is specific to communications from our medical office and service partners, not third-party businesses.

How We Collect Consent:

Verbal Opt-In: When you call our office to schedule an appointment, we may ask for your verbal consent to send you automated healthcare-related text messages, such as appointment reminders and office closures.

Paper Opt-In: On our new patient forms, we may ask for your written consent to receive text communications from us.

Opting Out of Text Messages

You can opt out of our text messaging service at any time:

Reply “STOP” to any text message you receive from us, or

Call our office directly to request an opt-out.

Once you opt out, you will no longer receive text messages unless you opt back in.

Security of Your Information

We take reasonable precautions to safeguard your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. However, please note:

SMS text messages are not encrypted, and their content may be accessible by third parties.

We do not recommend sending sensitive information (e.g., medical records or payment details) via text message.

While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee the security of your information during transmission or storage.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Text Messaging Privacy Policy from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated to you via text message or another method we deem appropriate. Your continued use of our text messaging service after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

If any part of this policy conflicts with our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, the HIPAA Notice will govern, if applicable.

If you have any questions about this Text Messaging Privacy Policy or wish to update your text preferences, please contact our office directly.