Privacy Policy for My Houston Surgeons | SMS

Effective Date: February 14, 2025

Last Updated: February 19, 2025

At My Houston Surgeons, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information, your rights regarding your data, and how to exercise them. By using our website and providing your phone number, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

1. Data Collection

We collect the following personal information when you submit your details on our website:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, and phone number.
• Website Interactions: Information about your activity on our site (e.g., pages visited).

2. Data Usage

The information we collect is used for:

• Communication: Sending SMS messages related to appointments, inquiries, or services you requested.
• Customer Support: Responding to your inquiries or requests.
• Service Updates: Providing notifications about changes or updates to services.

Your phone number and SMS consent will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes.

3. Data Protection

We implement the following measures to protect your personal information:

• Secure storage of all data on encrypted servers.
• Limited access to personal data by authorized personnel only.
• Routine monitoring for vulnerabilities and potential security threats.

4. User Rights

You have the right to:

• Access Your Data: Request a copy of the personal data we have collected.
• Request Deletion: Ask us to delete your personal data from our records.
• Modify Information: Update or correct inaccurate data.
• Opt-Out: Withdraw consent for receiving SMS communications (see Section 6 for details).

To exercise these rights, contact us at 713-489-5979.

5. Opt-In and Opt-Out for SMS Communications

Opt-In: By submitting your phone number, you consent to receive SMS communications related to appointments, updates, and other relevant information.

Opt-Out: To stop receiving SMS messages, reply “STOP” to any message you receive. You may also contact us directly to opt-out.

6. Types of SMS Communications

If you provide consent, you may receive SMS communications such as:

• Appointment Reminders: Notifications about scheduled appointments.
• Service Updates: Information regarding inquiries or cases you have submitted.

Message frequency may vary, and standard message and data rates may apply.

7. Standard Messaging Disclosures

To opt-out of SMS messages, reply “STOP” to any message.

For further assistance, reply “HELP” to any message or contact us at 713-489-5979.

8. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated via email or SMS, or by posting the updated policy on our website with a revised effective date.

9. Accessibility

This Privacy Policy is prominently displayed on our website for easy access. If you have difficulty accessing this policy, please contact us for assistance.

Contact Information

For privacy-related inquiries, please contact us at:

Phone: 713-489-5979

Terms and Conditions for SMS Communications

Terms and Conditions for SMS Communications

Effective Date: February 14, 2025

Last Updated: February 19, 2025

 

By providing your phone number and consent to receive SMS communications from My Houston Surgeons, you agree to the following terms and conditions. These terms outline how we use your phone number, the types of communications you can expect, and how to manage your preferences.

1. Consent for SMS Communications

By submitting your phone number on our website, you consent to receive SMS communications from My Houston Surgeons. Your phone number and consent will never be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes. SMS messages will be used solely for communication related to services you have requested.

2. Types of SMS Communications

Once you provide consent, you may receive SMS messages including:

• Customers and Guests: Updates on appointments, service-related inquiries, or relevant information regarding your interactions with us.
• Job Applicants: Notifications about the status of your application or related updates.
• Reminders: Alerts regarding scheduled appointments or follow-ups.

We do not send promotional or marketing messages unless explicitly requested by you.

3. Standard Messaging Disclosures

To opt-out of receiving SMS messages, reply with the word “STOP” to any message you receive. You will no longer receive SMS communications unless you provide consent again.

• Message Frequency: The number of messages you receive may vary depending on your requests or activity but will typically range between [0-2] messages per day.
• Message and Data Rates: Standard message and data rates may apply based on your mobile carrier and plan.

4. Example Messages

Below are examples of the types of SMS messages you may receive:

• Appointment Reminder: “Your appointment with My Houston Surgeons is scheduled for [Date/Time]. Reply STOP to opt-out, message frequency may vary, text HELP for assistance. Message and data rates may apply.”
• Service Update: “Thank you for scheduling your appointment. Reply STOP to opt-out, message frequency may vary, text HELP for assistance. Message and data rates may apply.”
• Job Application Update: “Your application status has been updated. Visit [URL] for details. Reply STOP to opt-out, text HELP for assistance. Message and data rates may apply.”

5. Managing Your Preferences

• Opt-Out: To stop receiving SMS communications at any time, reply “STOP” to any message. You will receive a confirmation of your opt-out request, and no further messages will be sent unless you provide consent again.
• Re-Subscribe: If you wish to receive SMS messages again, please contact us to update your preferences.

6. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns regarding SMS communications, please contact us:

Website: www.myhoustonsurgeons.com
Phone: 713-489-5979

7. Updates to Terms and Conditions

These terms may be updated periodically. Any significant changes will be communicated via SMS or on our website. Please review these terms regularly to stay informed about how your information is used.

By consenting to receive SMS communications, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms and conditions. Thank you for choosing My Houston Surgeons!

 

Privacy Policy | Medical Information

Effective Date: January 1, 2016

HPCS Privacy Officer: Amy Hoffman, Email: Amy@myhoustonsurgeons.com

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Get a copy of your paper or electronic medical record

• Correct your paper or electronic medical record

• Request confidential communication

• Ask us to limit the information we share

• Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information

• Get a copy of this privacy notice

• Choose someone to act for you

• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

Your Choices

You have some choices in the way that we use and share information as we:

• Tell family and friends about your condition

• Provide disaster relief

• Include you in a hospital directory

• Provide mental health care

• Market our services and sell your information

• Raise funds

Our Uses and Disclosures

We may use and share your information as we:

• Treat you

• Run our organization

• Bill for your services

• Help with public health and safety issues

• Do research

• Comply with the law

• Respond to organ and tissue donation requests

• Work with a medical examiner or funeral director

• Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests

• Respond to lawsuits and legal actions

Your Rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record

• You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. Ask us how to do this.

• We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.

Ask us to correct your medical record

• You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. Ask us how to do this.

• We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.

Request confidential communications

• You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address.

• We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.9230 Katy Freeway, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77055

Ask us to limit what we use or share

• You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.

• If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer. We will say “yes” unless a law requires us to share that information.

Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information

• You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.

• We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make). We’ll provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.

Get a copy of this privacy notice

You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.

Choose someone to act for you

• If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.

• We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.

File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated

• You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting us using the information on page 1.

• You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.

• We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Your Choices

For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.

In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:

• Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care

• Share information in a disaster relief situation

• Include your information in a hospital directory

If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

In these cases we never share your information unless you give us written permission:

• Marketing purposes

• Sale of your information

• Most sharing of psychotherapy notes

In the case of fundraising:

• We may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can tell us not to contact you again.

Our Uses and Disclosures

How do we typically use or share your health information?

We typically use or share your health information in the following ways.

Treat you

We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.

Example: A doctor treating you for an injury asks another doctor about your overall health condition.

Run our organization

We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.

Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.9230 Katy Freeway, Suite 600

Houston, Texas 77055

Bill for your services

We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.

Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.

How else can we use or share your health information?

We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html.

Help with public health and safety issues

We can share health information about you for certain situations such as:

• Preventing disease

• Helping with product recalls

• Reporting adverse reactions to medications

• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence

• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety

Do research

We can use or share your information for health research.

Comply with the law

We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.

Respond to organ and tissue donation requests

We can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations.

Work with a medical examiner or funeral director

We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies.

Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests

We can use or share health information about you:

• For workers’ compensation claims

• For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official

• With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law

• For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services

Respond to lawsuits and legal actions

We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.

Our Responsibilities

• We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.

• We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

• We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.

• We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.

For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.

Changes to the Terms of this Notice

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be

available upon request, in our office, and on our web site.