Cedar Valley Eyecare Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Contact information

Name, mailing address, email address, phone number, date of birth, and other information you provide through forms, appointment requests, account setup, or other communications.

Health information

Vision prescription information, exam details, insurance information, intake forms, and other protected health information ("PHI") you provide in connection with your care.

Device and website usage information

IP address, browser type, device type, referring pages, pages visited, and time spent on our website, collected through cookies, log files, and analytics tools.

Communication information

The contents of emails, text/SMS messages, call records, voicemail, and other communications you send to us or receive from us.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

• Patient care: scheduling appointments, coordinating care, verifying insurance, processing billing, and communicating about treatment or follow-up needs.
• Text and phone communications: sending appointment reminders, appointment confirmations, schedule changes, office updates, and contact lens reorder reminders.
• Website operations: understanding traffic, improving site performance, debugging issues, and maintaining security.
• Legal compliance: meeting HIPAA, TCPA, and other legal, regulatory, or recordkeeping obligations.

3. SMS/Text Messaging

If you opt in to receive text messages from Cedar Valley Eyecare, you may receive customer care messages related to your relationship with our practice. Our SMS program generally works as follows:

• Opt-in: We send text messages only after you provide consent, such as by requesting text communication, responding to an intake or scheduling workflow, or otherwise clearly agreeing to receive texts.
• Message types: Messages may include appointment reminders, appointment confirmations, schedule changes, office notifications, contact lens reorder reminders, and limited account-related follow-up.
• Frequency: Message frequency varies by your appointments, orders, and account activity, and is usually about 1 to 3 messages per appointment cycle or reorder event.
• Charges: Message and data rates may apply.
• Opt-out: You may reply STOP at any time to stop non-essential text messages from us. For help, reply HELP or call (801) 768-4100.
• Security: Text messaging is not a fully secure communication channel, so please avoid sending sensitive medical information by text unless you are comfortable doing so.
• No marketing transfer: We do not share, sell, rent, or transfer your mobile number, SMS opt-in data, or SMS consent to third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes.

Opting out of text messages will not affect your ability to receive necessary phone calls, clinical communications through other channels, or other essential practice notices unless you request otherwise and applicable law allows.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use essential and analytics cookies to understand website traffic, improve performance, and maintain website functionality. You may disable cookies in your browser settings, but some parts of the website may not function properly.

5. How We Share Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information. We may share information only as permitted or required by law, including:

• With service providers that help us operate our practice, website, scheduling systems, communications systems, labs, or payment systems, subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations.
• To comply with legal obligations, court orders, subpoenas, or lawful government requests.
• In connection with a business transaction such as a merger, acquisition, or transfer of assets, subject to applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements.
• We do not share phone numbers or SMS consent with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes.

6. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including access controls, secure systems, and other security measures appropriate to the nature of the information we maintain.

These safeguards may include secured records systems, role-based access limitations, and other procedures intended to protect patient and website information. However, no system can guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Choices and Rights

You may request access to or correction of certain personal information or records, subject to applicable law.

You may opt out of non-essential text communications at any time by replying STOP.

You may have additional rights regarding your PHI under HIPAA. Please refer to our Notice of Privacy Practices, available in-office or upon request.

8. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13 without appropriate consent.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any material changes will be posted on this page with an updated Effective Date. Your continued use of our services after any changes means you accept the updated policy.