Effective Date: 01/01/2024

At Winchester Community Mental Health Center, In. (referred to as “we,” “our,” or “the practice”), we prioritize your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information This privacy policy outlines how we collect, use, and share personal information through Short Message Service (SMS) communication in compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

1. Collection of Personal Information

When you consent to SMS communication with our office, we may collect the following personal information:

• Phone Number: Your mobile phone number, which you provide to receive SMS notifications, reminders, and other communication.
• Name: Your name, used to personalize SMS communications.
• Appointment Information: Details about your appointments, such as date, time, and type of service.
• Other Relevant Information: Any information you voluntarily share in response to SMS messages.

We do not collect sensitive health information (such as details of your diagnosis or treatment) via SMS unless specifically requested by you and securely transmitted under HIPAA guidelines

2. Use of Personal Information

The personal information collected through SMS will only be used for the following purposes:

• Appointment Reminders: To send you reminders about upcoming appointments.
• Scheduling: To facilitate the rescheduling or confirmation of appointments.
• General Notifications: To send you important office updates, including schedule changes or closures.
• Client Support: To provide additional resources or information related to your care, with your prior consent.

We will never use SMS to send sensitive health information unless explicitly requested by you.

3. Sharing of Personal Information

We do not share your personal information collected via SMS with third parties, except in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share your phone number with third-party SMS service providers that assist us in sending SMS messages, but they are bound by confidentiality agreements and will not use your information for any other purpose.
• Legal Obligations: We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law, such as in response to a subpoena or legal request.

SMS Consent or phone numbers are not shared for the purpose of SMS with third party affiliates.

4. Security of Personal Information

We take reasonable steps to ensure the security of your personal information shared via SMS, including:

• Using HIPAA-compliant SMS services to protect your information.
• Implementing safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to your information. However, it is important to note that no method of transmission over the internet or mobile networks is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

5. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Opt-Out: At any time, you may choose to opt-out of receiving SMS communication by replying “STOP” to any message or contacting our office directly.
• Access and Update: You may request access to or updates to your personal information by contacting us.
• Consent Withdrawal: You may withdraw your consent for SMS communication at any time by contacting our office.

6. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy as needed to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. Any changes will be communicated to you via SMS or through other appropriate communication channels.

7. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us at (540) 535-1112 or through our website on the Contact US page.