SMS Privacy Policy

Scope of This Policy

This policy applies to the personal information we collect from or about you through our SMS text messaging programs, including enrollment, message delivery, and opt-in/opt-out interactions.

SMS communications that contain health information are subject to all applicable state and federal laws governing the security and confidentiality of medical records. Information that constitutes "Protected Health Information" under HIPAA is subject to our Notice of Privacy Practices. Please refer to that document to understand how medical information may be used and disclosed by Fairview Health Services.

What Information We Collect

Some of the information Fairview Health Services collects through our SMS programs may be personal information that would identify you, personally, alone or in combination with other information available to us. Examples of personal information we may collect include:

• Contact information (mobile phone number, name)
• Your wireless carrier's name
• SMS opt-in consent status, consent date, and method of enrollment
• Date, time, and content of messages exchanged
• Message delivery status and interaction data (such as whether a message was delivered or if you replied STOP)
• This information is provided by you when you enroll in one of our SMS programs during a clinical visit, through your MyChart account, or by texting a keyword to one of our short code numbers.

How We Use Your Information

We collect your mobile phone number to send you health-related alerts, appointment reminders, screening notifications, and care communications from Fairview Health Services. Your mobile number is used solely for the purpose of delivering the SMS program(s) you have consented to receive.

Mobile information will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.

We use the information we collect for purposes including:

• To contact you with health-related alerts, appointment reminders, and care notifications
• To facilitate and deliver health communications related to your care
• To manage your SMS subscription preferences and opt-in/opt-out requests
• To improve the operation of our SMS programs
• To comply with our legal obligations

Data Retention

We will retain your personal information for as long as is needed to provide SMS services or comply with our legal obligations. If you opt out of all SMS programs, we will retain a record of your opt-out to ensure you do not receive further messages.

We will also retain usage data for internal analysis purposes. Usage data is generally retained for a shorter period of time, except when this data is used to improve the operation of our services or we are legally obligated to retain this data for longer time periods.

Sharing of Personal Information

We will not rent or sell your personal information, nor will we authorize any of our service providers or business partners to use this information for their own purposes without your permission. We may share the information described above in the following circumstances:

Security

We have implemented a variety of commercially standard encryption and security technologies and procedures to protect your personal information stored in our systems from unauthorized access. Fairview Health Services also maintains standard physical and electronic procedural safeguards that limit access to your personal information to employees and partners who need access to provide our SMS services.

However, no internet or electronic transmission is ever completely secure or error-free. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee that your information will never be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by a breach of our safeguards.

Your Choices

Your consent to receive text messages from Fairview Health Services is entirely voluntary and is not a condition of any treatment or care we provide. You may opt out of receiving text messages at any time by texting STOP to the applicable short code number. You may also update your communication preferences through your MyChart account or by contacting your care team directly.

Your continued receipt of SMS messages after changes to this policy are posted will signify your acceptance of those changes.

Related Documents

The use of your personal information for Fairview Health Services SMS programs is subject to this Privacy Policy and the documents below.

SMS Terms and Conditions

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

Privacy Policy Updates

Fairview Health Services reserves the right to modify the terms of this policy, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The date on which the policy was last updated is displayed at the top of this page. If we make significant changes, we will provide a prominent notice. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.