Privacy and Terms of Service

Altasano Integrative Wellness Center  has established access rules for granting access to protected health information (PHI) through access workstations, transactions, programs, process, or other mechanisms.  Ms. Deena Schwartz is the designated authority to grant access privileges. Altasano has established a system to record all transactions and activities, including access, associated with your medical record. Altasano understands the importance of protecting EHR data from unauthorized internal or remote access or illegitimate internal or remote transactions. The purpose of an electronic network security protocol is to preserve the integrity of EHR data and to protect patient privacy, consistent with facility and regulatory requirements as well as accreditation standards. Having this policy helps us ensure that we meet those obligations.We strive to be transparent to build and maintain your trust by telling you how your sensitive data is handled.

SMS Terms of Service: By opting into SMS text messaging, you are agreeing to receive SMS messages from Altasano Integrative Wellness Center. This includes SMS messages for general communication and updates, appointment scheduling and reminders,  instructions, lab and billing notifications.

• • Message Frequency Our SMS message initiation frequency is estimated to be less than 4 times a year. You may receive up to 1 message per week. If you prefer, we will only reach out to you via SMS text if we are unable to reach you by phone.
  • Potential Fees for SMS Messaging Carriers may charge fees for each message sent or received. These fees can vary based on the carrier’s pricing structure and whether the message is sent domestically or internationally.
  • Message HELP for help. Reply STOP to any message to opt out.
  •  SMS consent is not shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes.
  • The staff of Altasano will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of email and text information sent and received.

The most secure form of communication of sensitive information is in-person, face-to-face and in the privacy of Altasano Integrative Wellness Center. You have full understanding that any electronic form of communication increases the risk of violation of your privacy.

• We may forward emails/texts internally among our staff and to those involved, as necessary, for diagnosis, treatment, reimbursement, health care operations, and other handling. We will not, however, forward emails/texts to independent third parties without your prior written consent, except as authorized or required by law.
• Although Ms. Schwartz and Altasano will endeavor to read and respond promptly to an emails and SMS text messages from you, Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano cannot guarantee that any particular email/text will be read and responded to within any particular period of time. Thus, you should not use email/text for medical emergencies or other time-sensitive matters.
• Email and text communication is not an appropriate substitute for clinical examinations. You are responsible for following up and scheduling appointments where warranted.
• If your email/text requires or invites a response from Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano and you have not received a response within a reasonable time period, it is your responsibility to follow up to determine whether the we received the email/text and when we will respond.
• You should NOT use email/text messaging for communication regarding sensitive medical information, such as sexually transmitted disease, AIDS/HIV, mental health, developmental disability, or substance abuse. Similarly, Ms. Schwartz and/or the staff of Altasano will not discuss such matters over email or SMS text. Sensitive medical information will be discussed in person, via video/audio ZOOM meeting, or verbally on the phone.
• You are responsible for informing Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano of any types of information you do not want to be sent by email/text, in addition to those set out in the bullet above. You will have the opportunity to list such information that you do not want communicated over email or SMS Text messaging and you may add to or modify this list at any time by notifying Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano in writing.
• Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano is not responsible for information loss due to technical failures.

Risks of using email and SMS texts: Ms. Schwartz and the office staff of Altasano offers patients the opportunity to communicate by a secure messaging server. If you instead choose to communicate with the use of email and/or SMS text messaging, please know that transmitting patient information poses several risks of which you should be aware.  You should NOT agree to communicate with Altasano via email (connect@altasano.com) or via cellphone SMS text messaging without understanding and accepting the following risks. These risks include, but are not limited to: 

• The privacy and security of email and text communication cannot be 100% guaranteed. 
• Your employer and online services that you use may have a legal right to inspect and keep emails and business phone texts that pass through their system. 
• Email is easier to falsify than handwritten or signed hard copies. In addition, it is impossible to verify the true identity of the sender, or to ensure that only the recipient can read the email once it has been sent. 
• Emails and texts can introduce viruses into a computer system or phone, and potentially damage or disrupt the computer or cell phone. 
• Emails and texts can be forwarded, intercepted, circulated, stored or even changed without the knowledge or permission of the medical provider or the patient. Email and text senders can easily misaddress an email or text number, resulting in it being sent to many unintended and unknown recipients 
• Email and text messages are indelible. Even after the sender and recipient have deleted their copies of emails and texts, back-up copies may exist on a computer, phone, or in cyberspace. 
• Use of email or text messaging to discuss sensitive information can increase the risk of such information being disclosed to third parties. 
• Email and text messages can be used as evidence in court. 
• Because of the risks outlined above, Ms. Schwartz and Altasano cannot 100% guarantee the security and confidentiality of email and SMS text messaging. In using the Osmind messaging platform, sending emails or SMS texts messages, Altasano PC and Ms. Schwartz will not be liable for improper disclosure of confidential information that is NOT the direct result of intentional misconduct of the Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano.
• Emails or SMS texts to or from you concerning diagnosis or treatment may be printed in full and made part of your medical record. Because they are part of the medical record, other individuals authorized to access the medical record, such as staff and billing personnel, will have access to those emails and SMS text messages.

Instructions for communication by email/text messaging − To communicate by email/text, you shall:

• • • Limit or avoid using an employer’s computer or work phone.
    • Inform Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano of any changes in your email address or cell phone number.
    • Include in the email/SMS text: the category of the communication as a subject line for routing purposes (e.g., ‘prescription renewal’); and your name in the body of the message.
    • Review the message to make sure it is clear and that all relevant information is provided before sending to Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano
    • Inform Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano that you received the email/text by replying to the message
    • Take precautions to preserve the confidentiality of emails and text messages, such as using screen savers and lock screens and safeguarding computer and cell phone passwords
    • Should you require immediate assistance, or if your condition appears serious or rapidly worsens, you should not rely on email or text messaging. Rather, you should call Altasano’s office for consultation or an appointment, visit Altasano, or if it’s an emergency, proceed to the closest emergency department.

Opt-In Method

You may opt-in for SMS messaging from Altasano verbally during a call or while in the office. You will be asked: “Do you agree to receive texts from Altasano? This consent agreement will not be shared with third parties and affiliates for marketing purposes. No SMS communication will be initiated without your consent.

To Opt-out

You can opt-out of SMS messaging from Altasano by replying STOP at any time to any received SMS message. Once opted-out, you will receive no further SMS communication. You may opt back in at any time by replying START.

Standard Messaging Disclosures

Messaging frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply. To opt out at any time, text STOP. For assistance, text HELP or visit our website at Altasano.com. Visit altasano.com/privacy-and-terms-of-service for our Privacy Policy and for Terms of Service.

Patient acknowledgement and agreement

I acknowledge that I understand the risks associated with the communication of email and cell phone text messaging between Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano and me.  I consent to the conditions of the outline herein, as well as any other instructions that Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano may impose to communicate with me by email and SMS text messaging. I acknowledge that Ms. Schwartz and/or the office staff of Altasano has the right to, upon the provision of written notice; withdraw the option of communicating through email or SMS text messaging.