Legal: Terms of Service & Privacy Policy

These Terms of Service apply to our communications and materials, including SMS text messages we send after you opt in. By providing your mobile number and consenting, you agree to receive texts related to your care, such as appointment reminders and office/doctor notifications.

1) Who is texting you. Messages are sent by Affiliated Colon and Rectal Surgeons, P.C. using our sms number: (602) 536-6309.

2) Message types & frequency. Appointment reminders, confirmations, rescheduling notices, and general office updates. Frequency varies based on your upcoming appointments and interactions.

3) Costs. Standard message and data rates may apply from your carrier.

4) Opt‑out. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP. You may also request removal by contacting our office. After you opt out, we will send a one‑time confirmation.

5) No purchase required & eligibility. Consent is not a condition of receiving care. You must be the subscriber or customary user of the mobile number you provide.

6) Acceptable use. Our messages are informational. Do not rely on SMS for emergencies. Call 911 in an emergency.

7) Changes. We may update these Terms. The “Effective date” above shows the latest revision.

What we collect. We collect only information you provide to us directly, such as your name, contact information, and your mobile number if you choose to receive texts. We do not track you online and we do not sell personal data.

How we use information. We use your phone number solely to send appointment reminders and office/doctor notifications that you have consented to receive.

HIPAA & minimum necessary. Appointment reminders are considered part of treatment. We avoid including protected health information (PHI) in SMS messages and use minimal phrasing (for example, “You have an appointment on [date]”). For questions about your care, please call us.

Medical or treatment details will never be sent via SMS and are always communicated via HIPAA‑compliant methods.

Opt‑out & control. You may revoke SMS consent at any time by replying STOP or contacting us. You can also update your contact preferences with our staff.

Data sharing. We do not sell or share your personal information with third‑party marketers. Service providers that help us deliver messages (for example, telecommunications vendors) may process your phone number solely to provide the service.

Security. We apply reasonable safeguards to protect the information we maintain. SMS is not a secure channel; please do not send sensitive medical details by text.

Changes. We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the Effective date above.

We provide a full HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices upon request, which explains how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI).

You have rights regarding your PHI, including the right to access and amend your information, receive a record of disclosures, request restrictions on uses or disclosures, and file complaints if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

We may use and disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, legal compliance, and emergencies as permitted by law.

We are committed to protecting your data security and will notify you promptly in the event of any data breach affecting your PHI.

We do not use your information for marketing or advertising purposes.

Our practice is dedicated to privacy by design and maintaining transparency with our patients regarding their health information.

By opting in, you agree that:

• We identify our practice in each message and provide clear opt‑out instructions (Reply STOP to unsubscribe).
• Your consent covers appointment reminders and office notifications only.
• Message frequency varies by your scheduled care; message and data rates may apply.
• You can withdraw consent at any time without affecting your ability to receive care.

We follow current carrier and industry guidelines for opt‑in, opt‑out, and message content. Our campaign is registered for Application‑to‑Person (A2P) 10DLC messaging and includes appropriate disclosures during the opt‑in process.