At Spring St. Dental, we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal and health information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our practice, use our website, or receive our dental services in Bastrop, Texas.
We recognize the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of your personal information. As healthcare providers, we are bound by both federal and state laws regarding the privacy and security of your health information. This policy outlines our practices regarding your personal data and describes your rights.
Information We Collect
We gather information you provide directly to us when scheduling appointments, completing patient forms, or communicating with our office. This includes your name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, social security number, insurance information, and medical and dental history. We also collect information about your treatment, including diagnostic records, x-rays, treatment plans, and clinical notes documenting your care.
During your visits to our website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing actions. This includes your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, and information about your use of our website. We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website and analyze website traffic patterns.
How We Use Your Information
Your health information is used primarily to provide you with quality dental care and to operate our practice effectively. We use your personal and health information to diagnose and treat dental conditions, coordinate your care with other healthcare providers when necessary, and communicate with you about appointments, treatment options, and follow-up care. We also use this information to process insurance claims, obtain payment for services rendered, and manage our internal operations, including quality assessment and improvement activities.
We may use your contact information to send appointment reminders, birthday greetings, and information about new services or treatments available at our practice. You may opt out of receiving promotional communications at any time by contacting our office or following the unsubscribe instructions in our emails. However, we may still send you non-promotional communications, such as appointment confirmations and important updates about your treatment or changes to our policies.
Disclosure of Your Information
We may share your information in certain situations as required or permitted by law. We disclose your health information to other healthcare providers involved in your care, to your insurance company for payment purposes, and to our business associates who perform services on our behalf and have agreed to protect your information. These business associates may include billing companies, attorneys, consultants, and technology service providers who assist us in operating our practice.
We may also disclose your information when required by law, including to public health authorities for disease control and prevention, to government agencies authorized to receive reports of abuse or neglect, and to law enforcement officials for specific law enforcement purposes. In emergency situations, we may disclose information to prevent serious threats to health or safety. We may also share information for research purposes when specific privacy protection criteria are met, or to comply with workers’ compensation laws if you are injured at work.
HIPAA Compliance
As a healthcare provider, we are required to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and its implementing regulations. Under HIPAA, you have specific rights regarding your health information. You have the right to request access to and copies of your health records, request amendments to your health information if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete, and request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your information, although we are not required to agree to all requested restrictions.
You may also request confidential communications by alternative means or at alternative locations, request an accounting of certain disclosures we have made of your health information, and receive a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices. To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer at our office. We are required to notify you if there is a breach of your unsecured protected health information, and we maintain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your information as required by HIPAA.
Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures designed to protect the security of your personal information. These measures include physical security at our office locations, electronic security, such as password protection and encryption for digital records, and administrative security through staff training and access controls. We limit access to your personal and health information to employees and service providers who need it to provide services to you or to operate our practice.
Despite our security measures, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. In the event of a data breach, we may be able to notify you promptly in accordance with applicable law so you can take appropriate protective steps.
Your Rights and Choices
You have certain rights regarding the personal information we maintain about you. You may request access to your personal information and receive a copy of the data we have about you. You may also request that we correct any inaccurate information or complete any incomplete information in our records. In certain circumstances, you have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions such as when we need to retain the information for legal or treatment purposes.
You have the right to opt out of certain uses of your information, including marketing communications and the sale of your personal information to third parties. We do not sell your personal information to third parties. If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). If you are a Texas resident, you are protected by Texas Medical Records Privacy Act in addition to HIPAA. To exercise any of these rights, please submit a request to our office by calling us or visiting in person.
Children’s Privacy
Our practice provides dental services to patients of all ages, including children. For patients under 18 years of age, we require consent from a parent or legal guardian for treatment and for the collection and use of personal information. Parents and guardians have the right to access their minor child’s health information, subject to certain exceptions under state law. In some cases, minors may have the right to control access to their own health information, particularly for certain types of treatment they can consent to independently under Texas law.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through our website without parental consent. If we discover we have inadvertently collected such information, we may delete it immediately. Parents who believe we may have collected information from their child without consent should contact us immediately so we can address their concerns.
Contact Spring St. Dental
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact our office today. You may reach us during regular business hours to discuss any concerns about the privacy of your information or to exercise your rights regarding your personal data. We are committed to resolving any privacy concerns you may have and ensuring your information is handled appropriately.
For more information about our dental services, including comprehensive oral health care and advanced treatment options, we invite you to visit our practice. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional dental care while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality. Please contact us to schedule an appointment or to learn more about how we protect your privacy.
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