Privacy Policy

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY. ​ The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal program that requires that all medical and dental records and other individually identifiable health information used or disclosed by us in any form, whether electronically, on paper or orally, are kept properly confidential. This Act gives you, the patient, significant new rights to understand and control how your health information is used. HIPAA provides penalties for covered entities that misuse Protected Health Information (PHI). ​ This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations (TPO) and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights to access and control your protected health information. "Protected health information" is information about you, including demographic information, that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services. ​ Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information Your Protected Health Information may be used and disclosed by your physician, our office staff and others outside of our office that are involved in your care and treatment for the purpose of providing health care services to you, to pay your health care bills, to support the operation of the practice, and any other use required by law. ​ Treatment: We will use and disclose your Protected Health Information to provide, coordinate, or manage your health care and any related services. This includes the coordination or management of your health care with a third party. For example, your protected health information may be provided to a physician to whom you have been referred to ensure that the health care professional has the necessary information to diagnose or treat you. ​ Payment: Your protected health information will be used, as needed, to obtain payment for health care services. For example, obtaining approval for a hospital stay may require that your relevant protected health information be disclosed to the health plan to obtain approval for the hospital admission. ​ Healthcare Operations: We may use or disclose, as-needed, your protected health information in order to support the business activities of your physician’s practice. These activities include, but are not limited to, quality assessment activities, employee review activities, and conducting or arranging for other business activities. We may use or disclose, as needed, your protected health information to support the business activities of this practice. In addition, we may use a sign-in sheet at the registration desk where you will be asked to sign your name and indicate your physician. We may also call you by name in the waiting room when your physician is ready to see you. We may use or disclose your protected health information, as necessary, to contact you to remind you of your appointment. We may call your home and leave a message (either on an answering machine or with the person answering the phone) to remind you of an upcoming appointment, the need to schedule a new appointment or to call our office. We may also mail a postcard reminder to your home address. If you would prefer that we call or contact you at another telephone number or location, please let us know. ​ We may use or disclose your protected health information in the following situations without your authorization. These situations include: as Required By Law, Public Health issues required by law, Communicable Diseases: Health Oversight: Abuse or Neglect: Food and Drug Administration requirements: Legal Proceedings: Law Enforcement: Coroners, Funeral Directors, and Organ Donation: Research: Criminal Activity: Military Activity and National Security: Workers’ Compensation: Inmates: Required Uses and Disclosures: Under the law, we must make disclosures to you and when required by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate or determine our compliance with the requirements of HIPAA. ​ Other Permitted and Required Uses and Disclosures Will Be Made Only With Your Consent, Authorization or Opportunity to Object unless required by law. ​ You may revoke this authorization, at any time, in writing, except to the extent that your physician or the physician’s practice has taken an action in reliance on the use or disclosure indicated in the authorization. ​ Your Rights The Following is a statement of your rights with respect to your protected health information. ​ You have the right to inspect and copy your protected health information. Under federal law, however, you may not inspect or copy the following records; psychotherapy notes; information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding, and protected health information that is subject to law that prohibits access to protected health information. ​ You have the right to request a restriction of your health information. This means you may ask us not to use or disclose any part of your protected health information for the purposes of treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You may also request that any part of your protected health information not be disclosed to family members or friends who may be involved in you care or for notification purposes described in this Notice of Privacy Practices. Your request must state the specific restriction and to whom you want the restriction to apply. ​ Your physician is not required to agree to a restriction you may request. If your physician believes it is in your best interest to permit use and disclosure of your protected health information, your protected health information will not be restricted. You then have the right to use another Healthcare Professional. ​ You have the right to request to receive confidential communications from us by alternative means or at an alternative location. You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice from us, upon request, even if you have agreed to accept this Notice alternatively (i.e. electronically). ​ You may have the right to have your physician amend your protected health information. If we deny your request for amendment, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us and we may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy of any such rebuttal. ​ You have the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures we have made, if any, of your protected health information. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and will inform you of any changes. You then have the right to object or withdraw as provided in this Notice. ​ Complaints You may complain to us or to the Secretary of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated by us. You may file a complaint with us by notifying our privacy officer of your complaint at our office and main telephone number. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint. ​ This Notice was published and becomes effective on/or before . ​ The name and address of the person you can contact for further information concerning our privacy practices are:

Privacy Officer

Watauga Orthopaedics 2410 Susannah Street Johnson City, TN 37601 ​(423) 282-9011

Standard Messaging/Website Privacy Policy

Your Privacy Matters

Our Practice is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our mobile applications and messaging services.

Scope of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy does not cover Protected Health Information (PHI) governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Our handling of PHI is outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices, available at each office location and online.

No Medical Advice

The information in this document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or healthcare advice. For any health concerns, always consult a qualified healthcare provider.

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Collection of Personal Information

When you interact with our website or messaging service, we may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including:

• Name
• Email address
• Telephone number (landline and mobile)
• Zip code
• Any additional details you choose to submit

Providing this information is voluntary, but not providing enough may limit your access to certain features.

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Use and Sharing of Your Information

We will use your personal information for the following purposes:

• To respond to your inquiries and provide the services you request.
• To inform you about new services, locations, changes in hours, providers, and promotional activities (discounts, limited-time offers, etc.).

Marketing Messages

Marketing messages will be sent no more than once weekly. You can opt out of these messages at any time.

Legal Compliance

We may share your information with legally authorized Covered Entities and Business Associates as defined by HIPAA and applicable laws.

Third-Party Sharing

We do not share your contact information with third parties for marketing or analytics purposes.

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Opting Out of Communications

SMS Messages: By providing your mobile number, you consent to receive SMS messages related to services, including appointment reminders and promotions. To opt out, reply "STOP" to any SMS or contact our office. Changes may take 2-5 business days to process.

Email Messages: By providing your email address, you consent to receive emails related to our services. To opt out, use the "unsubscribe" link in our emails or contact our office. Changes may take 2-5 business days to process.

Voice Calls: By providing your phone number, you consent to receive automated or human-initiated voice calls for service-related updates. To opt out, contact our office directly. Changes may take 2-5 business days to process.

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Automatically Collected Information

We may collect certain information automatically when you visit our website, including:

• IP address
• Browser type
• Access time and date
• Pages visited

We use cookies to enhance your experience. You can disable cookies through your browser settings, but this may limit some functionality on our site.

For more information on managing cookies, visit USA.gov opt-out instructions.

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Use of Personal Information

We use your information to:

• Communicate with you about your requests and our services.
• Personalize your experience on our website.
• Maintain the security of our website and services.

We do not sell or rent your information to third parties.

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Disclosure of User Information

We may disclose your information to:

• Law enforcement or regulatory bodies as required by law.
• Third parties involved in corporate transactions (e.g., mergers or acquisitions).

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Information Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access and breaches. However, please be aware that no transmission over the internet is completely secure, and you provide information at your own risk.

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Data Retention

We retain your information for at least seven years in compliance with legal obligations. After this period, data will be securely deleted following industry best practices.

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Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party sites. Please review their privacy policies, as our Privacy Policy does not apply to those sites.

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Contact Us

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us via email or phone. Please be cautious when sending personal information via email.

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Regular Review

We review and update this Privacy Policy regularly to ensure compliance with evolving laws and best practices.