The information below is included in the paperwork provided when initiating services and describes how information is collected, used, and protected in connection with website use and administrative communications.

Effective Date: 02.01.26

The Practice of Cheryl O. Hart, PsyD (“the Practice”) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of individuals who interact with this practice and visit this website. This Privacy Policy is separate from the Practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP), which describes how protected health information is used and disclosed in the provision of clinical services.

Information Collected

Personal information may be collected when individuals contact the Practice by telephone, leave voicemail messages, communicate via secure systems, or provide information in the course of scheduling or receiving services. If an individual becomes a client, additional protected health information is collected and maintained in a secure electronic health record in accordance with HIPAA and the Practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices. This information may include:

• Name

• Phone number

• Email address

• General scheduling or administrative information

The Practice does not collect personal information through website contact forms.

Use of Information

Information is used only for legitimate healthcare operations and is not used for marketing purposes - uses include:

• Respond to inquiries

• Schedule or modify appointments

• Provide administrative and billing communications

• Send appointment reminders or service-related notifications

• Maintain clinical records as required by law and professional standards

SMS/Text Messaging

The Practice may communicate with clients via SMS/text messaging for administrative purposes such as appointment reminders, scheduling updates, and billing notifications.

Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply depending on the recipient’s mobile carrier.

SMS consent is obtained through ipatient portal options or direct client authorization. Individuals may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP or contacting the Practice directly.

The Practice does not send promotional or marketing text messages and does not sell or share mobile phone numbers with third parties for marketing purposes.

Standard SMS messaging is not encrypted and may not be fully secure. The Practice limits the amount of personal or health information transmitted by text and uses texting primarily for administrative communications.

SMS communications may be transmitted through HIPAA-compliant third-party communication platforms used by the Practice, including RingCentral, Doxy.me, and ICANotes.

Third-Party Service Providers

The Practice uses HIPAA-compliant third-party service providers to support operations. These may include:

• ICANotes – electronic health record, scheduling, and appointment reminders

• RingCentral – telephone, messaging, and communication services

• Doxy.me – telehealth video platform

Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) are maintained with these providers as required by HIPAA. These vendors are contractually obligated to safeguard protected health information.

Website Use and Cookies

This website is informational in nature and does not allow users to submit personal information.

Basic technical information such as browser type or general website usage data may be collected automatically by standard website hosting services for security and performance purposes. This information is not used to identify individual visitors.

Data Sharing

The Practice does not sell, rent, or share personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.

Information may be disclosed when required by law, professional licensing standards, or healthcare operations as described in the Practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices.

Security

The Practice takes reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal and health information. However, no method of electronic communication or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

Contact

For questions regarding this Privacy Policy or communication practices, please contact the office at 253-514-8331