How we collect, use, and safeguard your information.
Shanghai Acupuncture Clinic ("we," "us," "our," or "the Clinic") is a licensed acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice located in Cumming, Georgia, proudly serving patients across Forsyth County and the greater North Atlanta area - including Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell, Milton, Suwanee, Buford, and surrounding communities.
We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our clinic, use our website, book appointments, or communicate with us - including through SMS/text messaging.
This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Georgia and applicable federal regulations. It is separate from, and does not replace, our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, which governs how we handle your protected health information (PHI) as a licensed healthcare provider under Georgia law.
By using our services, booking an appointment, or submitting your information through any of our forms, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
We collect information you voluntarily provide to us and information automatically collected when you use our website or services.
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
By opting in, you may receive the following types of text messages depending on your consent selections:
You must actively provide consent to receive text messages. Consent is obtained through checkboxes on our intake forms, website forms, or booking pages. Consent checkboxes are never pre-selected - you must take affirmative action to opt in. Opting in to SMS is never required to receive care or book an appointment.
You may opt out of receiving text messages from us at any time by replying STOP to any message we send. After opting out, you will receive one final confirmation message, and no further texts will be sent. To re-subscribe, simply text START or opt in again via our website form.
To receive assistance with our SMS service, reply HELP to any message. You may also contact us directly at our clinic phone number or email address listed below.
Message frequency varies based on your appointment schedule and consent preferences. Appointment-related messages are sent as needed. Marketing messages are sent no more than 4 times per month.
Standard message and data rates may apply based on your wireless carrier plan. Shanghai Acupuncture Clinic is not responsible for any charges imposed by your carrier.
SMS messaging is not monitored continuously and must not be used for urgent or emergency medical communications. In case of a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:
We may share information with trusted vendors who assist us in operating our clinic, including scheduling software, SMS delivery platforms, payment processors, and website hosting services. All such vendors are bound by confidentiality agreements and are prohibited from using your data for any purpose beyond the service they provide to us.
With your explicit written consent, we may share your health information with other healthcare providers or specialists involved in your care.
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, court order, or government authority, or to protect the rights and safety of our clinic, patients, and staff.
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of clinic assets, patient information may be transferred to the successor entity subject to the same privacy protections described in this policy.
As a licensed healthcare provider in the State of Georgia, Shanghai Acupuncture Clinic is subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. Your protected health information (PHI) is governed by our separate HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, available upon request at our Cumming, GA clinic or at the time of your first appointment.
Under HIPAA and applicable Georgia state law, you have the right to:
Your clinical and health records are accessed only by authorized staff members for the purposes of treatment, payment processing, and lawful healthcare operations. Records will not be released to any third party without your written authorization, except as expressly required by law or permitted under HIPAA.
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal and health information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security. If you believe your information has been compromised, please contact us immediately.
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.
Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and understand how visitors use our site.
You may disable cookies in your browser settings at any time. However, some features of our website may not function properly if cookies are disabled. We do not use cookies to collect health information or personally identifiable data beyond standard analytics.
Our SMS messaging service and online forms are intended for individuals 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without verifiable parental consent. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has submitted information to us without authorization, please contact us immediately and we will take appropriate steps to remove that information.
For minor patients receiving acupuncture care, a parent or legal guardian must provide written consent and be present during treatment as required by applicable Georgia state regulations.
We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you via SMS or email. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
Your continued use of our services after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights, or would like to update your SMS communication preferences, please reach out to us using the details below.
We're here to help with any privacy or communication concerns.
We take your privacy as seriously as your care. If anything in this policy is unclear, or you'd like to update how we communicate with you, we're happy to talk it through.