Privacy Policy | Desert Oazis

Last Updated: January 1, 2025

Introduction
Desert Oazis ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal and health information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect the information you provide when you visit our website at desertoazis.com, contact our clinic, book an appointment, or communicate with us in any form — including by SMS.

By using our website or services, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please discontinue use of our site and services and contact us directly if you have questions.

We encourage you to read this policy carefully and contact us at any time if something is unclear.

Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information when you interact with Desert Oazis:
Personal Identification Information

Full name
Date of birth
Email address
Phone number
Mailing address

Health and Medical Information

Information you provide during intake forms, appointment requests, or clinical consultations
Medical history, symptoms, medications, and treatment details shared in the course of your care

Communication Information

Messages submitted through our website contact form
SMS messages sent to or received from our clinic
Emails sent to desertoazis@gmail.com
Records of verbal communications where consent has been obtained

Website Usage Information

IP address and browser type
Pages visited and time spent on the site
Referring website or search terms used to find our site
Device type and operating system

We collect this information to provide and improve our services, communicate with you about your care, fulfill legal obligations, and ensure the security and functionality of our website.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
To schedule, confirm, and manage your appointments
To provide medical care and coordinate your treatment
To communicate with you about your health, test results, and follow-up care
To send appointment reminders, important updates, and service notifications via SMS, email, or phone
To process payments and verify insurance coverage
To respond to your questions, requests, and feedback
To comply with applicable federal and state healthcare laws, including HIPAA
To improve the content and functionality of our website
To protect the security and integrity of our systems and patient data
We do not use your information for automated decision-making or profiling beyond what is necessary to deliver and improve our services.

HIPAA and Health Information
Desert Oazis is a covered entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Any protected health information (PHI) you share with us is handled in strict compliance with HIPAA regulations. This means:

Your health information is used and disclosed only as permitted by HIPAA and as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices
We maintain appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your PHI
We do not sell your health information to any third party
You have the right to access, amend, and request restrictions on your health information
For a complete explanation of your rights under HIPAA and how we handle your protected health information, please request a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices at your next visit or by contacting our office directly.

SMS Terms and Conditions
1. Consent for SMS Communication
By opting in to receive SMS messages from Desert Oazis, you agree to the terms outlined in this section. Phone numbers collected as part of the SMS consent process will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes. Your contact information is used solely for communication directly related to your care and our services.

2. Types of SMS Communications
By opting in, you may receive SMS messages related to:

Appointment scheduling, confirmations, and reminders
Follow-up care and post-visit instructions
Important updates regarding your health or our clinic services
Service notifications relevant to your ongoing care

3. Message Frequency
Message frequency may vary depending on the nature and stage of your care. You may receive more frequent messages around appointment times and fewer during periods of inactivity. We do not send unsolicited promotional SMS messages.

4. Potential Fees for SMS Messaging
Standard message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and pricing plan. These fees are set by your carrier and are not controlled by Desert Oazis. Fees may vary for domestic and international messaging. Please check with your carrier if you are unsure about potential charges.

5. Opt-In Methods
Desert Oazis obtains SMS consent in the following ways:

Verbal consent — A member of our team may ask for your verbal agreement to receive SMS communications during a phone call or in-person interaction. By providing verbal consent, you confirm that you understand and agree to receive messages via SMS related to appointments, updates, and follow-up care.
Written consent — You may provide written consent through our intake forms or website contact form.
Online opt-in — By submitting your phone number through our website contact form and agreeing to our communication terms, you consent to receive SMS messages from Desert Oazis.

All opt-in methods are designed to ensure you are fully informed and in agreement before any SMS messages are sent to your device.

6. Opt-Out Instructions
You may opt out of SMS communications from Desert Oazis at any time using any of the following methods:

Reply STOP to any SMS message you receive from us — you will be unsubscribed immediately
Contact us by phone at 480-805-5544
Email us at desertoazis@gmail.com with a request to be removed from SMS communications

Once you opt out, you will no longer receive SMS messages from Desert Oazis except where required for direct clinical communication or by law. If you change your mind, you may re-enroll at any time by contacting our office.

7. Help and Support for SMS
If you need help with SMS communications or have questions about the messages you are receiving, reply HELP to any SMS from Desert Oazis or contact us directly:

Phone: 480-805-5544
Email: desertoazis@gmail.com

How We Share Your Information
Desert Oazis does not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

With your healthcare team — Providers and clinical staff at Desert Oazis may access your information to deliver and coordinate your care.
With authorized third-party service providers — We work with vendors who support our operations, such as electronic health record systems, appointment booking platforms, billing services, and secure communication tools. These providers are contractually obligated to handle your data securely and only for the purposes we specify.
As required by law — We may disclose information when required by law, regulation, court order, or government authority, including reporting obligations under applicable public health laws.
With your consent — We may share information with other providers, specialists, or family members when you have given us explicit authorization to do so.
In a medical emergency — We may share necessary information to protect your health or safety or the health and safety of others, as permitted by HIPAA.
We do not share your phone number or contact details obtained through the SMS consent process with third parties for marketing or advertising purposes.

Data Security
We take the security of your personal and health information seriously. Desert Oazis uses a combination of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect your data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

Secure, encrypted storage of electronic health records
Password-protected access controls for staff systems
Regular review of our data security practices
HIPAA-compliant communication tools and platforms

While we take every reasonable precaution, no method of electronic storage or transmission is completely secure. If you have reason to believe that your information has been compromised, please contact us immediately at 480-805-5544 or desertoazis@gmail.com.

Cookies and Website Tracking
Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, and understand how visitors use our site. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences.
We do not use cookies to collect personal health information or to track your activity across third-party websites for advertising purposes.

Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including insurance provider portals, mapping services, and our online booking platform. Desert Oazis is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Your Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right to access — You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Right to correction — You may request that inaccurate or incomplete information be corrected.
Right to restrict use — You may request limitations on how we use your information, subject to legal and clinical obligations.
Right to withdraw consent — Where processing is based on consent (such as SMS communications), you may withdraw that consent at any time.
Right to file a complaint — If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the details below.

Children's Privacy
Desert Oazis does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 through our website without verifiable parental consent. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately so we can take appropriate steps to delete it.

Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or the services we offer. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our website or services after any updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:
Desert Oazis
11648 E Shea Blvd, Suite 115
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
Phone: 480-805-5544
Fax: 480-805-5561
Email: desertoazis@gmail.com
Website: desertoazis.com