How Patients Opt-In to SMS and Email Notifications

  1. Appointment Scheduling by Imaging Center:
  • During the scheduling process, the imaging center staff informs patients about the option to receive both SMS and email notifications for appointment reminders and related information.
  1. Obtaining Explicit Consent:
  • In-Person or Over the Phone by Imaging Center Staff:
    • Patients are asked directly if they would like to opt-in to SMS and/or email notifications.
    • Imaging center staff records the patient’s consent in their system, specifying:
      • The type of notification(s) they agreed to (SMS, email, or both).
      • The date and time the consent was provided.
  • Patients provide their preferred contact information (phone number and/or email address) during this process.
  1. Documentation of Consent:
  • Consent is logged and securely stored in the imaging center’s patient management system, ensuring compliance with communication and privacy laws.
  1. Providing Opt-Out Information:
  • Patients are informed they can opt-out at any time:
    • For SMS, by replying “STOP” to any text message.
    • For email, by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any email.
  • Opt-out instructions are shared verbally during consent collection and included in all communications.
  1. Compliance with Regulations:
  • The opt-in process adheres to HIPAA guidelines, CTIA best practices, and email compliance laws (e.g., CAN-SPAM), ensuring privacy and data security.