Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Effective date: 04/01/2026
Introduction Thompsons Family Dentistry (“we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal and health information. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and share it, and your rights regarding that information when you visit our website or receive dental services from us.
Information We Collect
- Personal information you provide: name, address, phone number, email, date of birth, insurance details, emergency contact, and payment information.
- Medical and dental information: health history, medications, treatment records, radiographs, clinical notes, and any other protected health information (PHI) needed for treatment and billing.
- Communications: messages, appointment requests, voicemail, and correspondence with our staff.
- Technical data: IP address, browser type, device identifiers, pages visited, and cookies/log files collected automatically when you use our website.
- Appointment and usage data: appointment dates, reminders, patient portal activity, and service preferences.
How We Use Your Information
- Provide and coordinate dental care, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
- Billing, insurance claims, and payment processing.
- Scheduling, appointment reminders, and practice communications (including emails, texts, and calls).
- Patient education, treatment planning, and clinical research or quality improvement (de‑identified whenever possible).
- Administrative purposes, business operations, fraud prevention, and legal compliance.
- Website operation, analytics, and improvement.
Legal Basis and HIPAA Compliance
- For patients in the United States, PHI is protected under HIPAA. We use and disclose PHI for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations as permitted by law and as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices. Where applicable, we obtain patient authorization before using or disclosing PHI for purposes beyond treatment, payment, or operations.
How We Share Information
- With your consent or as directed by you.
- With dental and medical providers involved in your care (referrals, labs, specialists).
- With insurance companies and billing agents to process claims and payments.
- With third‑party service providers that perform services on our behalf (e.g., patient portal vendors, appointment reminder systems, website hosts, payment processors); these parties are contractually required to protect your information.
- When required by law (court order, public health reporting, mandatory reporting) or to respond to legal processes.
- In the event of a sale or transfer of practice assets; we will notify affected patients if PHI will be transferred.
Cookies, Tracking, and Third-Party Links
- We use cookies and similar technologies for site functionality, analytics, and to improve user experience. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.
- Our website may include links to third‑party sites (insurance portals, partners). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites; review their policies before submitting personal information.
Security
- We implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect personal and health information (encryption where appropriate, access controls, staff training, and secure storage).
- While we strive to protect information, no internet or electronic storage is completely secure. If a breach affects your information, we will follow legal requirements for notification.
Patient Portal and Electronic Communications
- Secure patient portals may be used to view records, communicate with our team, and manage appointments. Use of these portals is governed by separate terms and secured by authentication.
- Email and text messaging are convenient but may not be fully secure; avoid sending highly sensitive information via unsecured channels unless instructed.
Data Retention
- We retain personal and health information as required by law and professional guidelines. When information is no longer needed, we dispose of it securely.
Your Rights
- Access: You may request access to your medical and billing records.
- Correction: You may request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information.
- Restrictions & Accounting: You may request restrictions on certain uses/disclosures and an accounting of disclosures as permitted by law.
- Confidential Communications: You may request alternative means or locations for communications.
- Complaints: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our office or with the appropriate regulatory authority (e.g., HHS OCR for HIPAA matters in the U.S.).
Minors
- For minors, parents or legal guardians generally have access to the child’s records. We follow applicable laws regarding consent and confidentiality for adolescent patients.
Payments and Insurance
- Payment processing may involve third‑party processors; payment information is handled according to secure payment standards. We may share necessary details with insurers to obtain coverage and to process claims.
Changes to This Policy
- We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in legal requirements or our practices. The effective date at the top will be revised; material changes will be posted on our website and, where required, notified to patients.
Contact Us If you have questions, requests regarding your privacy rights, or wish to file a complaint, contact: Thompsons Family Dentistry
114 Campus Ave, Raeford, NC 28376
Phone:(910) 875-3622
Email: [email address]
Privacy Officer: Dr. Mark S. Thompson
