Terms & Conditions

Opt-in Methods for Sending SMS and Text Messages

To gain consent from potential SMS recipients, Houston NeuroDiagnostics must ask them to opt-in to Houston NeuroDiagnostics SMS or text messages verbally (in-person or in a voice call). The recipients may also initiate participation or complete a web form to provide consent.

In a Web Form

If you provide the opportunity to sign up for SMS or text messages in a web form, the consent checkbox must be optional. For example, you cannot require a person using your web form to consent to SMS or text messaging in order to acquire that service or participate in an activity. The optional SMS opt-in checkbox should state:

“I consent to receive SMS message from Houston NeuroDiagnostics related service inquires or appointments. Reply STOP to opt-out; Reply HELP for support. Message and data rates apply; Messaging frequency may vary. Visit Privacy for privacy policy and Terms of Service for terms of service.

Customer-Initiated

If a Houston NeuroDiagnostics team member reaches out to you via phone, email, or a web form and asks to receive information via SMS or text message, this is known as customer-initiated consent. The responsible department is required to respond with a text including this information:

“By texting Houston NeuroDiagnostics at [the department or service provider's phone number used to send SMS or text messages], you agree to receive conversational or notification messages from Houston NeuroDiagnostics departmental service providers. Reply STOP to opt-out; Reply HELP for support; Messaging frequency may vary. Visit Privacy for privacy policy and Terms of Service for terms of service.

Verbally

When requesting SMS send permission verbally (in-person or over a voice call), the responsible department is required to follow a script asking for consent to this statement:

“I consent to receive SMS messages from Houston NeuroDiagnostics related service inquires or appointments. Reply STOP to opt-out; Reply HELP for support; Message and data rates apply; Messaging frequency may vary. Visit https://braininjurydx.com/privacy-policy for our Privacy Statement and for our Terms of Service, visit https://braininjurydx.com/terms.

SMS and Text Message Disclosures for Recipients

Regardless of the method used to gain consent, SMS senders should send a confirmation with standard SMS and text message disclosures to ensure the recipient chose to contact

Houston NeuroDiagnostics. Like the previous examples, this general confirmation includes the required disclosures-opt-out, support, message and data rates and frequency expectations, and links to the Privacy and Terms of Service pages:

“You have consented to receive conversational SMS or SMS notifications from the Houston NeuroDiagnostics [departmental or service provider]. Reply STOP to opt-out; Reply HELP for support; Message and data rates apply; Messaging frequency may vary. Visit our Privacy and Terms of Service pages”

Sending an SMS or text message to ask the recipient for their permission is a violation of the consent protocol. You must contact the recipients by email, phone call, or in person to request they provide their consent. They may also contact you or complete a web form to provide their consent.

Retention of Consent

You will need to retain the record of consent for as long as you continue messaging the recipient, plus six months.

Opt-out Instructions

At any point, your SMS or text message recipients must be able to cancel their consent.

Stop

If a recipient sends a message asking you to stop sending, you must do so immediately and permanently. You must also do so if the recipient sends a text message with the word STOP, QUIT, END, REVOKE, OPT OUT, CANCEL, or UNSUBSCRIBE. You should reply with only this message:

We received a STOP message from your phone number. You will no longer receive messages from this number.

After replying, you may not send any more text messages to this number from your phone number. To be able to send again to this recipient, they must contact you and re-authorize SMS usage. Failure to comply with a STOP message may result is termination of your SMS permissions and, potentially, fines for the University.

Help

"Help" is a special message asking for the sender to identify themselves. The reply should also provide useful information to the recipient for finding assistance. If a recipient sends the word HELP, respond with the following message:

This is from Houston NeuroDiagnostics. If you need assistance, you may contact the Houston NeuroDiagnostics at https://houstonneurodx.com/#contact or 713-589-6146.

After receiving a HELP message you may continue to contact the recipient. It may be useful to continue to communicate to learn if there is a concern you can resolve.

If you no longer want to receive text messages, you may reply to any text message with STOP, QUIT, END, REVOKE, OPT OUT, CANCEL, or UNSUBSCRIBE. As a person-to-person communication service, opt-out requests are specific to each conversation between you and one of our employees and their associated phone number. After unsubscribing, we may send you confirmation of your opt-out via text message.

Message Examples

It is a good idea to provide examples of the types of messages your SMS or text recipients can expect. These examples can be generic and listed on a web page with your department or service provider details, including how to initiate a request to receive SMS or text messages.

Conversational

1. “Thank you for contacting Houston NeuroDiagnostics. We will reply shortly” Reply STOP to opt-out of SMS updates
2. Good afternoon, [Name]. This is [Name] with Houston NeuroDiagnostics. Just a heads-up that your client has a scheduled appointment coming up this week. If there are any conflicts or if you need to coordinate anything related to their care, let me know. I’m happy to provide any updates through a secure email or call if needed, my office number is at 713-589-6146 and my direct email is intake@braininjurydx.com" Reply STOP to opt-out of SMS updates
3. “Your appointment with Houston NeuroDiagnostics has been confirmed. Please let us know if you have any questions.” Reply STOP to opt-out of SMS updates

Message Frequency

This Text Messaging Service is for conversational person-to-person communication between you and Houston NeuroDiagnostics employees. We may send you up 1 initial SMS message providing details about our service or your appointments. After that, the number of text messages you receive will vary depending on how you use our services and whether you take steps to generate more text messages from us (such as by sending a HELP request)

• Message frequency varies.
• SMS messages about Office Hours are rare or change in hours. If there are changes, expect SMS updates

Costs of Text messages

We do not charge you for the messages you send and receive via this text message service. But message and data rates may apply, so depending on your plan with your wireless or other applicable provider, you may be charged by your carrier or other applicable provider.

We respect your privacy. We only use information you provide through this service to transmit your mobile messages and respond to you. This includes, but isn't limited to, sharing information with platform providers, phone companies, and other vendors who assist us in the delivery of mobile messages. WE DON'T SELL, RENT, LOAN, TRADE, LEASE, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER

FOR PROFIT ANY PHONE NUMBERS OR CUSTOMER INFORMATION COLLECTED THROUGH THE SERVICE TO ANY THIRD PARTY. Nonetheless, we reserve the right always to disclose any information as necessary to satisfy any law, regulation or governmental request, to avoid liability, or to protect our rights or property. This Text Message Service Privacy Policy applies to your use of the Text Message Service and isn't intended to modify our Privacy Policy, incorporated by reference above, which may govern the relationship between you and us in other contexts.