Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 2026

Apex Heart Care of North Texas – Privacy Policy

Apex Heart Care of North Texas ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of our patients' personal and health information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard information obtained through our website, patient interactions, and electronic communications, including SMS text messaging.

Information We Collect

We collect information from and about our website users in several ways:

Information You Provide Directly

When you interact with our website, you may choose to provide us with personal information through:

• Contact Forms: Name, email address, phone number, and message content
• Patient Registration Forms: Personal identifiers, insurance information, and medical history (subject to HIPAA)
• Appointment Requests: Name, contact information, preferred appointment times, and reason for visit
• Newsletter Sign-ups: Email address
• Patient Portal: Login credentials and portal activity (subject to HIPAA)

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing activity:

• Device Information: Internet protocol (IP) address, browser type, device type, operating system
• Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, date and time of visit
• Location Information: General geographic location based on IP address (city/state level, not precise location)
• Referral Information: Website or source that referred you to our site

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience and analyze website usage. For detailed information about our use of cookies and how to manage your preferences, please visit our Cookie Preferences page.

• Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality (cannot be disabled)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website (optional)
• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements and track campaign performance (optional)

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Healthcare Services

• Schedule and manage appointments
• Send appointment reminders via phone, email, or SMS (with consent)
• Provide care-related communication and follow-up
• Coordinate with other healthcare providers involved in your care
• Process patient registration and intake forms

Website Operations

• Respond to contact form submissions and inquiries
• Improve website functionality and user experience
• Analyze website usage and traffic patterns
• Prevent fraud and ensure website security
• Customize content based on your preferences

Communication

• Send newsletters and health information (with consent)
• Respond to your questions and requests
• Provide administrative notices and updates
• Send appointment confirmations and reminders

Legal and Compliance

• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
• Respond to subpoenas, court orders, or government requests
• Protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our patients
• Enforce our terms of use and other agreements

SMS / Text Messaging Privacy

If you provide consent to receive SMS text messages from Apex Heart Care of North Texas:

• Your mobile phone number will be used only for healthcare-related communications such as appointment reminders, care coordination, and administrative notices.
• SMS consent and phone numbers collected for SMS communication purposes will NOT be shared with any third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes.
• SMS communications are not used for advertising or promotional messaging.

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

Healthcare Providers

We may share information with other healthcare providers, specialists, hospitals, or laboratories involved in your care, as necessary for treatment purposes.

Service Providers

We may share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as:

• Website hosting and maintenance
• Email and SMS communication services
• Electronic health record (EHR) systems
• Billing and payment processing
• Analytics and website improvement tools

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, regulation, court order, or government request, including:

• Responding to subpoenas or legal processes
• Complying with healthcare reporting requirements
• Protecting against fraud or security threats
• Enforcing our legal rights

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity, subject to the same privacy protections.

With Your Consent

We may share your information in other ways with your explicit consent or at your direction.

Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest
• Secure servers and databases with access controls
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Employee training on data privacy and security
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Secure disposal of information when no longer needed

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you have reason to believe your information has been compromised, please contact us immediately.

Your Privacy Rights and Choices

You have certain rights regarding your personal information. Depending on your location, these rights may include:

Access and Correction

You may request access to or correction of your personal information by contacting our office. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and as required by applicable law.

Communication Preferences

• You may opt out of SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to any message
• You may unsubscribe from email newsletters by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email
• You may update communication preferences by contacting our office at (940) 312-6262

Cookie Preferences

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time by visiting our Cookie Preferences page. Most browsers also allow you to control cookies through their settings.

Do Not Track

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature. We do not currently respond to DNT signals because there is no industry standard for how to respond to them.

State-Specific Rights

Residents of certain states (including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, and Virginia) may have additional rights under state privacy laws, such as:

• Right to know what personal information we collect
• Right to delete personal information (subject to legal exceptions)
• Right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will delete that information promptly.

International Users

Our website is intended for users located in the United States. If you are accessing our website from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where our servers are located. By using our website, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. For example, we may retain certain information to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, or for legitimate business purposes. When information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, such as patient portals, appointment booking systems, or health information resources. This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post the updated Privacy Policy on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Related Policies

For more information about our privacy and communication practices, please review:

• SMS Terms & Conditions - Information about our SMS text messaging practices
• Communication & Consent Policy - How we obtain and manage patient communication consent
• Cookie Preferences - Manage your cookie settings

Notice of Privacy Practices: For information about how we use and disclose Protected Health Information under HIPAA, please request a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices from our office.