Privacy Policy

Effective Date: April 1, 2025
Governed by Illinois Law

This Privacy Policy describes how Patel Vision LLC ("we," "us," or "our") operates our website, patel-vision.com (the "Site"), and how information is handled in connection with appointment booking and patient care. By using our Site, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

This policy is designed to comply with applicable Illinois privacy laws, including the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), 815 ILCS 530, the Illinois Health Information Technology Act, and other relevant statutes, as well as applicable federal healthcare privacy regulations.

1. Information We Collect

Website Use

Patel Vision LLC does not collect personal information through general use of our website. You may browse patel-vision.com without providing any personally identifiable information. We do not require you to create an account or submit personal data simply to visit or navigate our Site.

Automatically Collected Technical Information

Like most websites, our Site may automatically collect limited, non-personally identifiable technical data, including:

• IP address and browser type
• Pages visited and time spent on the Site
• Referring URLs and device information
• Cookie and tracking data (see Section 4)

This information is used solely for maintaining the security and performance of our Site and is not linked to any individual identity.

Appointment Booking and Health Information

When you request or schedule an appointment through our website or any linked booking platform, the information you provide — including your name, contact information, and reason for visit — is collected and maintained as part of your patient health record, not as general website data.

As a vision care provider, any information collected in connection with your appointment is treated as protected health information (PHI) and is governed by applicable healthcare privacy laws, including but not limited to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), where applicable, and Illinois healthcare privacy statutes.

Your health record information is maintained separately from website analytics and is subject to our Notice of Privacy Practices, which is provided to patients at the time of care.

2. How Appointment and Health Record Information Is Used

Information collected through the appointment booking process, as part of your patient health record, is used for the following healthcare-related purposes:

Patient Care & Appointments

• To schedule, confirm, and manage your appointments
• To provide vision care and related clinical services
• To send appointment reminders via email, phone, or text message
• To maintain accurate and complete patient health records

Communications

• To respond to questions or requests you submit through the Site or by phone
• To communicate information relevant to your care or appointments
• To send appointment-related messages (e.g., confirmations and reminders)

Legal & Regulatory Compliance

• To comply with applicable Illinois and federal healthcare laws and regulations
• To fulfill obligations under HIPAA and Illinois health information statutes
• To support billing and insurance-related processes where applicable

We do not sell, rent, or trade your health record or appointment information to third parties for marketing purposes.

3. Sharing of Information

Because appointment information is part of your health record, it is shared only in accordance with applicable healthcare privacy laws. Sharing may occur in the following limited circumstances:

• Treatment, Payment, and Operations: As permitted under healthcare privacy law, we may share your information with other providers involved in your care, or for billing and practice administration purposes.
• Service Providers: Trusted third-party vendors who support our scheduling, communications, or IT systems, subject to confidentiality and data security agreements.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental authority under Illinois or federal law.
• With Your Authorization: When you have provided explicit written consent for a specific disclosure.

All third parties who access health record information are required to maintain appropriate safeguards consistent with applicable law.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Site may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to maintain Site functionality and gather basic analytics. The types of cookies we may use include:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Site to function properly (e.g., session management).
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with the Site (e.g., page views, traffic sources). This data is aggregated and not linked to individual identities.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our Site. Most modern browsers allow you to:

• View and delete existing cookies
• Block cookies from specific or all websites
• Receive notifications when cookies are set

Because our Site does not collect personal information through general browsing, cookie data is not linked to your identity or your health record.

5. How to Opt Out of Communications

You have the right to opt out of non-essential marketing and promotional communications at any time. Here is how:

Email Communications

• Click the "Unsubscribe" link found in the footer of any promotional email we send you.
• Send a written request to information@patel-vision.com.

Text / SMS Communications

• Reply STOP to any text message you receive from us. You will receive a confirmation and no further marketing messages will be sent.
• For help, reply HELP or contact us directly.
• Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.

Phone Communications

• Request to be removed from our call list by contacting us using the information in Section 9 below.

Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still send you appointment-related or clinically necessary messages required to manage your care (e.g., appointment confirmations, reminders, or health-related notices). These communications are part of your patient relationship with Patel Vision LLC and are not subject to marketing opt-out requests.

6. Protection of Your Information

We take the security of your information seriously. We have implemented reasonable and appropriate technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect information maintained by our practice from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction.

Our data protection measures include:

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit using Secure Socket Layer (SSL/TLS) technology
• Restricted access to health record information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular review of our data collection, storage, and processing practices
• Use of reputable, security-compliant third-party service providers

In the event of a data breach affecting your personal or health information, we will notify you as required under the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (815 ILCS 530/10) and applicable federal law, in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay.

Please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

7. Your Privacy Rights

As an Illinois resident and patient, you may have specific rights regarding your information, including:

• The right to access your health record and request copies
• The right to request correction or amendment of inaccurate information in your health record
• The right to request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your health information
• The right to an accounting of disclosures of your health information
• The right to opt out of certain non-essential communications

Rights related to your patient health record are governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices, provided at the time of your visit, and applicable healthcare privacy law. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 9 below.

8. Data Retention

Health record information, including appointment records, is retained in accordance with Illinois medical records retention laws and applicable federal healthcare regulations. Website technical data (such as anonymized analytics) is retained only as long as necessary for operational purposes and is then securely deleted.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your information, please contact us:

Patel Vision LLC
900 S Route 83, Villa Park, IL 60181
Email: information@patel-vision.com
Phone: (630) 530-5303
Website: patel-vision.com

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. When we do, we will revise the Effective Date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

Note: This Privacy Policy is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Patel Vision LLC recommends consulting a licensed Illinois healthcare attorney to ensure full compliance with all applicable privacy laws, including HIPAA and Illinois-specific statutes, as they apply to your specific practice.