Terms of Service

Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service govern your use of the Village Pediatrics website located at www.villagepediatrics.com and any related services provided by Village Pediatrics.

Permitted Use

Intended Purpose

This website is intended to provide information about our pediatric services and facilitate communication between patients and our practice. You may use this website to:

• Learn about our pediatric services and providers
• Access patient portal and appointment scheduling
• Find contact information and office hours
• Read educational content about pediatric health
• Submit inquiries and appointment requests

Age Restrictions

This website is intended for use by adults (18 years or older) and parents/guardians of minor patients. Minors should not use this website without parental supervision and consent.

Prohibited Activities

• Using the website for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to our systems or networks
• Transmitting viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• Impersonating another person or entity
• Collecting or harvesting personal information from other users
• Using automated systems (bots, spiders, crawlers) without permission
• Interfering with the proper functioning of the website
• Posting or transmitting inappropriate, offensive, or illegal content
• Violating the privacy or rights of other users

Medical Information Disclaimer

Not a Substitute for Professional Care

The content on this website, including but not limited to text, graphics, images, and information, is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to:

• Replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
• Provide specific medical recommendations for your child
• Create a doctor-patient relationship
• Substitute for in-person medical consultations

Emergency Situations

For medical emergencies, call 911 immediately. Do not rely on this website for emergency medical guidance.

For urgent but non-emergency medical concerns, contact our office directly at (904) 940-1577 during business hours or seek appropriate medical care.

Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection, use, and protection of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms of Service by reference.

Information Collection

By using this website, you consent to our collection and use of information as described in our Privacy Policy, including:

• Information you voluntarily provide through forms
• Technical information about your website usage
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

HIPAA Compliance

For protected health information (PHI), we maintain strict HIPAA compliance as detailed in our Privacy Policy.

SMS Communication Terms

SMS Program Description

Village Pediatrics uses Yosi Health's HIPAA-compliant SMS messaging platform, powered by Bandwidth, to send text messages to patients and families. Our text messaging program provides:

• Appointment Reminders: Notifications about upcoming appointments and follow-up care
• Billing Notifications: Payment reminders, billing updates, and financial communications
• Health Updates: Important health information, care instructions, and medical updates
• Surveys and Feedback: Patient satisfaction surveys and feedback requests
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Security verification codes for account access

Express Consent

By providing your mobile phone number to Village Pediatrics and checking the consent box (or providing verbal consent), you expressly agree to receive text messages from us at the phone number you provided. This consent is not a condition of purchasing any goods or services from Village Pediatrics.

HIPAA Notice: SMS text messages may contain protected health information (PHI) about you or your child. By consenting to SMS communications, you acknowledge and accept the risks associated with transmitting PHI via text message, including potential interception or unauthorized access.

Message Frequency

Message frequency varies depending on your appointment schedule, billing activity, and healthcare needs. You may receive messages related to:

• Scheduled appointments (typically 1-3 messages per appointment)
• Billing and payment notifications (as needed)
• Health updates and care instructions (as medically necessary)
• Periodic surveys (no more than quarterly)
• Account security verification (when you access your patient portal)

We will not send excessive messages and will respect your communication preferences.

Message and Data Rates

Message and data rates may apply. Standard text messaging rates from your mobile carrier will apply to all messages sent and received. Village Pediatrics does not charge for text messages, but your carrier may charge you based on your mobile plan. Please contact your mobile carrier for details about your messaging plan and rates.

Supported Carriers

Our SMS service supports all major U.S. mobile carriers. If you experience issues receiving messages, please contact our office at (904) 940-1577.

Opt-Out Instructions

You may opt out of receiving text messages at any time by:

• Texting "STOP": Reply "STOP" to any text message from Village Pediatrics to unsubscribe immediately
• Calling Our Office: Contact us at (904) 940-1577 to request removal from our SMS program
• Email Request: Email hello@myvillagepeds.com with your opt-out request
• In-Person Request: Inform any staff member during your visit

After you opt out, you will receive one final confirmation message, and then no further messages will be sent to your mobile phone number. Please note that opting out of SMS messages may affect your ability to receive important appointment reminders and health notifications.

Help and Support

For help with our SMS program, you can:

• Text "HELP": Reply "HELP" to any message for assistance
• Contact Our Office: Call (904) 940-1577 during business hours
• Visit Our Website: https://myvillagepeds.com
• Email Us: hello@myvillagepeds.com
• Technical Support: Call Yosi Health at (866) 561-9674

Privacy and Security

Your privacy is important to us. Our SMS messaging practices are governed by:

• Our Privacy Policy
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
• TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act)
• CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) messaging principles

Service Providers: We use Yosi Health as our patient engagement platform and Bandwidth as our messaging carrier. Both providers have signed Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with Village Pediatrics to ensure HIPAA compliance and protect your health information.

Security Limitations: While we take reasonable precautions to protect your information, SMS text messages may not be fully secure. Messages may be intercepted, accessed by unauthorized persons, or remain on carrier servers. If you have concerns about the security of text messaging, please contact our office to discuss alternative communication methods.

Updating Your Mobile Number

It is your responsibility to notify Village Pediatrics if your mobile phone number changes. You can update your contact information by:

• Calling our office at (904) 940-1577
• Updating your information through the patient portal
• Informing staff during your next visit

Failure to update your mobile number may result in messages being sent to the wrong recipient.

Parental Consent for Minors

For patients under 18 years of age, consent to receive SMS messages must be provided by a parent or legal guardian. By providing a mobile number for a minor patient, you confirm that you are the parent or legal guardian and have authority to consent to SMS communications on behalf of the minor.

No Emergency Use

Regulatory Compliance

Village Pediatrics' SMS messaging program complies with:

• 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) Registration: Our business and messaging campaigns are registered with The Campaign Registry (TCR) as required by federal regulations
• HIPAA: All text messages containing protected health information are handled in accordance with HIPAA privacy and security requirements
• TCPA: We obtain express consent before sending marketing or non-essential messages
• CTIA Messaging Principles: We follow industry best practices for business text messaging

Third-Party Marketing

Patient opt-ins and mobile phone numbers will NOT be shared with third parties for marketing purposes. Your contact information is used exclusively for Village Pediatrics' patient care and communication purposes.

Program Changes and Termination

Village Pediatrics reserves the right to modify or terminate the SMS messaging program at any time. We will provide reasonable notice of any material changes. In the event of program termination, you will receive a final notification message.

SMS Program Costs

Village Pediatrics subscribes to Yosi Health's SMS service at a cost of $150 per phone number annually. This cost is covered by our practice and is not charged to patients.

Contact Information for SMS Program

Intellectual Property Rights

Our Content

All content on this website, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, audio clips, digital downloads, and software, is the property of Village Pediatrics or its content suppliers and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use this website for personal, non-commercial purposes related to obtaining our medical services.

Restrictions

You may not:

• Reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from our content
• Use our content for commercial purposes without written permission
• Remove or alter copyright notices or proprietary markings
• Use our trademarks or logos without authorization

Third-Party Links and Services

External Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. These links are provided for your convenience only. We do not endorse, control, or assume responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites.

Third-Party Services

We may use third-party services for:

• Online appointment scheduling
• Patient portal functionality
• Payment processing
• Website analytics
• Communication tools

Your use of these services may be subject to their respective terms and conditions.

Limitation of Liability

Website Availability

We strive to keep our website accessible, but we cannot guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation. The website may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, updates, or technical issues.

Limitation of Damages

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Village Pediatrics shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of this website, including but not limited to:

• Loss of data or information
• Business interruption
• Loss of profits or revenue
• Technical malfunctions or failures

User-Generated Content

Content Submission

If you submit any content to our website (such as reviews, comments, or messages), you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and display such content for the purpose of providing our services.

Content Standards

Any content you submit must:

• Be accurate and truthful
• Not violate any laws or regulations
• Not infringe on the rights of others
• Not contain offensive, inappropriate, or harmful material
• Not contain personal health information of others

Content Moderation

We reserve the right to review, modify, or remove any user-generated content at our discretion.

Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on this website. Your continued use of the website after any changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

Notification of Changes

For significant changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Provide notice through our website or other appropriate means
• Allow reasonable time for you to review changes before they take effect

Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to our website at any time, without prior notice, for conduct that we believe violates these Terms of Service or is harmful to other users, us, or third parties.

Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use the website will cease immediately
• Provisions regarding intellectual property, disclaimers, and limitations of liability will survive
• You must cease all use of our website and services

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of our website will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in St. Johns County, Florida.

Dispute Resolution

Before pursuing any legal action, we encourage you to contact us directly to resolve any disputes informally.

Severability and Entire Agreement

Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Service is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the remaining terms will remain in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Village Pediatrics regarding your use of our website and supersede all prior agreements relating to the same subject matter.