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Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) SMS Terms and Conditions – Epic Hello World

Program Sponsor / Sender

These Terms and Conditions (the “Terms”) describe the Terms on which Southern Illinois Hospital Services ("SIH") and its corporate affiliates listed below (collectively, “Southern Illinois Healthcare”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) provide access to, and govern the use of the MyChart Mobile applications (“the “Apps”), and the services and functionality known as MyChart, and govern the SMS messaging program described below.

Program Description and Use Cases

By opting in to receive SMS messages from SIH, you consent to receive recurring text messages to the mobile number you provide. Messages may relate to your relationship with SIH and its affiliated providers and may include, but are not limited to:

  • Appointment reminders and visit-related updates
  • MyChart account notifications
  • One-time passcodes or security messages
  • Billing and payment notifications
  • Prescription or medication reminders
  • Care coordination and care management communications

Important: Text messaging may not be a fully secure method of communication. Do not send sensitive information by text. Messages may include information related to your healthcare.

Not for emergencies / no medical advice: Do not use SMS for urgent or emergency medical matters. If this is an emergency, call 911. SMS messages are for informational purposes and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

SMS messages are sent using Epic Hello World short code(s) and/or phone number(s) registered for these specific use cases. These Terms and Conditions apply only to the SIH Hello World SMS program and do not apply to any other messaging programs offered by SIH.

Opt-In

You may opt in to receive SMS messages through SIH-approved channels, including MyChart enrollment, registration workflows, or other authorized opt-in mechanisms associated with Epic Hello World. By opting in, you authorize SIH to send recurring text messages to the mobile number you provide for the purposes described in these Terms.

Your consent to receive text messages is not a condition of receiving care or services.

Opt-Out

You may opt out of receiving SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to the applicable short code/number. After opting out, you will receive one final confirmation message indicating that you have been unsubscribed. You will no longer receive SMS messages from that short code/number unless you re-enroll. To rejoin the SMS program, you may opt in again through MyChart or by replying START (where available). For assistance, reply HELP to the applicable short code/number for instructions.

Help and Support

For assistance with the SMS messaging program, reply HELP to the applicable short code or contact SIH directly at Privacy_Office@sih.net or 800-228-6631.

Message Frequency and Fees

Message frequency may vary depending on your interactions with SIH. Message and data rates may apply for messages sent to you from SIH and messages sent by you to SIH, as determined by your mobile carrier.

Carrier Disclaimer

Wireless carriers and other mobile service providers (collectively, “Carriers”) are not liable for delayed, failed, misdirected, or undelivered messages. Carriers are not a sponsor of the SMS program and are not affiliated with SIH. Carriers do not guarantee and are not responsible for the performance of the SMS program, which may not be available on all Carriers, on all plans, or in all areas.

Message delivery is not guaranteed and is subject to effective transmission from your Carrier and may be limited by network availability, coverage, device compatibility, outages, or other factors outside of SIH’s control. To the extent permitted by law, SIH is not responsible for any delays, failures, misdirected, or undelivered messages.

Privacy

Marketing Messages

If SIH offers marketing or promotional text messages in the future, SIH will obtain any additional consent required by applicable law before sending them. Where required, marketing consent will be optional and not a condition of receiving care or services.

Marketing opt-out: You may opt out of marketing messages by replying STOP to the applicable short code/number (or by using any other opt-out method provided in the marketing message). Opting out of marketing messages may not affect certain non-marketing, transactional, or informational messages you have requested or that are related to your account, appointments, billing, or other services (to the extent permitted by law).

SIH respects your privacy. To administer and support the SMS messaging program, SIH and its service providers may collect and use information such as your mobile phone number, your messaging preferences (for example, opt-in/opt-out status), and the content and delivery details of messages sent to or from you (for example, date/time and delivery status).

If an SMS message includes information related to your health or care, that information may be treated as protected health information (“PHI”) as required by applicable law. Because standard text messaging may not be a fully secure method of communication, you should not send sensitive information (such as medical record numbers, diagnoses, or other confidential details) by text.

We may share information with service providers and vendors that help us operate and support the SMS program (for example, messaging platform providers) and as otherwise permitted or required by law.

Privacy policy: SIH’s Privacy Policy (https://www.sih.net/privacy-policy) describes how SIH may collect, use, and disclose information when you interact with SIH online services, including SIH websites and mobile applications. This may include information collected automatically, such as device identifiers, cookies, and internet or network activity information (which can include IP address), as described in the Privacy Policy.

HIPAA notice: If SIH is acting as a HIPAA covered entity for your care, SIH’s HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices (when applicable) describes how SIH may use and disclose PHI and explains your rights regarding PHI. You can find SIH’s Notice of Privacy Practices, Digital Terms of Use, and Digital Privacy Policy at https://www.sih.net/privacy-policy. If you have questions regarding privacy practices, you may contact SIH at 618-549-1843.

Eligibility

By participating in the SMS program, you represent that you are the authorized user of the mobile device enrolled and that you are at least 18 years of age or have the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

Legal Terms

To the extent permitted by law, SIH provides the SMS program “as is” and disclaims all warranties, express or implied. SIH is not responsible for any charges from your mobile carrier, or for any delays, failures, or undelivered messages that may result from factors outside of SIH’s control (including carrier network availability).

HIPAA / PHI notice: SIH will handle protected health information (“PHI”), if any, in accordance with applicable law and SIH policies. However, standard SMS text messaging may not be a fully secure method of communication and may be subject to interception or unauthorized access. You should not send sensitive information by text.

Limitation of liability: To the extent permitted by law, SIH will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages arising from or related to the SMS program or these Terms, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

To the extent permitted by law, SIH’s total aggregate liability for any and all claims arising out of or related to the SMS program or these Terms (including claims relating to the transmission, interception, unauthorized access, or disclosure of information or PHI in connection with SMS) will not exceed the greater of (a) \$100 or (b) the total amounts, if any, you paid to SIH specifically for the SMS program in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations of liability; in such jurisdictions, SIH’s liability will be limited to the greatest extent permitted by law. Nothing in these Terms limits SIH’s liability to the extent such limitation is prohibited by applicable law.

Governing law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict-of-law rules, except where preempted by federal law.

Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

No waiver: Failure to enforce any provision of these Terms is not a waiver of that provision.

Assignment: SIH may assign these Terms and its rights and obligations under them as permitted by law. You may not assign these Terms without SIH’s prior written consent.

Contact: Questions about these Terms may be directed to SIH Privacy Officer by phone at 800-228-6631, email privacy_office@sih.net, or by mail at P.O. Box 3988, Carbondale, IL 62901.

Modifications

SIH reserves the right to modify or terminate the SMS messaging program or these Terms and Conditions at any time. Updated Terms and Conditions will be posted on SIH’s website.

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