Text Messaging Privacy and Consent Policy

Swift-Rx Pharmacy & Travel Clinic (“Swift-Rx,” “we,” “us”) respects your privacy. This policy explains how we use text messages (SMS), what information is involved, the risks of texting, and how you can choose to receive or stop receiving messages.

We handle health information under Alberta's Health Information Act and other applicable privacy requirements. Commercial electronic messages are also subject to Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), where applicable. This policy supplements our general privacy policy.

With your consent, we may send service messages about prescription pickup, refill reminders, appointment confirmations or reminders, scheduling, and requests to contact the pharmacy. Message frequency depends on your prescriptions, appointments, and interactions with us.

If you separately agree to promotional messages, we may text you about pharmacy services, travel clinic services, events, or special offers. Promotional message frequency varies. Consent to service texts does not include consent to promotional texts.

Text messaging is optional. You do not have to agree to texts to obtain prescriptions, purchase products, or receive pharmacy care. You can arrange another contact method with us.

You can enrol by completing our text-message consent form online or in person, or by speaking with a pharmacy team member who records your consent. We will explain the message types and relevant privacy risks before enrolling you.

Simply giving us your mobile number does not enrol you in ongoing text messaging. We record your consent, including when and how you provided it and the message categories you selected. Promotional consent is requested separately and is optional.

Only provide a number you control, or a number you are authorized to use on the patient's behalf. If messages will go to a caregiver, parent, or other representative, we will verify the appropriate authorization and record the agreed communication arrangements. Sharing a phone does not automatically authorize its other users to receive your health information.

You can withdraw consent at any time by replying STOP to a text from us, calling 587-802-5434, or speaking with our team in person. You do not need to provide a reason or log into an account.

A STOP request stops all further texts from the sending number, including service reminders and promotional messages. You may receive one confirmation of your unsubscribe request. We process requests without delay; requests to unsubscribe from commercial messages are implemented no later than 10 business days after receipt.

To stop only promotional texts, or to change other preferences, contact the pharmacy. If you wish to restart texting, contact us so we can obtain and record fresh consent and complete any reactivation required by the messaging system.

Opting out does not affect your pharmacy care. We can arrange another way to contact you when needed. It does not cancel an appointment, prescription, or refill request, and it does not delete records we are required or permitted to retain.

We use information needed to manage the texting service, such as your name, mobile number, selected preferences, consent and withdrawal records, message content, and delivery information. Some messages may relate to your prescriptions or appointments and therefore involve health information.

We limit message content to what is reasonably necessary. Wherever practical, we use general notices asking you to contact the pharmacy rather than including medication names, diagnoses, test results, or other sensitive details in ordinary SMS.

Please do not send your Personal Health Number, payment card details, passwords, photographs of medical documents, or detailed health information by ordinary text. For clinical questions or sensitive information, call us or use a secure communication method arranged by the pharmacy.

Ordinary text messages are not a secure clinical messaging channel. They may travel through telecommunications networks without end-to-end encryption and may be stored by your mobile provider, our messaging provider, or your device and backup services.

Messages can appear on a lock screen or be seen by anyone with access to your phone, shared account, linked devices, or backups. Messages may be delayed, misdirected, intercepted, or delivered to someone else if a phone number is reassigned. Even a general notification from Swift-Rx may reveal that you use a pharmacy or clinic.

By choosing SMS after reviewing this information, you agree to receive the selected message types despite these risks. Your consent does not remove our responsibility to safeguard your information or authorize unrelated uses or disclosures.

To reduce risk, use a device passcode, hide message previews, and tell us promptly if your number changes, your phone is lost, or others gain access to it. If you receive a message intended for someone else, please contact us and delete it without sharing it.

We use a messaging service provider and telecommunications carriers to deliver texts. They may process the mobile number, message content, and delivery information necessary to provide the service. Authorized pharmacy personnel may access messages as needed for their duties.

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the information, including access controls and appropriate agreements with service providers. No electronic communication system can be guaranteed completely secure.

We do not sell your mobile number, SMS consent information, or health information, or share them with third parties for their own marketing. This does not prevent necessary processing by contracted service providers or disclosures permitted or required by law.

We retain consent records, withdrawal preferences, and relevant messages for as long as reasonably necessary for care, recordkeeping, legal obligations, and demonstrating compliance. Messages relevant to your care may form part of your pharmacy record. Information no longer needed is securely deleted or disposed of under our retention procedures.

You may contact our Privacy Officer to request access to or correction of your information, subject to applicable law. We may verify your identity before acting on a request. If you have a privacy concern, contact us using the details below. You may also contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta at oipc.ab.ca (opens in a new tab).

Swift-Rx does not charge a separate fee to receive our texts. Your carrier's standard message and data charges may apply. Delivery is not guaranteed and may depend on network coverage, your device, and your carrier.

Text messages are not monitored continuously. Do not rely on texting for urgent medical advice, emergencies, or time-sensitive prescription requests. Call the pharmacy for matters requiring a timely response. For a medical emergency, call 911.

We may update this policy and will post the revised version with a new effective date. Posting an update does not enrol you in texting or expand your consent. We will obtain new consent where required for a material change in how we use your information or the messages you receive.

Please avoid sending sensitive health information in an ordinary email. Call us to arrange a suitable way to discuss a privacy concern.