Terms & ConditionsSMS Text Messaging

Brand Name: Northwest Psychiatry LLC

Program Name: Northwest Psychiatry SMS Notifications

These Terms and Conditions apply specifically to the SMS text messaging program operated by Northwest Psychiatry LLC, a telepsychiatry practice serving Maine residents, with expansion to Washington State planned for 2027. The practice is led by Nicholas Eddy, PMHNP-BC.

Current status: text messaging is active. Messages are sent only to clients who have opted in — email remains the default for everyone else. You can opt in, change your delivery preferences, or withdraw consent any time under Settings in your client portal.

The Northwest Psychiatry SMS Notifications program sends transactional text messages to clients of Northwest Psychiatry LLC. Messages include:

• ›Portal sign-in verification codes (one-time passwords for secure login)
• ›Appointment reminders and scheduling confirmations
• ›Practice notifications and administrative alerts

No Protected Health Information, clinical data, or diagnostic information is transmitted via SMS. All clinical communications are handled through the secure, HIPAA-compliant client portal. SMS messages are limited to short administrative and verification notifications.

There is exactly one way to start receiving texts from Northwest Psychiatry LLC: someone deliberately turns them on. Consent is never bundled into another action, never pre-selected, and never a condition of anything.

• ›You turn on “I consent to receive text messages” yourself, in the client portal under Settings → Text messages. Every text setting stays off until you do, and each one is a separate choice.
• ›You separately choose to have your one-time sign-in codes texted rather than emailed, under the same Settings → Text messages panel. Email remains the fallback either way.
• ›You tell our staff directly — by phone or in writing — that you consent. Staff record it in your chart with the date, who recorded it, and whether it was given verbally or in writing.

Texts are optional. Consent is not required to book, to be seen, or to use the portal, and turning it off never affects your care.

Whichever route you use, the consent is stored with a timestamp, how it was given, and who recorded it, and it can be withdrawn at any time — by replying STOP to a text, by turning the setting off yourself, or by asking us (see Opt-Out Instructions below). Withdrawing consent stops every text from us on its own — appointment reminders included — so nothing keeps sending after you have said stop. Your own notification settings are left exactly as you set them, and apply again if you ever consent again.

Northwest Psychiatry: you're opted in to appointment and sign-in texts — about 4–8 messages a month. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help. Reply STOP to opt out.

The screens below reproduce the consent controls exactly as they appear in the client portal, for anyone — including carrier and messaging-program reviewers — who needs to see the opt-in without a portal account. They are reconstructions, not screenshots of a real person’s settings, and the phone number shown is an example.

Nothing is pre-selected. The second and third boxes stay disabled until the consent box above them is ticked, so appointment texts cannot be switched on without consent existing first.

Message frequency varies based on your use of the practice and client portal.

You may receive about 4–8 messages a month, depending on:

• ›Number of portal sign-in attempts (each generates one verification code)
• ›Number of scheduled appointments (one reminder per appointment)
• ›Practice-wide administrative notifications

You will not receive more messages than necessary, and no marketing or promotional messages are sent through this program.

Every message we send ends with opt-out instructions. These are the actual message templates, shown with example details:

You may opt out of receiving text messages at any time using the following methods:

Opting out of SMS does not affect your right to receive email notifications or your access to the client portal and telehealth services.

For questions or assistance regarding the SMS program, please contact Northwest Psychiatry LLC using any of the following:

Our support hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern Time. For after-hours emergencies or mental health crises, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or dial 911 if you are in immediate danger.

Northwest Psychiatry LLC and its messaging service providers are not responsible for messages that are delayed, intercepted, or not delivered due to factors beyond our control, including but not limited to: carrier network outages, mobile device issues, full message inboxes, number changes, or service plan limitations. If you do not receive an expected message, please contact us using the methods above.

Your use of the SMS program is also governed by our Privacy Policy & HIPAA Notice, which describes how we collect, use, and protect your information — including specific provisions about SMS text messaging data and consent.

As stated in our Privacy Policy, your mobile information and text messaging opt-in consent will not be shared with any third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

The SMS program is available to current clients and prospective clients of Northwest Psychiatry LLC who have provided a valid U.S. mobile phone number. You must be at least 18 years of age to opt in to SMS, or have consent from a parent or legal guardian if you are a minor client.

This program is available to subscribers of major U.S. wireless carriers. Compatibility depends on your carrier and mobile device.

Northwest Psychiatry LLC reserves the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting to this page. The effective date at the top of this page will be updated accordingly. Continued use of the SMS program after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

Material changes to message frequency, program scope, or your rights will be communicated to active SMS participants via text message or email prior to taking effect.

For any questions about these Terms and Conditions or the SMS program, please contact:

These Terms and Conditions are specific to the SMS text messaging program and do not replace our Practice Policies or Privacy Policy & HIPAA Notice.