Legal
Privacy Policy
Effective date: October 1, 2026
South Sound Musculoskeletal Institute ("SSMI," "we," "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes the information collected through this website, how it is used, and the choices you have. This Policy applies only to this website. It does not describe our practices regarding medical information we receive from you as a patient, which are governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices provided at the clinic.
This Website Is Not for Medical Information
This website is informational. Please do not submit medical history, symptoms, diagnoses, or other health details through this website. The website contact form is limited to your name, contact information, and a general reason for reaching out so that our team can follow up with you directly. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Information We Collect
- Contact form: name, phone number, email address, and a general reason for reaching out selected from a fixed list (for example, requesting an appointment, medical records, or billing).
- Newsletter signup: email address.
- Automatic data: like most websites, we and our service providers collect certain information automatically, such as IP address, browser type, device type, pages viewed, and referring pages, through cookies and similar technologies, including analytics tools.
How We Use Information
- To respond to your inquiry and contact you about scheduling or the reason you selected.
- To send news and updates you have requested, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.
- To operate, secure, and improve the website, including understanding how visitors use it.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use information submitted through this website for third-party advertising.
Washington Consumer Health Data
Some information collected through this website may be considered consumer health data under the Washington My Health My Data Act, such as the fact that you contacted a musculoskeletal practice to request an appointment. We collect this information only with your consent, when you choose to submit our contact form, and only to respond to your request and communicate with you about it. We do not sell consumer health data, and we do not share it with third parties except service providers who help us operate this website and our communications, or as required by law.
You have the right to confirm whether we collect consumer health data about you, to access it, to withdraw consent, and to request deletion. To exercise these rights, contact us at CSteckler@southsoundmsk.com or (253) 799-1830. If we decline your request, you may appeal by replying to our response, and if your appeal is unsuccessful you may contact the Washington State Attorney General at www.atg.wa.gov.
How We Share Information
- Service providers who host and maintain this website and our communications tools, under obligations to protect your information.
- As required by law, legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of SSMI, our patients, or others.
- In connection with a business transaction such as a merger, reorganization, or sale of assets, subject to applicable law.
Data Retention and Security
We retain website inquiry information as long as needed to respond to you and for our legitimate business purposes, then delete or de-identify it. We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards, but no website transmission is completely secure; please use the phone number listed on this site for anything sensitive.
Children
This website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them online.
Third-Party Links
This website may link to third-party sites, including our patient portal and payment services, which operate under their own privacy policies. This Policy does not apply to those sites.
Changes and Contact
We may update this Policy from time to time; the effective date above reflects the latest revision. Questions or requests regarding this Policy or your information may be directed to: South Sound Musculoskeletal Institute, 1519 3rd Street SE, Suite 101, Puyallup, WA 98372, (253) 799-1830, CSteckler@southsoundmsk.com.