Effective Date: January 01, 2026

Empress Healthcare Inc. (“Empress Healthcare,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information and health-related information you provide to us. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how it may be shared, and how we protect information submitted through our website, forms, communications, and business interactions.

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our website, online forms, phone calls, text messages, emails, patient intake processes, referral communications, employment or contractor onboarding, and other direct communications with Empress Healthcare Inc.

Empress Healthcare Inc. is a home health agency. Certain health information may also be protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), the HIPAA Privacy Rule, and applicable California confidentiality laws. The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards for protecting medical records and individually identifiable health information and gives individuals rights over their protected health information. 

1. Information We Collect

Empress Healthcare Inc. may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including but not limited to:

• Name
• Phone number
• Mobile phone number
• Email address
• Mailing address
• Date of birth
• Patient or representative contact information
• Emergency contact information
• Referral information
• Insurance or payor information
• Physician or provider information
• Appointment and scheduling information
• Intake forms and service-related documents
• Employment, contractor, or business contact information
• Communications sent to us by phone, text message, email, website form, or other means

When necessary to provide or coordinate home health services, we may also collect health-related information, including information related to a patient’s medical condition, treatment needs, physician orders, eligibility for services, home health referral, and care coordination.

2. How We Use Personal Information

Empress Healthcare Inc. may use personal information for the following purposes:

• To respond to inquiries and requests
• To coordinate home health services
• To process patient referrals and intake information
• To schedule, confirm, or update appointments and home health visits
• To communicate with patients, patient representatives, caregivers, referral sources, providers, employees, contractors, and business contacts
• To request or follow up on missing documents
• To coordinate staffing and clinician assignments
• To verify insurance, eligibility, or administrative information
• To maintain business, employment, contractor, and healthcare-related records
• To comply with applicable legal, regulatory, accreditation, billing, and healthcare requirements
• To improve administrative operations and customer service

We do not use SMS/text messaging for marketing, promotional advertising, third-party offers, or lead generation unless you have separately consented where required by law.

3. How We Share Personal Information

Empress Healthcare Inc. may share personal information only as necessary and permitted by law, including with:

• Healthcare providers involved in care coordination
• Referring providers, discharge planners, case managers, or other authorized care partners
• Patient representatives or authorized individuals
• Payors, insurers, or Medicare-related contractors when applicable
• Employees, contractors, clinicians, and business associates who need the information to perform services
• Vendors or service providers who support our business operations
• Regulatory agencies, accrediting bodies, government agencies, or other parties when required or permitted by law
• Legal, compliance, billing, audit, or administrative representatives as necessary for lawful business purposes

Empress Healthcare Inc. does not sell personal information.

California’s Confidentiality of Medical Information Act generally prohibits a health care provider, health care service plan, or contractor from disclosing medical information without authorization, except as permitted by law. 

4. SMS/Text Message Communications

Empress Healthcare Inc. may use SMS/text messaging for administrative and customer care communications with individuals who have provided consent to receive text messages from us.

SMS messages may include:

• Appointment scheduling
• Home health visit reminders
• Intake follow-up
• Referral coordination
• Requests for missing documents
• Callback requests
• General office communication
• Employment or contractor coordination
• Other administrative or customer care communications

Message frequency may vary depending on your interaction with Empress Healthcare Inc. Message and data rates may apply.

You may opt out of SMS messages at any time by replying STOP. For assistance, reply HELP or contact us directly at:

Phone: (818) 527-1358
Email: contactus@empresshealthcare.com

Consent to receive SMS messages is not required as a condition of receiving services from Empress Healthcare Inc.

5. SMS Consent and Mobile Information

SMS consent is not shared with third parties or affiliates.

Mobile phone numbers and SMS opt-in consent information are not sold, rented, shared, or disclosed to third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

Empress Healthcare Inc. may use service providers or communication platforms to send and manage SMS messages, but those parties are permitted to use SMS-related information only as necessary to provide communication services to Empress Healthcare Inc. and not for their own marketing purposes.

6. Website Forms and Consent

If you submit information through our website or online forms, you may be asked to provide your contact information and indicate whether you consent to receive SMS/text messages.

Any SMS consent checkbox should be separate from general website submission consent, should not be pre-selected, and should clearly state that message frequency may vary, message and data rates may apply, and that you may reply STOP to opt out or HELP for help.

We recommend that all website forms include a link to this Privacy Policy near the consent language.

7. HIPAA and Health Information

As a home health agency, Empress Healthcare Inc. may create, receive, maintain, or transmit protected health information as part of providing healthcare services. Protected health information may be used or disclosed for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and other purposes permitted or required by law.

Patients have certain rights regarding their protected health information, which may include the right to request access to records, request corrections, request restrictions, request confidential communications, and receive information about certain disclosures.

This website Privacy Policy does not replace Empress Healthcare Inc.’s HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. Patients may request a copy of the agency’s HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices at any time.

8. Data Security

Empress Healthcare Inc. uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information and health-related information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted through websites, email, SMS, or electronic communication systems.

For your privacy, please do not send detailed medical information, diagnosis information, insurance identification numbers, Social Security numbers, or emergency medical information by text message unless specifically instructed through a secure or approved process.

9. Email and Electronic Communications

When you communicate with us by email or electronic message, we may use your contact information to respond to your request, coordinate services, provide administrative support, or maintain records of the communication.

Email and SMS may not be appropriate for urgent medical needs. For medical emergencies, call 911 or contact your physician or emergency medical provider.

10. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies, analytics tools, or similar technologies to help us understand website usage, improve website performance, and enhance user experience.

These technologies may collect information such as browser type, device information, pages visited, time spent on the website, referring website, and general usage data.

You may adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being used. Some website features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. Empress Healthcare Inc. is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of third-party websites.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

12. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to children for general online use. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through our website without appropriate consent.

When Empress Healthcare Inc. provides or coordinates healthcare services involving a minor, information may be collected and handled in accordance with applicable healthcare, consent, HIPAA, California confidentiality, and legal requirements.

13. Your Privacy Choices

You may contact Empress Healthcare Inc. to:

• Request information about how your information is used
• Update or correct contact information
• Opt out of SMS/text messages
• Request a copy of the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
• Ask privacy-related questions

To opt out of SMS messages, reply STOP to any text message from Empress Healthcare Inc.

For SMS assistance, reply HELP or contact us directly.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Empress Healthcare Inc. may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When updates are made, the revised policy will be posted on our website with an updated effective date.

Your continued use of our website or communication with us after changes are posted means you acknowledge the updated Privacy Policy.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact:

Empress Healthcare Inc.
9520 Topanga Canyon Blvd Ste 201
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Phone: (818) 527-1358
Email: contactus@empresshealthcare.com
Website: www.empresshealthcare.com