Effective Date: March 2026
At the Arkansas Fatty Liver Institute (“we,” “our,” or “us”), we understand that your health—and the information surrounding it—is deeply personal. We are committed to protecting your privacy while providing you with a safe, welcoming experience on our website, fattyliver.us (the “Site”).
This Privacy Policy explains in plain language what information we collect when you visit our site, how we use it, and the steps we take to keep it secure. By accessing or using our website, you agree to the practices described below.
1. Important Distinction: Website Privacy vs. Medical Privacy (HIPAA)
Please read this carefully: This Privacy Policy applies only to the digital information collected through your general use of our public website (fattyliver.us).
Once you become a registered patient at the Arkansas Fatty Liver Institute, your medical records, lab results, and personal health details become Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI is governed by strict federal laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The way we handle your actual medical data is detailed separately in our clinic’s Notice of Privacy Practices, which you will receive during your first appointment.
2. The Information We Collect
We collect information in two primary ways to help us serve you better:
A. Information You Choose to Share
When you fill out a contact form, request an appointment, or sign up for our newsletter, you are voluntarily sharing personal details with us. This may include:
First and last name
Email address
Phone number
The general reason you are reaching out (e.g., “Interested in weight loss” or “Need a liver evaluation”)
Any brief messages you type into the contact form
Security Note: Standard website contact forms are not encrypted to medical-grade standards. We strongly request that you do not submit highly sensitive medical histories, Social Security numbers, or financial information through our website. Save those details for our secure patient portal or your in-person visit.
B. Information Collected Automatically
Like most modern websites, we automatically gather some basic, non-identifying data to help our site function smoothly and to understand how visitors find us. This includes:
Your IP address
The type of browser and device you are using (e.g., Safari on an iPhone)
The pages you visit on our site and how long you stay
Referring websites (for example, if you clicked a link from Google)
3. How We Use Your Information
We do not collect your data just to have it. We use this information to operate our clinic efficiently and make your experience better:
To respond to your questions, contact requests, or appointment inquiries.
To call or email you regarding scheduling, insurance, or clinic updates.
To improve our website’s design and the educational content we offer.
To send relevant health tips or clinic news (only if you have opted in, and you can unsubscribe at any time).
4. Sharing Your Information
Let us be perfectly clear: We do not sell, rent, trade, or lease your personal information to third-party marketers or data brokers. Period.
We only share information in these strictly limited circumstances:
Trusted Service Providers: We use secure third-party vendors to help run our website, manage appointment scheduling, and send emails. These partners are legally bound by strict confidentiality agreements and can only use your data to perform tasks on our behalf.
Legal Compliance: We may disclose information if required to do so by law, subpoena, or court order, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the safety of our clinic, our patients, or the public.
5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses “cookies”—tiny data files placed on your device—to remember your preferences and help pages load faster. You have complete control over this and can set your web browser to refuse cookies or alert you when one is being sent. Just keep in mind that disabling cookies might cause some interactive parts of our website to function improperly.
6. Data Security
We take your digital security seriously. We use standard administrative and technical measures, including Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption (look for the padlock in your browser’s address bar), to protect the data submitted through our site.
However, no transmission of data over the public internet is 100% secure. While we work hard to protect your information, any data you submit through standard web forms is done at your own risk. For this reason, we will always transition sensitive medical conversations to the phone or an in-person visit.
7. Third-Party Links
You might find links on our site leading to external resources, like medical research foundations, local pharmacies, or patient financing companies. Once you click a link and leave fattyliver.us, our Privacy Policy no longer applies. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites and encourage you to read their policies.
8. Children’s Privacy
Our clinic and website are designed to provide treatments for adults. We do not knowingly collect, solicit, or market to children under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has submitted personal information to us, please reach out so we can delete it immediately.
9. Your Choices and Rights
You always remain in control of your digital communication.
Opting Out: If you receive educational or promotional emails from us, you can opt out at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the email.
Updating Your Info: If you need to review, correct, or request the deletion of the basic contact information you provided via our website, just contact our administrative team.
10. Changes to This Policy
Because healthcare regulations and digital technology are always evolving, we may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted right here on this page, and we will update the “Effective Date” at the top so you always know you are reading the latest version.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or need clarification about this policy or how we handle your digital information, please don’t hesitate to contact our team:
Arkansas Fatty Liver Institute
Website: fattyliver.us
Email: privacy@fattyliver.us
Phone: (501) 555-0199
Address: