SMS Communication & Consent

Legara operates a regulated workforce platform that places clinical providers at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and community clinics. In connection with those placements, Legara's care coordination team may send SMS text messages to patients on behalf of partner clinics for appointment and care-related communication.

This page describes how opt-in consent is collected and what patients can expect from SMS communications.

How opt-in is collected

Patients provide express written consent to receive SMS messages from Legara at the point of intake with a partner FQHC. Consent is collected in one of two ways:

In-person intake at the partner clinic, where the patient completes a paper or tablet-based intake form that includes the SMS consent language below.
Digital intake through a clinic-managed intake tool, where the patient checks a box adjacent to the SMS consent language before submitting.

The exact consent language presented to patients at intake reads:

"I consent to receive text messages from [Clinic Name] and its care coordination partner, Legara, at the mobile number I provide. Messages may include appointment confirmations, reminders, telehealth session links, prescription updates, and clinical follow-up. Message frequency varies based on my care plan. Message and data rates may apply. I can reply STOP at any time to opt out of SMS, or HELP for assistance. Consent is not a condition of treatment."

Consent is recorded against the patient's record in the clinic's electronic health record system and made available to Legara's care coordination team through secure, HIPAA-compliant data exchange.

What messages you may receive

Patients who opt in may receive any of the following message types:

Appointment confirmations and reminders
Telehealth visit links and connection instructions
Notifications when a provider is running behind or needs to reschedule
No-show outreach and re-engagement
Prescription pickup and refill reminders
Clinical follow-up from a care team member

Legara does not send marketing or promotional SMS. All messages are tied to an active care relationship with a partner clinic.

Message frequency

Message frequency varies based on a patient's care plan. Most patients receive between 2 and 8 messages per month. Patients with active care coordination or chronic condition management may receive more.

Opting out

Reply STOP to any SMS from Legara to opt out of further messages. One confirmation message will be sent acknowledging the opt-out, after which no further SMS will be sent from Legara to that number.

Patients who opt out of SMS will still receive appointment and clinical communication through other channels their clinic uses, such as phone calls or patient portal messages.

Help

Reply HELP to any SMS from Legara for assistance, or contact Legara directly at support@golegara.com.

Fees

Message and data rates may apply based on your mobile carrier plan. Legara does not charge for SMS communications.

Privacy

SMS communications are subject to Legara's privacy practices and the partner clinic's HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. Legara does not share, sell, or rent mobile phone numbers or SMS opt-in information to third parties for marketing purposes, and mobile opt-in data is not shared with third parties for any purpose other than operating the SMS service.

Contact

Legara, Inc.
1106 2nd St, Suite 448
Encinitas, CA 92024
support@golegara.com