Effective Date: October 16, 2026
At Sterling Medical Center, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. We understand that privacy is especially important when it comes to healthcare, and we take the confidentiality and security of your information seriously.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit our website, https://sterlingmedicalcentermi.com/, contact our office, request an appointment, or interact with our online services.
By using our website, you acknowledge the information practices described in this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect information that you voluntarily provide when interacting with our website or requesting healthcare services.
Personal Information
This may include:
- Full name
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Appointment preferences
- Information submitted through contact or appointment forms
- Other information you choose to provide when communicating with us
Health-Related Information
When you request medical services or communicate with our healthcare providers, we may collect health-related information, such as symptoms, medical history, medications, treatment concerns, and information relevant to your care.
Protected health information is subject to applicable healthcare privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), where applicable.
Automatically Collected Information
When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:
- Internet Protocol (IP) address
- Browser type and device information
- Operating system
- Pages visited and website interactions
- Referral sources
- Date and time of website visits
- Cookies and similar technology identifiers
This information may help us maintain website security, understand website performance, and improve the experience of our visitors.
2. How We Use Your Information
We may use the information we collect to:
- Respond to inquiries and appointment requests.
- Schedule, confirm, or manage medical appointments.
- Communicate with patients regarding healthcare services.
- Provide primary care, urgent care, acute care, and telemedicine services.
- Manage patient relationships and administrative activities.
- Improve website functionality, accessibility, and user experience.
- Maintain the security and reliability of our website.
- Comply with applicable legal, regulatory, and healthcare obligations.
- Send communications that you have requested or agreed to receive, where permitted by law.
We use and disclose protected health information only as permitted or required by applicable law or as authorized by the patient.
3. Healthcare Information and HIPAA
Sterling Medical Center recognizes the importance of safeguarding patients’ medical information.
To the extent applicable, our handling of protected health information is governed by HIPAA and other relevant federal and Michigan laws.
Protected health information may be used or disclosed for purposes permitted by law, including treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.
Additional uses or disclosures may require your written authorization.
Patients may have rights under HIPAA to:
- Request access to their medical records.
- Request corrections to certain medical information.
- Request confidential communications.
- Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures.
- Obtain an accounting of certain disclosures.
- Receive a copy of the practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices.
- File a privacy complaint without retaliation.
These rights are subject to applicable legal requirements and exceptions.
Important: This website Privacy Policy is not a substitute for Sterling Medical Center’s official HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. Patients should refer to that separate notice for complete information about how their protected health information is used and disclosed.
4. Appointment Booking and Contact Forms
Our website may provide online appointment scheduling, inquiry forms, or links to third-party scheduling services.
When you submit information through these features, we may use it to respond to your request, coordinate appointments, and provide relevant administrative communications.
Certain website features may be operated by authorized external service providers that process information on our behalf.
Please do not submit sensitive medical records, Social Security numbers, financial account information, or detailed medical histories through general website contact forms unless the form is specifically designated and secured for that purpose.
For confidential medical matters, please contact our office to determine the appropriate communication method.
5. Telemedicine and Online Healthcare Services
Sterling Medical Center offers telemedicine services for certain healthcare needs.
During a telemedicine appointment, healthcare providers may discuss your symptoms, medical history, medications, and other information relevant to your care.
Telemedicine services may involve approved third-party technology providers responsible for facilitating online healthcare communications.
We seek to use appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect patient information in accordance with applicable requirements.
Patients should participate in telemedicine appointments from a private location using a secure internet connection whenever possible.
6. Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, monitor performance, maintain security, and understand visitor interactions.
Cookies are small files stored on your device that help websites recognize browser activity or remember certain preferences.
Depending on the tools configured on our website, cookies may include essential cookies, preference cookies, and analytics cookies.
You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of some website features.
Where required, we will obtain applicable consent before using nonessential cookies or tracking technologies.
We do not authorize website analytics or advertising tools to receive protected health information unless the disclosure is legally permitted and appropriate safeguards are in place.
7. Sharing and Disclosure of Information
We do not sell patients’ protected health information.
We may disclose personal information to:
- Authorized healthcare providers and personnel involved in patient care.
- Vendors supporting website operation, appointment scheduling, or communications.
- Technology providers supporting authorized telemedicine services.
- Insurance companies or payment-related organizations when appropriate.
- Government agencies, regulators, or law enforcement when required or permitted by law.
- Other parties when you have provided appropriate authorization.
Where required by HIPAA, we enter into Business Associate Agreements with vendors that create, receive, maintain, or transmit protected health information on our behalf.
We limit disclosures to what is permitted under applicable law and implement safeguards appropriate to the information involved.
8. Third-Party Websites and Services
Our website may contain links to external websites or services, including appointment platforms, mapping services, review platforms, or social media websites.
These third parties may operate under their own privacy policies and information-handling practices.
We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.
Sterling Medical Center is not responsible for the independent privacy practices of third-party websites that we do not control.
9. Data Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, misuse, alteration, loss, or disclosure.
Such safeguards may include appropriate access restrictions, secure communications, system maintenance, staff procedures, and vendor security controls.
However, no website, electronic transmission, or information storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
If we identify a breach involving protected health information, we will comply with applicable breach notification requirements.
10. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, provide requested services, maintain required records, resolve disputes, and comply with applicable laws.
Medical records are retained in accordance with applicable healthcare recordkeeping requirements and Sterling Medical Center’s established retention policies.
When information is no longer required, we take appropriate steps to securely delete, destroy, or de-identify it, subject to applicable legal obligations.
11. Children’s Privacy
Sterling Medical Center may provide medical services to children and adolescents where appropriate.
Our website is not intended to collect personal information directly from children under 13 without appropriate parental or legal authorization.
When handling information relating to minors, we follow applicable healthcare privacy laws, parental or guardian authorization requirements, and any applicable rights of minor patients.
Parents or legal guardians with questions about a child’s information may contact our office.
12. Your Privacy Rights and Choices
Depending on applicable law and the type of information involved, you may have the right to:
- Request access to certain personal or medical information.
- Request correction of inaccurate information.
- Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of protected health information.
- Request confidential communications.
- Withdraw an authorization where legally permitted.
- Opt out of optional promotional communications.
- Ask questions or submit complaints about our privacy practices.
Some requests may be subject to identity verification, legal exceptions, or required record retention.
To exercise applicable rights, please contact Sterling Medical Center using the contact information below.
13. Email, Telephone, and Electronic Communications
When you contact us through email, telephone, or website forms, we may use the contact information you provide to respond to your inquiry or communicate about requested services.
Ordinary email and general website forms may not provide the same protections as designated secure healthcare communication systems.
We recommend avoiding the transmission of highly sensitive medical information through unsecured communication channels.
Appointment reminders or administrative messages may be sent using communication methods permitted by law and consistent with your preferences and applicable authorizations.
We do not use patient medical information for promotional communications where HIPAA or other applicable laws require authorization unless the necessary authorization has been obtained.
14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
Sterling Medical Center may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our website, information practices, technology, services, or legal obligations.
When changes are made, we will update the effective date at the top of this page.
We encourage visitors to review this Privacy Policy periodically to remain informed about our information-handling practices.
15. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, how we handle personal information, or your applicable privacy rights, please contact us:
Sterling Medical Center
Sterling Heights Location:
13409 E. 14 Mile Rd.
Sterling Heights, MI 48312
Dearborn Location:
6500 Schaefer Rd.
Dearborn, MI 48126
Phone: (586) 977-3900
Email: info@saadmd.com
Website: https://sterlingmedicalcentermi.com/
For questions specifically concerning medical records, protected health information, or HIPAA privacy rights, please contact our office and request assistance from the designated Privacy Officer or authorized privacy representative.
Medical Emergency Notice: This website and its contact forms are not intended for emergency medical communications. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.