Privacy Policy
Effective date: October 9, 2026
Mark E. Chariker, M.D., FACS ("Dr. Chariker," "we," "us," or "our") operates the website at www.drchariker.com. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through our website, website chat, newsletter, and text messages, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have.
By using our website, chatting with us online, signing up for our newsletter, or agreeing to receive text messages, you agree to this Privacy Policy. Please also read our Terms of Service at www.drchariker.com/terms-of-service.
Your Health Information as a Patient
This Privacy Policy covers information collected through our website and online tools. Health information we receive as part of your medical care, including your medical records, treatment, and insurance details, is protected health information. It is governed by federal law and by our Notice of Privacy Practices, which we provide to every patient. If anything in this Privacy Policy conflicts with our Notice of Privacy Practices for your health information, the Notice of Privacy Practices controls.
Please do not send detailed medical information, photos, or insurance details through our website forms, website chat, or text messages. If you have a question about your care, call our office at 502.568.4800.
Information We Collect
Information you provide
We collect information you give us when you fill out a contact or appointment request form, chat with us on our website, sign up for our newsletter, agree to receive text messages, or call us. This may include:
Your name
Your email address
Your phone number, including your mobile number
Your mailing address
The service or procedure you are interested in and your preferred appointment date
How you heard about us
The content of any message you send us
Website chat
Our website chat is provided by a third-party chat platform. When you use the chat, we collect what you enter, such as your name, phone number, email address, and the reason you are reaching out. Chat conversations are recorded, stored, and may be reviewed by our team.
Some chat responses are generated automatically, including by artificial intelligence. These responses are for general information only. They are not medical advice and do not replace a consultation with Dr. Chariker. Please do not enter sensitive health information in the chat. We will only send you text messages if you agree to receive them.
Newsletter
When you sign up for our newsletter, we collect your email address and any other information you enter. We use it to send you our newsletter and office updates. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Information collected automatically
When you visit our website, we and our service providers automatically collect certain information through server logs, cookies, pixels, and similar tools. This may include your IP address, browser type, operating system, device type, the pages you view, the time and length of your visit, the website that referred you, and your general location based on your IP address.
Cookies and similar technologies
Cookies are small files stored on your device. We use cookies and similar technologies to keep our website working, remember your preferences, understand how visitors use our site, measure our advertising, and support our website chat and visitor identification tools. Our analytics, advertising, chat, and visitor identification providers may set their own cookies. You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings, though some parts of our website may not work as well without them.
Website visitor identification
We may use a third-party visitor identification service. It uses cookies and pixels to recognize visits to our website. In some cases, it may match a visit with information the provider already holds, such as a name, email address, postal address, or business name. We use this to understand which services visitors are interested in and, where permitted by law, to follow up.
We do not use visitor identification information to send you text messages. We only text people who have given us their mobile number and agreed to receive texts.
You can limit visitor identification by blocking or deleting cookies in your browser. You can also ask us to delete information we received through this service by contacting us using the details at the end of this policy.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
Respond to your questions and requests
Schedule consultations and appointments
Send appointment confirmations, reminders, and updates
Provide our newsletter, office updates, and, with your consent, information about specials and events
Ask you to share a review of your experience
Follow up with website visitors, where permitted by law
Operate, maintain, and improve our website and online tools
Measure how well our advertising works
Keep records and meet our legal obligations
We do not sell your personal information.
Text Messages and Mobile Information
Consent. You can agree to receive text messages from us by checking the optional, unchecked text message box on a website form, by agreeing in our website chat, or by giving consent in our office or over the phone. Agreeing to receive texts is optional and is not a condition of receiving care or making a purchase.
Types of messages. We may send appointment confirmations and reminders, follow-up messages about your visit, replies to your questions, office updates, and, if you agree, information about specials and events.
Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.
Opting out and getting help. Reply STOP to any message to stop receiving texts. Reply HELP for help, or call us at 502.568.4800.
Mobile information will not be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
For full text messaging terms, please see our Terms of Service at www.drchariker.com/terms-of-service.
Email and Newsletter
We send two kinds of email. Service emails relate to your requests and appointments. Marketing emails include our newsletter, office updates, and information about specials and events. We may track whether our emails are opened and which links are clicked so we can improve them.
You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link in any email or by calling us at 502.568.4800. Even if you unsubscribe, we may still send service emails about your requests and appointments.
How We Share Your Information
We share information only as described below:
Service providers. We work with companies that help us run our practice and website, including providers of website chat, visitor identification, email, text messaging, website hosting, analytics, and advertising. They may use your information only to provide services to us.
Legal and safety reasons. We may share information when required by law, to respond to legal requests, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our patients, our practice, or others.
Business transfers. If our practice is sold, merged, or transferred, information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
Mobile information will not be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with third parties for their own marketing purposes.
Your Choices
Text messages. Reply STOP to stop receiving texts. Reply HELP for help.
Newsletter and marketing email. Use the unsubscribe link in any email, or call us.
Cookies and visitor identification. Block or delete cookies in your browser settings.
Interest-based advertising. You can opt out of interest-based advertising from many companies at optout.aboutads.info.
Access, correction, and deletion. You can ask us to see, correct, or delete the personal information we collected through our website and online tools.
Depending on where you live, state law may give you additional rights regarding your personal information. To make a request, call us at 502.568.4800 or write to us at the address below.
Data Retention
We keep personal information only as long as we need it for the purposes described in this policy, to meet our legal and record-keeping obligations, and to resolve disputes. We keep records of text message opt-ins and opt-outs as long as needed to document your consent. Medical records are kept as required by law and our Notice of Privacy Practices.
Security
We use commercially reasonable measures to protect your information. However, no website, internet transmission, or storage system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the security of your information.
Links to Other Sites
Our website may link to other websites, such as social media pages and maps. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. Please review their privacy policies before sharing information with them.
Children's Privacy
Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13. Parents and legal guardians may contact us about care for their child. If you believe a child under 13 has given us personal information through our website, please contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the updated version on this page and change the effective date at the top.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
Mark E. Chariker, M.D., FACS
222 S. First Street, Suite 100 Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 502.568.4800