Telehealth Consent
Beluga Health, P.A.
Informed Consent to Treatment
This “Informed Consent to Treatment” informs you (“Patient,” “you,” or “your”) as a patient of the Group (as defined below), regarding the treatment methods, and limitations of receiving the Services whether in person or by telehealth. As part of receiving the Services, you may use a virtual platform which involves the use of secure electronic communications, information technology, or other means to enable a healthcare provider and a patient at different locations to communicate and share individual patient health information for the purpose of rendering clinical care.
Services Provided:
Clinical services offered by Beluga Health, P.A. (“Group”), and the Group’s engaged providers (our “Providers” or your “Provider”) may include a patient consultation, diagnosis, treatment recommendation, prescription, and/or a referral to additional care, as determined clinically appropriate (the “Services”).
Great Many, Inc. does not provide the Services; it performs administrative, payment, and other supportive activities for Group and our Providers.
Electronic Transmissions:
The types of electronic transmissions that may occur using the virtual platform include, but are not limited to:
- Appointment scheduling;
- Completion, exchange, and review of medical intake forms and other clinically relevant information (for example: health records; images; output data from medical devices; sound and video files; diagnostic and/or lab test results) between you and your Provider via:
- asynchronous communications;
- two-way interactive audio in combination with store-and-forward communications; and/or
- two-way interactive audio and video interaction;
- Treatment recommendations by your Provider based upon such review and exchange of clinical information;
- recommendations, as deemed clinically relevant;
- Prescription refill reminders (if applicable); and/or
- Other electronic transmissions for the purpose of rendering clinical care to you.
Expected Benefits:
- You understand that your Provider will discuss the expected benefits of the Services including any treatment to be administered, test, or prescription to be ordered. You further understand that if you have any questions regarding any treatment recommended or administered or any test, prescription ordered by your Provider, you are encouraged to and will have the opportunity to ask questions.
- In the event telehealth is utilized, this will provide for additional access to care by enabling you to remain in your preferred location while your Provider consults with you. Our telehealth services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Convenient access to follow-up care. If you need to receive non-emergent follow-up care related to your treatment, please contact your Provider by sending a text message through the online portal.
Service Limitations:
- Group may not be able to offer the treatment options you want whether through in-person care or through telehealth or may make treatment recommendations you don’t feel are right for you. In such cases, you understand that you may decline such options or recommendations and may need to seek treatment from other providers.
- The primary difference between telehealth and direct in-person service delivery is the inability to have direct, physical contact with the patient. Accordingly, some clinical needs may not be appropriate for a telehealth visit and your Provider will make that determination.
- Our providers do not address medical emergencies via telehealth. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, You should dial 9-1-1 and/or go to the nearest emergency room. please do not attempt to contact GREAT MANY, INC., GROUP, or your Provider. After receiving emergency healthcare treatment, you should visit your local primary care PROVIDER. if you experience a medical emergency while recieivng in-person care, Group Providers will follow group’s emergency event policies and procedures.
- Our Providers are an addition to, and not a replacement for, your local primary care provider. Responsibility for your overall medical care should remain with your local primary care provider, if you have one, and we strongly encourage you to locate one if you do not
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The electronic communication systems we use will incorporate network and software security protocols to protect the confidentiality of patient identification and imaging data and will include measures to safeguard the data and to ensure its integrity against intentional or unintentional corruption. All the Services delivered to you virtually will be delivered over a secure connection that complies with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”).
Possible Risks:
- You understand that your Provider will discuss the potential risks associated with the Services including any treatment to be administered, test, or prescription to be ordered. You further understand that if you have any questions regarding any treatment recommended or administered or any test, prescription ordered by your Provider, you are encouraged to and will have the opportunity to ask questions.
- In the event telehealth is utilized, there is the possibility of delays in evaluation and treatmentcould occur due to deficiencies or failures of the equipment and technologies, or provider availability.
- In rare events, when using telehealth, your Provider may determine that the transmitted information is of inadequate quality, thus necessitating a rescheduled telehealth consult or an in-person meeting with your local primary care doctor.
- In very rare events, security protocols could fail, causing a breach of privacy of personal medical information.
Patient Acknowledgments:
I further acknowledge and understand the following:
- Prior to the visit, I have been given an opportunity to select a Provider as appropriate, including a review of the Provider’s credentials, or I have elected to visit with the next available Provider from Group, and have been given my Provider’s credentials.
- I understand that I may be asked to provide my identification and confirm my physical location, as applicable, prior to or during the visit.
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If I am experiencing a medical emergency during a telehealth interaction with a Provider, I will be directed to dial 9-1-1 immediately and my Provider is not able to connect me directly to any local emergency services.
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I have the right to withhold or withdraw my consent to the use of telehealth in the course of my care at any time without affecting my right to future care or treatment. However I understand that in certain situations, Group may not be able to offer Services other than through telehealth and if I am unable to see a Provider in person, I may have to decline Services and seek treatment from other health care providers.
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Federal and state law requires health care providers to protect the privacy and the security of health information. I am entitled to all confidentiality protections under applicable federal and state laws. I understand all medical reports resulting from the visit are part of my medical record.
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Group will take steps to make sure that my health information is not seen by anyone who should not see it. Treatment services may involve electronic communication of my personal health information to other health practitioners who may be located in other areas, including out of state. I consent to Group using and disclosing my health information for purposes of my treatment (e.g., prescription information) and care coordination, to receive reimbursement for the services provided to me, and for Group’s health care operations.
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Dissemination of any patient-identifiable images or information from the visit to researchers or other educational entities will not occur without my consent unless authorized by state or federal law.
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There is a risk of technical failures during the visit beyond the control of Group.
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In choosing to participate in a visit, I understand that some parts of the Services involving tests (e.g., labs or bloodwork) may be conducted at another location such as a testing facility, at the direction of my Provider.
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Persons may be present during the visit other than my Provider who will be participating in, observing, or listening to my consultation with my Provider (g., in order to operate certain technologies). If another person is present during the visit, I will be informed of the individual’s presence and his/her role.
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My Provider will explain my diagnosis and its evidentiary basis, and the risks and benefits of various treatment options.
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I understand that by creating a treatment plan for me, my Provider has reviewed my medical history and clinical information and, in my Provider’s professional assessment, has made the determination that the Provider is able to meet the appropriate standard of care when providing the Services.
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There is no guarantee that I will be issued a prescription and that the decision of whether a prescription is appropriate will be made in the professional judgement of my Provider. If my Provider issues a prescription, I have the right to select the pharmacy of my choice.
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There is no guarantee that I will be treated by a Group provider. My Provider reserves the right to deny care for potential misuse of the Services or for any other reason if, in the professional judgment of my Provider, the provision of the Services is not medically or ethically appropriate.
Additional State-Specific Consents: The following consents apply to patients accessing Services from Group as required by the states listed below:
Alaska: I have been informed that if I want to register a formal complaint about a provider, I should visit the medical board’s website, here.
California: I have been informed of the following notice:
The Open Payments database is a federal tool used to search payments made by drug and device companies to physicians and teaching hospitals. It can be found at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Iowa: I have been informed that if I want to register a formal complaint about a provider, I should visit the medical board’s website, here.
Indiana: I have been informed that if I want to register a formal complaint about a provider, I should visit the medical board’s website, here.
Kentucky: I have been informed that if I want to register a formal complaint about a provider, I should visit the medical board’s website, here (or, alternatively, by accessing this URL in my browser: kbml.ky.gov/grievances/Pages/default.aspx).
Maine: I have been informed that if I want to register a formal complaint about a provider, I should visit the medical board’s website, here; Or, the Maine Board of Osteopathic Licensure’s website, here.
Oregon: I have been informed that if I want to register a formal complaint about a provider, I should visit the medical board’s website, here.
Rhode Island: I have been informed that if I want to register a formal complaint about a provider, I should visit the medical board’s website, here.
Texas: I have been informed of the following notice:
NOTICE CONCERNING COMPLAINTS -Complaints about physicians, as well as other licensees and registrants of the Texas Medical Board, including physician assistants, acupuncturists, and surgical assistants may be reported for investigation at the
following address: Texas Medical Board, Attention: Investigations, 333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 610, P.O. Box 2018, MC-263, Austin, Texas 78768-2018, Assistance in filing a complaint is available by calling the following telephone number: 1-800-201-9353, For more information, please visit our website at www.tmb.state.tx.us.
AVISO SOBRE LAS QUEJAS- Las quejas sobre médicos, asi como sobre otros profesionales acreditados e inscritos del Consejo Médico de Tejas, incluyendo asistentes de médicos, practicantes de acupuntura y asistentes de cirugia, se pueden presentar en la siguiente dirección para ser investigadas: Texas Medical Board, Attention: Investigations, 333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 610, P.O. Box 2018, MC-263, Austin, Texas 78768-2018, Si necesita ayuda para presentar una queja, llame al: 1-800-201-9353, Para obtener más información, visite nuestro sitio web en www.tmb.state.tx.us
Vermont: I have been informed that if I want to register a formal complaint about a provider, I should visit the medical board’s website, here; Or, the Vermont Board of Osteopathic Examiners’ website, here.