Telehealth Consent

INFORMED CONSENT REGARDING USE OF TELEHEALTH

Last updated: March 5, 2024

By selecting “I Accept,” marking a corresponding box to indicate your agreement, engaging with any other acceptance method offered by the service, or by affirmatively agreeing to this consent in any manner, you confirm that you have read, understood, and consented to adhere to these terms. If you disagree with this consent, please refrain from creating an account or using the service. By proceeding, you also confer authority to any individual who clicks the “I Accept” button or otherwise signifies agreement on your behalf to this consent.

If you are in a life-threatening situation, such as considering suicide, please immediately call 911 or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

This consent form (“Consent”) aims to inform you about the nature of telehealth and to secure your informed consent for receiving healthcare and/or mental health services through telehealth. These services will be provided by a team of professionals, including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and mental health specialists (“Providers”), via online platforms operated by Caerus Corp dba Orthocor Medical or its affiliates (“the Service”). In this Consent, “you” and “yours” refer to the individual using the Service. If the Service is being used by or for a minor aged between thirteen (13) and eighteen (18) years, or the higher age of majority as per relevant state law, “you” and “yours” include both the minor, and either the parent or legal guardian consenting to the minor’s use of the Service or utilizing the Service on the minor’s behalf.

USE OF TELEHEALTH

Telehealth refers to the use of electronic communications, information technology, or other methods to provide healthcare and/or mental health services when the patient and provider are not in the same location. It can be applied to various aspects of patient care including diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and education. Telehealth services may encompass the electronic sharing of medical records, photos, personal health information, or other relevant data between patient and provider. It also includes interactions via audio, video, and data communications, like messaging or emails, and the utilization of data from medical devices, along with sound and video files. While telehealth is an option, alternative forms of care, such as in-person visits, are available and may be selected at any time. Discussing all available options with your provider is highly recommended.

ANTICIPATED BENEFITS

Telehealth offers potential advantages such as simplifying and streamlining your access to medical care or other services, enabling you to receive treatment for conditions managed by your Providers more efficiently. It allows for the scheduling of medical consultations at times most convenient to you and provides the ability to communicate with your Providers without the need for physical office visits. Engaging in mental health services through telehealth can also help in reducing stress and anxiety, minimizing negative thinking, enhancing personal relationships, and boosting comfort in various environments.

POTENTIAL RISKS

While telehealth can offer significant benefits in healthcare delivery, it also carries potential risks due to its reliance on technology. These risks include limitations in the quality, accuracy, or effectiveness of services provided by your Provider. Technological issues, such as bugs, errors, or system failures, could affect the functionality of the Service, leading to incorrect results, inaccessible services, or lost or corrupted data. These technical failures might compromise your Provider’s ability to accurately diagnose or treat your condition. The absence of in-person evaluations could prevent your Provider from conducting specific tests or assessing vital signs, which might hinder the provision of an accurate diagnosis or treatment and could miss signs requiring urgent medical attention. Additionally, there may be cases where your Provider cannot adequately address your specific health issue, necessitating alternative or emergency care.

In the realm of mental health, it’s possible to experience increased discomfort as therapy progresses. There could be delays in your medical evaluation or treatment due to Provider unavailability or technological issues. Privacy risks are also present, as electronic systems and data transmission might fail, leading to potential breaches of your private medical information. Furthermore, electronic communication, like emails, could inadvertently expose your sensitive health information to unintended recipients.

Regulatory constraints in certain areas might limit your Provider’s diagnostic and treatment capabilities, particularly regarding prescription medications. Moreover, if your complete medical records are not available, there is an increased risk of negative drug interactions, allergic reactions, or other errors in judgment.

LIFE THREATENING AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATIONS; FOLLOW-UP CARE

If you are facing a life-threatening emergency, such as thoughts of suicide, please dial 911 or contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988 immediately.

For any other type of emergency, you should also call 911. Please be aware that telehealth may not be suitable for all types of care, especially in emergencies. If you need immediate or critical assistance, it is important to visit an emergency room or another facility capable of providing urgent or emergency care. Please note that Providers might not immediately respond to messages sent through the Service. For non-emergency situations that do not require urgent attention, you are encouraged to use the secure messaging feature within the Service to communicate with Providers. If you encounter technical issues that prevent you from reaching your Providers via the Service, please contact the following number for assistance: 1-855-663-1363, available Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM Central Time.

DATA PRIVACY AND PROTECTION

The electronic systems utilized by the Service will implement network and software security protocols aimed at maintaining the privacy and security of your data, along with measures designed to protect against both deliberate and accidental data corruption. Your personal and protected health information will not be shared with any third parties without your explicit consent, except as permitted by law for necessary activities such as consultation, treatment, billing processes, certain administrative functions, or when legally obligated to report specific information acquired during mental health services provision (such as potential harm to oneself or others, or mandatory reporting of abuse towards children, elders, or vulnerable adults). This is also detailed in your Provider’s Notice of Privacy Practices.

Be aware that using the Service may involve email communications, which might include your protected health information. Please be informed that Orthocor Medical cannot assure the absolute security or confidentiality of any communication mediums you use, including your own email service provider.

LABORATORY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Some healthcare services delivered by Providers through the Service may necessitate the completion of diagnostic tests at home. These tests are supplied by external laboratories, and it should be noted that neither Caerus Corp dba Orthocor Medical nor its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as Orthocor Medical), nor your Providers, can assure the precision or dependability of these tests. The results from these laboratory tests might be falsely negative, falsely positive, or indeterminate, which could affect your Provider’s ability to accurately diagnose or treat your health conditions. Additionally, any malfunction or defect in these tests could also compromise your Provider’s ability to provide correct diagnoses or treatments.

YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

By selecting “I Agree,” checking a corresponding box, or following any other acceptance method presented through the Service, or by affirmatively consenting in any way, you are acknowledging and consenting to the following terms:

Healthcare and mental health services received from Providers via the Service will be conducted through telehealth. Your Provider may include nurse practitioners or physician assistants, not necessarily physicians, and by utilizing the Service, you accept treatment from such non-physician providers. Any mental health services will be provided by licensed mental health professionals.

Be aware that certain technologies used in providing this service, including the Service itself, may be in a developmental or beta phase, which means they might not be fully finalized and could contain errors affecting their functionality or accuracy. Similarly, diagnostic testing services offered might not be fully reliable and could influence the quality and accuracy of the care received.

The field of telehealth is continually evolving, meaning the technologies used might vary from those described here or might involve methodologies not specifically mentioned. While telehealth can offer benefits, there are no guaranteed outcomes, including with laboratory results, diagnoses, or treatments.

There are limitations to telehealth, and it may not be suitable for every medical condition. There are also risks associated with using telehealth and related technologies, as outlined in this Consent.

You are encouraged to discuss the use of telehealth with your Providers, understanding its benefits and risks, and alternatives to telehealth. It’s important to note that online treatment sessions will not be recorded by either party.

Your Provider will evaluate your condition and decide if telehealth is appropriate for your care. You have the right to withdraw your consent to use telehealth at any time without affecting your future care or losing any health benefits you’re entitled to, although in-person treatment options may not be available through the Service. Withdrawal of consent must be communicated in writing to your Providers.

Using the Service involves the electronic transmission of your personal medical information for telehealth purposes, including email communication. You are responsible for providing complete and accurate information to Orthocor Medical and your Providers.

Your Provider may determine that your condition is not suitable for telehealth and recommend that you seek alternative care.

Orthocor Medical may maintain commercial and financial relationships with the entity employing or contracting your Provider, but you are free to choose other healthcare or pharmacy services if preferred. You are responsible for the costs associated with the Service and prescriptions, and you agree not to seek reimbursement from Medicare, federal, or private insurers.

For concerns about medical professionals, you can contact your state’s Medical Board.