Email and Ocean Technology Policy

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*EMERGENCY PROBLEMS Email and messaging should never be used for emergency problems. In the event of an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Hospital Emergency Room. *URGENT PROBLEMS Email and other electronic messaging should never be used for urgent problems. In these cases, the patient should call our office at 905-889-3634 or go to an Emergency Room. *SENSITIVE MEDICAL INFORMATION Electronic messaging should be concise. If the patient has a problem that is too complex or sensitive to discuss via electronic messaging, the patient should make an appointment by calling our office at 905-889-3634. *RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH USING EMAIL Some, but not all, of the risks with email are listed here:

• Email can be immediately broadcast worldwide and received by many intended and unintended recipients;
• Email senders can easily misaddress an email;
• Email is easier to falsify than handwritten or signed documents;
• Backup copies of email may exist even after the sender or recipient has deleted his or her copy;
• Employers and on-line services have a right to archive and inspect emails transmitted through their systems;
• Email can be intercepted, altered, forwarded, or used without authorization or detection;
• Email can be used to introduce system computer viruses; and
• Email can be used as evidence in court.

Consent to the use of email includes agreement with the following conditions: 1. PATIENT OBLIGATIONS WHEN CONSENTING TO EMAIL/Other Electronic Messaging

• The patient shall not use electronic messaging for medical emergencies, urgent problems or other time sensitive matters.
• If the patient’s message requires or invites a response from the staff or physicians, and the patient has not received a response within a reasonable time period, it is the patient’s responsibility to follow up to determine whether the intended recipient received the message and when the recipient will respond.
• All electronic messages to or from the patient concerning diagnosis or treatment will be imported into and made part of the patient’s electronic medical record. Because they are part of the medical record, other individuals authorized to access the medical record, such as secretarial staff, nurses and billing personnel, will have access to those electronic messages.
• Medical staff may forward electronic messages internally to members of the Physician’s staff if necessary for diagnosis, treatment, reimbursement, and other handling. Staff will not, however, forward electornic messages to independent third parties without the patient’s prior written consent, except as authorized or required by law.
• The patient should not use electronic messaging for communication regarding sensitive medical information, such as information regarding sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS/HIV, mental health, developmental disability, or substance abuse.
• The patient is responsible for informing their physician of any types of information the patient does not want to be sent by electronic messaging, in addition to those set out above.

2. PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND INSTRUCTIONS To communicate by electronic messaging, the patient shall: a. Limit or avoid use of his/her employer’s computer. b. Inform Health Myself and Provider of changes in his/her email address. c. Confirm that he/she has received and read the electronic message from the office staff or physician. d. Put the patient’s name in the body of the e-mail, including a phone number at which the patient can be reached. e. Include the category of the communication in the message subject line, for routing purposes (e.g. billing question). f. Review the electronic message to make sure it is clear and that all relevant information is provided before sending to Provider. g. Take precautions to preserve the confidentiality of their Health Myself account, such as using screen savers and safeguarding his/her computer password. h. Withdraw consent by email or written communication to Provider. 3. ALTERNATE FORMS OF COMMUNICATION The patient understands that he/she may also communicate with the physician via telephone or during a scheduled appointment and that electronic messaging is not a substitute for the care that may be provided during an office visit. Appointments should be made to discuss any new issues as well as any sensitive medical information. 4. TYPES OF EMAIL TRANSMISSIONS THAT PATIENT AGREES TO SEND AND/OR RECEIVE The types of information that can be communicated via Health Myself Portal messaging with the physician include patient referral information and appointment reminders, health card number clarification and patient information, and may include communication of results. If you are not sure if the issue you wish to discuss should be included within the Portal, you should call the Provider’s office to schedule an appointment. 5. SECURITY MEASURES USED BY THE PROVIDER As stated above, communicating via electronic messaging does come with privacy risk as stated above. While the office staff and physicians cannot guarantee total confidentiality, they will use reasonable safeguards to protect your health care information as required by law. The security measures taken by the staff and physicians include password protected screen savers, policies and procedures, and staff training requirements. 6. HOLD HARMLESS I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Physician, his/her medical practice, employees, website designer, from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees, relating to or arising from any information loss due to technical failure, my use of the internet to communicate with the office or the use of practice web-site, any arrangements you make based on information obtained at the Site, any products or services obtained through the Site, and any breach by me of these restrictions and conditions. The Provider does not warrant that the functions contained in any materials provided will be uninterrupted or error-free, that defects will be corrected, or that the Provider’s website or server that makes such site available is free of viruses or other harmful components. 7. TERMINATION OF THE EMAIL/ELECTRONIC MESSAGING RELATIONSHIP The Provider shall have the right to immediately terminate the electronic messaging relationship with you if he/she determines, in his/her sole discretion, that you have violated the terms and conditions set forth above or otherwise breached this agreement, or have engaged in conduct which the Provider determines, in his/her sole discretion, to be unacceptable. The electronic messaging relationship between the Provider and the patient will terminate in the event the Provider, in his/her sole discretion, no longer wishes to utilize the electronically communicate with all of his/her patients. 8. PATIENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT I have discussed with the Provider or his/her representative and I acknowledge that I have read and fully understand this consent form. I understand the risks associated with the communication of electronic messaging/email between the Provider and me, and consent to the conditions herein. In addition, I agree to the instructions outlined herein, as well as any other instructions that Provider may impose to communicate with patients by email. Any questions I may have had were answered.