Telehealth Informed Consent

By booking an appointment on this website, you consent to receive services via Telehealth.

What is the purpose of this Document?

The purpose of this document is to provide information to you about, and to obtain your consent to participate in, a telehealth consultation with your practitioner.

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth is the use of telecommunication to provide services to clients. The practitioner typically uses videoconferencing to administer client sessions in real-time but may utilise other formats, such as email, for related communication. Telehealth is sometimes referred to as tele-health practice or tele-psychiatry

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What does a tele-health practice consultation involve?

A tele-health consultation usually involves some or all of the following:

• Your practitioner will discuss your health and your health history with you and, where appropriate, will offer information and advice.
• You may bring a support person with you, as you might in a face-to-face consultation.
• If you attend a health service to participate in a telehealth consultation, other health professionals may be present and may need to examine you according to your practitioner’s instructions.
• A technical support person might be present for part of the consultation to assist with technical issues.
• You are not permitted to video or audio record the consultation unless your practitioner gives you permission to do so.
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What are the potential benefits of tele-health practice?

Tele-health practice might:

• Improve access to services.
• Reduce your need for travel.
• Decrease exposure to infectious disease.

What are the potential risks of tele-health practice?

Tele-health practice might:

• Be negatively impacted by technical problems, such as delays due to technology failures.
• Not offer the same visual and sound quality for observations and modelling
• Require someone onsite with you to support the practitioner.
• Not feel the same as an onsite session
• Not achieve everything that is required and therefore require another tele-health consultation or a face to face consultation.
• Include practices and procedures that are not as well understood in a tele-health setting as they are onsite.
• Increase exposure to privacy and digital security risks. 

Will my privacy be protected?

This practice is subject to the Privacy Act 1988 and must comply with obligations related to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, including through telehealth. The practitioner must maintain confidentiality and privacy standards during sessions, and in creating, keeping and transmitting records.

At times, audio and video recordings of sessions may be taken to support the practitioner’s work, as might occur in a face to face consultation. You will be informed before a recording takes place and can refuse to be recorded for any reason. The practitioner will inform you of the reason for the recording and how it will be stored.

While the practitioner is obligated to meet standards to protect your privacy and security, telecommunication, including videoconference, may increase exposure to hacking and other online risks; as with all online activities, there is no guarantee of complete privacy and security protection. You may decrease the risk by using a secure internet connection, meeting with the practitioner from a private location, and only communicating using secure channels.

What does informed consent mean?

There are a few important principles related to informed consent:

• You must be given relevant information. Ask the practitioner if you have questions about tele-health and the services offered.
• You have the right to understand the information. Ask the practitioner if you do not understand.
• You have the right to choose. If you do not agree to tele-health, you may refuse to participate. You may agree to or refuse specific activities and procedures.
• You have the right to stop using tele-health at anytime. You can change your mind about tele-health or a specific activity or procedure, even in the middle of a session.
• You can agree or refuse in writing or verbally. You may give your consent using the form below. You may also give consent or change your mind by telling the practitioner. Consent and refusal that you give verbally will be documented by the practitioner.
• You can ask about alternatives to tele-health. If you refuse or change your mind about tele-health services, your practitioner will discuss any other options with you. The practitioner may or may not be able to offer alternative services.

By booking an appointment:

1. You agree to receive services via tele-health.
2. You understand that you may agree or refuse any service or part of a service at any time. You can agree or refuse in writing or verbally.