Limits of Confidentiality and Telehealth

Resilient Psychiatry and Wellness

Mental health treatment is built upon trust and confidentiality. Information shared during treatment is generally kept private and will not be disclosed without your written permission except as permitted or required by law.

Limits of Confidentiality

There are situations in which I may be legally or ethically required to disclose information without your consent, including:

  • If there is reason to believe that you present a serious and imminent risk of harm to yourself.
  • If there is reason to believe that you present a serious and imminent risk of harm to another person.
  • Suspected child abuse or neglect.
  • Suspected elder abuse or abuse of an at-risk adult.
  • Court orders, subpoenas, or other legal requirements.
  • Medical emergencies when disclosure is necessary to protect your health or safety.
  • Certain public health or law enforcement situations as required by law.
  • Professional licensing, accreditation, auditing, or regulatory investigations when permitted by law.

When clinically appropriate and legally permitted, efforts will be made to discuss such disclosures with you.

Communications and Electronic Technology

Resilient Psychiatry and Wellness utilizes electronic technologies to support patient care. While reasonable safeguards are used to protect your information, no method of electronic communication can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Patient Portal

The patient portal is the preferred method for appointment requests, forms, billing inquiries, and non-urgent clinical matters.

Email Communication

Email should not be used to communicate urgent medical concerns, emergencies, or highly sensitive information. While efforts are made to secure email communications, there are inherent risks associated with electronic transmission.

Text Messaging/Phone communications

Text messages may be used for routine communication, appointment reminders, scheduling matters, and administrative communications. Spruce is the communication platform, and it is HIPAA compliant. Text messaging should not be used to communicate emergencies or urgent clinical concerns.

Voicemail

If you authorize voicemail communications, messages may be left regarding appointments, scheduling, billing matters, or other healthcare-related information.

Telehealth Services

Telehealth appointments will be conducted using HIPAA-compliant technology through the patient portal.

Potential Benefits of Telehealth

  • Increased access to care
  • Reduced travel time
  • Greater scheduling flexibility
  • Improved continuity of treatment

Potential Risks of Telehealth

  • Technology failures or interruptions
  • Reduced ability to respond to emergencies
  • Potential privacy risks despite security safeguards
  • Limitations compared to in-person assessment in certain situations

Patient Responsibilities During Telehealth

You agree to:

  • Participate from a private location whenever possible.
  • Provide accurate location information at the beginning of each session, and understand that you are not legally allowed to drive during a telehealth appointment.
  • Provide an emergency contact.
  • Notify the provider if another individual is present during the session.
  • Ensure adequate internet, phone, or device access.

Emergencies

Resilient Psychiatry and Wellness is not an emergency service.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, psychiatric emergency, thoughts of suicide, thoughts of harming others, or believe you are in immediate danger:

  • Call 911.
  • Go to the nearest emergency department.
  • Contact 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Questions

If you have questions regarding confidentiality, privacy, telehealth services, or your rights as a patient, please discuss them with your provider prior to beginning treatment.

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

Resilient Psychiatry and Wellness

This Notice describes how your medical information may be used, disclosed, and accessed.

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Resilient Psychiatry and Wellness is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your health information. We are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of your protected health information (PHI), provide you with this Notice, and follow the privacy practices described herein.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We may use and disclose your health information for the following purposes:

Treatment: To provide, coordinate, and manage your psychiatric and mental health care with other healthcare professionals involved in your treatment.

Payment: To obtain payment for services, including billing insurance companies, obtaining authorizations, and collecting payment for care provided.

Healthcare Operations: To support quality improvement, staff training, compliance activities, licensing requirements, auditing, and practice management.

Appointment Reminders and Healthcare Communications: To contact you regarding appointments, scheduling changes, treatment recommendations, or other healthcare-related information.

Individuals Involved in Your Care: Only with your consent, we may share relevant information with family members, caregivers, or others involved in your care or payment for care.

Business Associates: We may share information with vendors and service providers who assist us in operating our practice and who are required to protect your information.

Public Health, Safety, and Legal Requirements: We may disclose information when required by law, for public health activities, health oversight purposes, legal proceedings, law enforcement requests, or to prevent a serious threat to your health or the safety of others.

Research: In limited circumstances, your information may be used or disclosed for approved research activities as permitted by law.

Military and Government Activities: We may disclose information to authorized government agencies or military authorities when required or permitted by law.

SPECIAL LIMITS TO CONFIDENTIALITY

As mental health providers, we are legally required to report certain situations, including suspected child abuse, elder abuse, abuse of an at-risk adult, court-ordered disclosures, and situations involving a serious risk of harm to yourself or others.

Certain records, including psychotherapy notes and substance use treatment information, may receive additional protections under federal and state law.

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to:
• Inspect and obtain copies of your health records.
• Request corrections to information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your information.
• Request confidential communications through alternative methods or locations.
• Receive an accounting of certain disclosures of your information.
• Receive a paper or electronic copy of this Notice.
• Be notified of a breach involving your unsecured protected health information.
• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

We are required to:
• Protect the privacy and security of your health information.
• Provide you with an expanded HIPAA Notice and follow its terms.
• Notify you if a breach of unsecured protected health information occurs.
• Comply with applicable federal and state privacy laws.

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We reserve the right to revise this Notice at any time. Any changes will apply to both current and future health information maintained by our practice. The most current full version will be available upon request and provided during intake.