Telehealth Informed Consent

1. Nature of Telehealth

Telehealth involves the delivery of healthcare services using secure, interactive audio, video, and data communications. By enrolling, you consent to Dr. Raj Patel performing clinical assessments, diagnoses, consultations, and treatments virtually.

2. Patient Responsibilities

• Physical Location Verification: You must truthfully disclose your exact physical location at the beginning of every video or phone encounter. You must be physically inside Washington State boundaries.
• Technology Requirements: You are responsible for maintaining a private, secure internet connection and a camera-enabled device capable of hosting a stable, high-definition video call.

3. Risks and Limitations of Virtual Care

While telehealth provides significant convenience, it has inherent clinical limitations compared to in-person medicine:

• Physical Exam Limitations: Dr. Raj Patel cannot perform physical palpation, auscultation (listening to heart/lungs with a stethoscope), or immediate diagnostic swabs.
• Requirement for In-Person Care: If Dr. Patel determines that your clinical presentation cannot be safely or effectively managed via a virtual medium, he reserves the right to direct you to an in-person urgent care clinic, specialist, or emergency department. Failure to seek required in-person care against medical advice is the sole risk of the patient.
• Technical Failures: Virtual encounters may be disrupted or delayed by technological or network failures.