12/27/2014 Joseph Borreggine, DPM
E-Mail Visit Liability
I was wondering about if any PM News reader
participates in E-visits and what might be the
potential liability? Click here to see sample E-
Mail Visit Agreement.
Joseph Borreggine, DPM, Charleston, IL
E-visit TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE
YOU MUST ONLY USE E-VISITS FOR NON-URGENT, NON-
EMERGENCY ISSUES.
THE CARLE FOUNDATION HOSPITAL and CARLE HEALTH
CARE INCORPORATED dba CARLE PHYSICIAN GROUP
PATIENT ONLINE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement")
THIS AGREEMENT IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT. READ IT
CAREFULLY. THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS [**FOUR(4)**]
SEPARATELY NUMBERED SECTIONS BELOW, PLUS AN
APPENDIX. BY CLICKING "ACCEPT" BELOW OR OTHERWISE
USING THE SERVICE, YOU ARE (A) ACKNOWLEDGING THAT
YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS AGREEMENT, AND
(B) AGREEING TO BE BOUND to THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU
DO NOT AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS AGREEMENT, CLICK
"DECLINE" AND YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO USE THE
SERVICE.
1. Who "You" and "We" Are.
This Agreement is between you and Carle. "Carle,"
"we," and "us" means Carle Foundation Hospital,
and its affiliates, including Carle Foundation
Hospital and Carle Physician Group. "You" means
the person who clicks "I Agree" below or otherwise
uses the Service.
2. What is the Service?
The Service includes functionality that allows you
to exchange online messages with your Carle
provider (typically a physician, advance practice
provider or nurse) about health issues for a
service fee (also called "E-visits"). The rules of
use are as described below. Because we are always
trying to improve the Service, we reserve the
right to change the Service and its functions
without notice to you.
3. E-visits.
For your own health and safety, it is important
for you to understand when NOT to use E-visits.
While E-visits can have many benefits, they can
pose risks unless you follow these rules.
a. For Routine Visits Only. When you visit your
physician in-person, he or she has a chance to
see, hear, feel and otherwise perceive health
issues that you may not even have noticed or
thought important to mention. However, in an E-
visit your physician receives only what you type
in your message. If you don't describe an
important symptom-whether because you didn't know
it was important, you weren't good at typing it,
or for some other reason-your physician may not be
able to provide you the correct diagnosis. This is
why YOU MUST ONLY USE E-VISITS FOR ROUTINE HEALTH
ISSUES YOU ARE SURE YOU CAN FULLY AND ACCURATELY
DESCRIBE IN YOUR MESSAGE. Even then, E-visits are
not a substitute for regular in-person visits to
your physician.
b. NOT FOR EMERGENCIES. We strive to respond to
eVisit requests within four four (4) to six (6)
hours; Monday through Friday; however variations
can occur based on volumes and seasonal demands
and cannot guarantee this or any response time.
System failures, maintenance needs, Internet
"brown-outs" and other interruptions may further
slow or prevent E-visit exchanges. This is why YOU
MUST ONLY USE E-VISITS FOR NON-URGENT, NON-
EMERGENCY ISSUES. If you experience symptoms like
shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness,
weakness, confusion, high fever, sudden or major
bleeding, severe rashes or hives, severe allergic
reactions, or any other symptoms that might
suggest a serious condition, CALL YOUR DOCTOR'S
OFFICE, VISIT THE NEAREST HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT, OR DIAL 911 IMMEDIATELY.
c. Other E-visit Rules: In the event of a reaction
or symptoms persisting, and you are outside the
state of Illinois, contact a nearby medical
facility to receive additional care. Only initiate
an E-visit if the appropriate consent form is
completed and on file. Our fees for E-Visits may
change from time-to-time, and you agree to pay all
charges not covered.
d. Uses and Disclosures of Your Information. Your
E-visit messages to your physician and his or her
responses to your messages may become part of your
permanent medical record. This information is
generally held confidential, will be used and
disclosed by us in accordance with our Notice of
Privacy Practices ("Notice"). Our Notice can be
accessed
https://carle.org/SpecialPages/Privacy.aspx. On
the occasion when your physician may not be
available, E-visits may be routed to a physician
providing coverage for your physician.
4. Representations and proxy
By clicking "ACCEPT" below or otherwise using the
Service, you represent and warrant to us that: (a)
you are at least 18years of age; (b) you possess
the legal right and ability to enter into this
Agreement and to use the Service; and (c) you
agree to be financially responsible for your use
of the Service.
a. Consents. By clicking "ACCEPT" below or
otherwise using the Service, you acknowledge that
any previous consents given by you to Carle will
apply to E-visits also, including but not limited
to consents to share your information as necessary
to care for you.
b. For adult patients, both the patient and the
patient’s representative must complete and sign a
proxy request form. A proxy request form can be
obtained from the patient’s doctor’s office.
c. For patient’s ages 0-11, proxy access may be
obtained by the parent or legal guardian by
obtaining a proxy access form from the provider’s
office. Patient’s age 12-17 must provide consent
to a proxy via the proxy access form and may have
their own account.
d. Due to the sensitive nature of medical
information, each person must have his or her own
MyCarle account. If you or your spouse would like
to have the ability to view each other’s health
record in MyCarle, proxy access will be necessary
The cost of E-visit is $35 and you will need to
pay online by credit/debit card. By agreeing to
the online E-visit appointment you are agreeing to
have your credit/debit card preauthorized for the
amount of $35.00.
If the provider cannot meet your medical needs
online and your E-visit is cancelled, your credit
card will not be charged. The preauthorized
transaction will be removed from your card
according to your issuing banks guidelines.
To authorize your credit card for an E-visit,
please complete this form and click the Continue
button. You will have a chance to confirm this
information before submitting your authorization.
