I would be happy to communicate with you via email/text for specific purposes and to do so, I require your consent, given that email/text is not a secure form of communication.
There is some risk that any personal information that may be contained in an email/text message may be disclosed to, or intercepted by, unauthorized third parties.
I will respond to emails/texts with brief information and will primarily use email/text for scheduling appointments, receiving brief and necessary updates, answering brief questions, sending reports (password protected), and for communicating with other professionals at your request.
Please review these email/text risks and guidelines, and sign below to indicate your consent or not.
If you prefer not to communicate via email/text, I will be happy to communicate via telephone and my contact numbers are noted above.
Risks of Using Email/Text
• The privacy and security of email/texts cannot be guaranteed.
• Email/text is not a secure method of communication and could be received, forwarded, intercepted, circulated, stored, or even changed without the knowledge or permission of the original sender or by the intended recipient(s).
• Email/text can unintentionally be sent to incorrect addresses.
• Email/text is easier to falsify than handwritten, typed or signed documents. • Copies of messages may exist after the sender or recipient has deleted his/her copy.
Guidelines for Use of Email/Text
• All reasonable steps and means will be taken to protect the security and confidentiality of information sent and received via email/text messages.
However, given the above risks, the security and confidentiality of email/texts cannot be guaranteed.
• I will return emails/texts as soon as possible, but generally within 1-3 business days.
• If you have an urgent matter/issues, please telephone me directly or go to your nearest emergency department.
• All email communication will be retained by paper copies and will become part of the client file (except for emails specifically pertaining to the scheduling of appointments, which may not be kept in paper copy).
• Therapeutic information/updates (sensitive subject matters) should be kept to a minimum. I will also keep responses to a minimum. Please call me directly to discuss more detailed or sensitive information.
• Email/text is meant to assist in ease of communication and should be viewed as a supplement to face-to-face and direct communication.
• My computer and files are password protected.
• Your email/text will not be forwarded to a third party without your explicit consent unless you have already signed a release for me to communicate with another professional.