Telehealth Informed Consent

Most sessions at Bostic Solutions are provided via telehealth — live video sessions conducted over a secure, encrypted platform, rather than in person. This document explains what telehealth involves, its benefits and risks, and what we ask of you as a client so we can provide safe, effective care. A member of our staff will review this with you and obtain your consent before your first telehealth session.

What Telehealth Is

Telehealth uses live, real-time video and audio technology to allow your clinician to provide therapy services when you are not in the same physical location. It is intended to provide the same quality of care as an in-person session.

Benefits and Risks

Telehealth offers convenience, reduced travel time, and greater flexibility in scheduling. As with any technology, there are some risks and limitations to be aware of:

• Technical issues (poor internet connection, dropped calls, or audio/video interruptions) may occasionally disrupt a session.
• Because sessions occur outside a clinical office, there is a greater chance of being overheard or interrupted if you are not in a private location.
• No electronic communication is completely free of risk; while we use secure, encrypted platforms, we cannot guarantee absolute security of any electronic transmission.
• Telehealth may not be appropriate for every clinical situation. Your clinician will discuss with you if in-person care is recommended instead.

Confidentiality

The same confidentiality protections that apply to in-person therapy, as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices, apply to telehealth sessions. Sessions are not recorded by our practice, and we ask that you not record sessions without your clinician’s knowledge and consent.

Your Location Matters

Because clinicians must be licensed in the state where you are physically located at the time of your session, please tell us if you will be joining from a state other than the one you usually reside in. Our clinicians are currently licensed in NY, NJ, MA, PA, TX, and GA. We may not be able to provide services by telehealth if you are located in a state where your clinician is not licensed at the time of the session.

Emergencies and Telehealth

Telehealth is not appropriate for emergencies or life-threatening situations. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or medical emergency, call 911, or call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or go to your nearest emergency room. At the start of each telehealth session, we may ask for your current physical address so that emergency services could be directed to you if needed.

Your Rights

• You may withhold or withdraw your consent to telehealth at any time, without affecting your right to future care.
• You may request in-person services instead of telehealth, subject to availability.
• You are responsible for finding a private, secure location and a reliable internet connection for your sessions.

Questions

If you have questions about telehealth before or after consenting, please contact our office at info@bosticsolutions.com or (973) 910-0518.