Telemental Health Consent Form

Overview

Telemental health-based services require access to certain services and tools. In order to participate in telemental health services, patients need to give their consent with signatures. Security, benefits, and risks of the service are explained below in detail.

What is Telemental Health?

Telemental Health is an online therapy service that provides psychological counseling and support to patients via the internet, video conferencing, phone calls, and chat.

Benefits and Risks of Telemental Health

Telemental Health services use the internet and video conferencing software. Because during appointments, internet technology is used, there may be a disconnection and other difficulties that are the direct result of the low internet speed. Telemental Health services enable patients and specialists to communicate if patients have barriers such as transportation or illness, especially during the pandemic.

Communication Plan

Desired communication for Telemental Health services is videoconferencing technology. Hence, at first, specialists/therapists try to provide services on videoconferencing software during the appointment date and time. If this is not successful because of the low quality of the video, low internet speed, or any other technical difficulties, specialists/therapists will call patients at the phone number provided. It is advised to patients to connect 5-10 minutes prior to the appointment time and check whether the internet speed, webcam, and microphone work properly as expected.

Security and Privacy

The software used in online appointments is protected securely. If patients have concerns about the security and records that will be part of the electronic record system, it is advised that patients let the specialists/therapists know the concerns. Video or audio sessions will not be recorded unless they are discussed for further therapeutic studies and training purposes.