Agreement to Electronic Communication

By using the Services, you are consenting to communicating with the Clinic using the Services. By consenting, you acknowledge:

• You have read and understood the information on this page, and that you understand and accept the risks associated with the use of the electronic communication services when interacting with the Clinic and its staff as outlined in the following sections.
• You agree not to use the Services for emergency or urgent health matters; instead, you should seek the appropriate emergency or urgent care service.
• You understand that decisions about your care can be made based on information provided through the Services, and that this information may form part of your health record.
• You acknowledge that either you or the staff at Dr. Liang’s Eye Clinic may at any time withdraw the option of using the Services upon providing written notice.

Risks of Electronic Communication

The Clinic will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of information sent and received using the Services. However, due to the risks outlined below, The Clinic cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of all the Services:

• Use of electronic communication to discuss sensitive information can increase the risk of such information being intercepted by third parties.
• Despite reasonable efforts to protect the privacy and security of information communicated through virtual care platforms, it is not possible to completely secure the information.
• Employers and online services may have a legal right to inspect and keep electronic communications that pass through their system.
• Electronic services can introduce malware into a computer system, and potentially damage or disrupt the computer, networks, and security settings.
• Communications through electronic communication services can be forwarded, intercepted, circulated, stored, or even changed without the knowledge or permission of the Clinic or the patient.
• Even after the sender and recipient have deleted copies of electronic communications, back-up copies may exist on a computer system.
• Communications electronic communication services may be disclosed in accordance with a duty to report or a court order.
• Email, text messages, and instant messages can more easily be misdirected, resulting in increased risk of being received by unintended and unknown recipients.
• Email, text messages, and instant messages can be easier to falsify than handwritten or signed hard copies. It is not feasible to verify the true identity of the sender, or to ensure that only the recipient can read the message once it has been sent.

Conditions of using the Services

While the Clinic will attempt to review and respond in a timely fashion to electronic communications, the Clinic cannot guarantee that all electronic communications will be reviewed and responded to within any specific period of time. The Services will not be used for medical emergencies or other time-sensitive matters.

If your electronic communication requires or invites a response from the Clinic and you have not received a response within a reasonable time period, it is your responsibility to follow up to determine whether the intended recipient received the electronic communication and when the recipient will respond. You are responsible for following up on the Clinic’s electronic communication and for scheduling appointments where warranted.

Electronic communications is not an appropriate substitute for in-person communication or clinical examinations, where appropriate, or for attending the Emergency Department when needed.

Electronic communications concerning diagnosis or treatment may be printed or transcribed in full and made part of your medical record. Other individuals authorized to access the medical record, such as clinic staff and billing personnel, may have access to those communications and recordings. The Clinic may forward electronic communications or recordings to staff and those involved in the delivery and administration of your care. The Clinic might use one or more of the Services to communicate with those involved in your care. The Clinic will not forward electronic communications or recordings to third parties, including family members, without your prior written consent, except as authorized or required by law.

You agree to inform the Clinic of any types of information you do not want sent via the Services, in addition to those set out above.  You can add to or modify the above list at any time by notifying the Clinic in writing.

Some Services might not be used for therapeutic purposes or to communicate clinical information. Where applicable, the use of these Services will be limited to education, information, and administrative purposes.

The Clinic is not responsible for information loss due to technical failures associated with your software or internet service provider.

Instructions for using the Services

To use the Services, you must:

• Reasonably limit or avoid using an employer’s or other third party’s computer.
• Conduct virtual care encounters in a private setting and using a secure device, where possible.
• Obtain the Clinic’s consent prior to making any recording of communication.
• Inform the Clinic of any changes in the patient’s email address, mobile phone number, or other account information necessary to communicate via the Services.
• Where appropriate, include in the message’s subject line an appropriate description of the nature of the communication (e.g. “prescription update”), and your full name in the body of the message.
• Review all electronic communications to ensure they are clear and that all relevant information is provided before sending to the Clinic.
• Ensure the Clinic is aware when you receive an electronic communication from the Clinic, such as by a reply message or allowing “read receipts” to be sent.
• Take precautions to preserve the confidentiality of electronic communications, such as using screen savers and safeguarding computer passwords.
• Withdraw consent only by email or written communication to the Clinic.

If you require immediate assistance, or if your condition appears serious or rapidly worsens, you should not rely on the Services. Rather, you should contact the appropriate Emergency Department or urgent care clinic.