Telehealth Informed Consent

1. What is telehealth

Telehealth is the delivery of health care services when the patient and the provider are not in the same physical location. Instead of meeting in person, you and your provider communicate using electronic technology such as video, phone, or secure messaging.

Telehealth is used at Vita Health 365 for consultations, follow-up visits, ongoing care check-ins, nutrition coaching, and medication management. It is not used for physical examinations that require hands-on assessment, laboratory draws, or in-person procedures.

2. Modalities

Vita Health 365 may provide telehealth services through the following methods:

• Video. Live, two-way audio and video using a HIPAA-compliant platform. This is the primary method for most clinical visits.
• Phone. Audio-only calls may be used when video is not available or when clinically appropriate. Your provider will document the reason for using audio-only.
• Secure text messaging. Asynchronous secure messaging through our patient portal for non-urgent questions, appointment coordination, and care plan updates. Messages are reviewed during normal business hours and should not be used for urgent or emergency medical concerns.

3. Risks and benefits

Benefits of telehealth include:

• Access to care from home or another private location, reducing travel time and costs.
• Shorter wait times for appointments.
• Ongoing monitoring and coaching without the need for in-person visits.
• Access to providers who may not be geographically close to you.

Risks of telehealth include:

• Your provider cannot perform a hands-on physical examination. Some conditions may be harder to evaluate remotely, and important findings could be missed.
• Technology may fail. Poor internet connections, software errors, or hardware problems could interrupt or end your visit.
• Although we use encrypted, HIPAA-compliant platforms, no technology is completely free from the risk of unauthorized access.
• There may be delays in care if technology problems prevent a visit from taking place as scheduled.

4. Right to in-person care

Telehealth services may not be appropriate for all medical conditions, and providers may determine that an in-person evaluation is necessary before diagnosis or treatment can be provided.

You have the right to request an in-person visit at any time instead of a telehealth visit. If your provider determines that your condition requires in-person evaluation, they will let you know and help you arrange appropriate care.

Telehealth is voluntary. You are never required to use telehealth services. If you prefer in-person care, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your request or refer you to a provider who can see you in person.

5. California residency requirement

You must be physically located in the state of California at the time of your telehealth visit. This is a requirement of California law. Our providers are licensed in California and may only provide care to patients who are physically present within California's borders during the visit.

If you are traveling outside of California, we cannot conduct your telehealth visit until you return. Please contact us to reschedule. If you need care while out of state, please seek a provider licensed in that state.

You will be asked to confirm your physical location at the beginning of each telehealth visit.

6. Emergency protocols

Vita Health 365 telehealth services are not emergency care. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. Do not use telehealth, secure messaging, or our patient portal to report an emergency.

• For a medical emergency: call 911.
• For a mental health crisis: call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline).
• For poison control: call 1-800-222-1222.

At the start of each visit, your provider will confirm your physical address so that emergency services can be dispatched to your location if needed during the visit.

7. Provider information

Telehealth services at Vita Health 365 may be provided by:

• Physicians (MD) licensed by the Medical Board of California.
• Nurse Practitioners (NP) licensed by the California Board of Registered Nursing and certified by a national certifying body.
• Registered Dietitians and other appropriately credentialed professionals for nutrition coaching, operating under clinical oversight.

Your provider's name, credentials, and license number will be shared with you before or at the beginning of your visit. You have the right to know who is providing your care.

8. Privacy and security

All telehealth visits are conducted using HIPAA-compliant communication platforms with industry-standard encryption and security safeguards. Your health information is protected under HIPAA and the California Medical Information Act (CMIA).

• We do not record video or audio of your visits unless you give explicit written consent.
• Your medical records from telehealth visits are stored and protected in accordance with applicable federal and California privacy laws.
• We recommend that you use a private, quiet location for your visits to protect your own privacy.

For full details on how we protect your health information, see our Notice of Privacy Practices.

9. Controlled substances

Federal law (the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act) requires that at least one in-person medical evaluation take place before a provider may prescribe controlled substances via telehealth, unless a valid exception applies.

• Your provider will follow all federal and California regulations regarding the prescribing of controlled substances.
• If a controlled substance is clinically indicated, your provider will explain what is required before a prescription can be issued.
• Vita Health 365 does not prescribe Schedule II controlled substances via an initial telehealth-only visit without an applicable exemption.

10. Technical requirements

To participate in a telehealth visit, you will need:

• A device with a camera and microphone (smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer).
• A stable broadband or mobile internet connection suitable for video communication.
• A current version of a supported web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge) or our designated telehealth application.
• A private, well-lit, quiet location.

If you have trouble connecting, contact our support team. If a visit cannot take place because of technical issues, we will reschedule at no additional charge.

11. Consent withdrawal

You may withdraw your consent to telehealth services at any time, either verbally during a visit or in writing. Withdrawing consent will not affect your right to future care. If you withdraw consent for telehealth, we will work with you to arrange alternative care options, including in-person referrals.

To withdraw consent, contact us at hello@vitahealth365.com or tell your provider during your next visit.

12. Acknowledgment

By proceeding, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Telehealth Informed Consent and agree to receive care through telehealth services.

13. Contact

If you have questions about telehealth services or this consent form, please contact us:

Legal: hello@vitahealth365.com
HIPAA Compliance: hello@vitahealth365.com
Mailing: Vita Health 365, 2064 Marengo St, Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90033