Information for consent to receive care through telemedicine

Telemedicine means the practice of health care delivery, evaluation, diagnosis, consultation, or treatment, using the transfer of medical data through audio, video, or data communications that are engaged in over two or more locations between providers who are physically separated from the patient or from each other

The information may be used for diagnosis, therapy, follow-up and/or education, and may include any of the following:

• Patient medical records· 
• Medical images· 
• Live two-way audio and video· 
• Output data from medical devices and 
• sound and video files

Electronic systems used will incorporate network and software security protocols to protect the confidentiality of patient identification and imaging data and will include measures to safeguard the data and to ensure its integrity against intentional or unintentional corruption.

EXPECTED BENEFITS:

- Improved access to medical care by enabling a patient to remain in his/her own location, while the physician obtains test results and consults from healthcare practitioners at distant sites.· 

- More efficient medical evaluation and management.· 

- Obtaining expertise of a distant specialist.

POSSIBLE RISKS: As with any medical procedure, there are potential risks associated with the use of telemedicine. These risks include, but may not be limited to:
- In rare cases, information transmitted may not be sufficient (e.g. poor resolution of images) to allow for appropriate medical decision making by the physician and consultant(s);· 

- Delays in medical evaluation and treatment could occur due to deficiencies or failures of the equipment;·

- In very rare instances, security protocols could fail, causing a breach of privacy of personal medical information;· 

- In rare cases, a lack of access to complete medical records may result in adverse drug interactions or allergic reactions or other judgment errors