Telehealth Consent
Santana Mental Health Services may provide telehealth services for eligible patients when clinically appropriate. Telehealth may include psychiatric evaluation, medication management, follow-up care, treatment planning, and related mental health services through secure audio-video technology.
Florida law describes telehealth as the use of telecommunications technology to provide health care services, including assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, monitoring, health education, and health administration; Florida law also requires telehealth providers to practice within their scope and consistent with the prevailing professional standard of practice.
Consent to Telehealth Services
By participating in a telehealth appointment, you understand that:
Telehealth is a way to receive care when the patient and provider are not in the same physical location.
Telehealth may not be appropriate for every condition, symptom, medication, safety concern, or clinical situation.
Your provider may recommend in-person care, urgent evaluation, emergency care, lab work, testing, coordination with another provider, or a higher level of care when clinically appropriate.
You may ask questions about the benefits, risks, alternatives, and limitations of telehealth.
You may decline or stop telehealth services and request in-person care when available and appropriate.
Santana Mental Health Services’ financial agreement states that patients consent to evaluation or treatment deemed necessary by the assigned provider, have the right to refuse consent to proposed treatment before it is performed, and understand that no outcome is guaranteed.
Privacy and Technology
Santana Mental Health Services takes patient privacy seriously. Telehealth appointments should be conducted from a private location whenever possible. Patients are responsible for using a secure internet connection and being in a location where they can speak openly.
No communication technology can be guaranteed to be completely free of risk. Billing communications by SMS or email may not be fully secure, and patients may request another communication method.
Patient Location and Emergencies
Patients must be physically located in a state where the provider is permitted to provide care at the time of the telehealth visit. You may be asked to confirm your location and emergency contact information.
Santana Mental Health Services is not an emergency service. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For mental health crisis support, call or text 988.
When Telehealth May Not Be Appropriate
Telehealth may not be appropriate when there is:
Immediate risk of harm to self or others
Severe withdrawal risk
Intoxication or inability to remain safe
Psychosis, mania, or severe mood instability
Need for physical examination, lab work, testing, or urgent medical evaluation
Need for detox, inpatient care, residential care, IOP, PHP, or another higher level of care
Your provider may recommend a different setting or level of care based on clinical need.
This page is provided for general patient information and does not replace Santana Mental Health Services’ full intake forms, consent forms, privacy notices, financial agreements, or applicable law. If there is any conflict between this page and the signed patient forms, the signed forms and applicable law control. Patients may contact Santana Mental Health Services with questions.