A. Introduction
By engaging with the Services offered by Eucalyptus Canada Ltd (“Eucalyptus”), you acknowledge that you have read and fully understand the risks, limitations, conditions of use, instructions for use, and required consents for using the Services, including via virtual care, email communications (encrypted or unencrypted), telephone or video conferencing tools (encrypted or unencrypted), the Juniper branded mobile application, and other electronic communications software, more fully described in this notice and in Eucalyptus’ Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice.
Any capitalised terms not defined in this Virtual Care Consent have the meaning given to them in our Terms & Conditions or Privacy Notice (as applicable).
1. Information Sharing between Eucalyptus, Practitioners and Supporting Healthcare Professionals
In order to provide you with the Services, it is essential that your Practitioner, Supporting Healthcare Professionals, Eucalyptus and Associate Pharmacies share with one another the information that you provide to each of them on an as-needed basis. For that purpose, you consent to any personal information that you share:
- with Eucalyptus being shared with Practitioners and Supporting Healthcare Professionals;
- with a Practitioner or Supporting Healthcare Professional being shared with Eucalyptus; and
- with either Eucalyptus, a Practitioner or a Supporting Healthcare Professional being shared with Associate Pharmacies and other staff involved in your care.
2. Risk of using Virtual Care Tools
Eucalyptus will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of information sent and received while providing the Services. However, because of the risks outlined below which are inherent to virtual care, Eucalyptus, your Practitioner and Supporting Healthcare Professionals cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of all Services. By receiving the Services, you acknowledge and understand the following risks:
- Use of virtual care tools 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 mechanisms, 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.Virtual care tools can introduce malware into a computer system, and potentially damage or disrupt the computer, networks, and security settings.
- Communications through virtual care tools can be forwarded, intercepted, circulated, stored, or even changed without the knowledge or permission of a Practitioner, Supporting Healthcare Professional 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 through virtual care tools may be disclosed in accordance with a duty to report or a court order;
- Virtual care tools, including those used as part of the Services, may contain bugs or other errors, including ones which may limit functionality, produce erroneous results, render part or all of such technology, including the Services, unavailable or inoperable, produce incorrect records, transmissions, data or consent, or cause records, transmissions, data or content to be corrupted or lost.
Where email or text is used as a virtual care tool, the following are additional risks:
- Emails, text messages, and instant messages can more easily be misdirected, resulting in increased risk of being received by unintended and unknown recipients.
- Emails, 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.
3. Conditions of using the Services
By using the Services, you acknowledge and understand the following conditions for use:
- While a Practitioner or Supporting Healthcare Professional will attempt to review and respond in a timely fashion to electronic communications such as emails, text messages, and instant messages, a Practitioner or Supporting Healthcare Professional 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.
- Virtual care is not an appropriate substitute for in-person clinical examinations or for attending the Emergency Department when needed.
- You are responsible for following up on a Practitioner’s or Supporting Healthcare Professional’s electronic communication and when the scheduling appointments where warranted.
- You understand that alternative healthcare options, such as in-person visits, may be available to you and that you should seek these out if your condition is more suitable to assessment or treatment in those forms.
- Electronic communications or recordings of virtual encounters concerning diagnosis or treatment may be printed or transcribed in full and made part of your medical record. Other individuals authorised to access the medical record, such as staff and billing personnel, may have access to those communications.
- A Practitioner or Supporting Healthcare Professional will not forward electronic communications to third parties, including family members, without your prior written consent, except as authorised by you or required by law.
- You agree to inform a Practitioner or Supporting Healthcare Professional of any types of information you do not want sent via the Services.
- A Practitioner or Supporting Healthcare Professional is not responsible for information loss due to technical failures associated with your software or internet service provider.
4. Instructions for using the Services
By using the Services, you agree to:
- Reasonably limit or avoid using an employer’s or other third party’s computer.
- Conduct virtual care consultations in a private setting and using a secure device, where possible.
- Obtain a Practitioner’s or Supporting Healthcare Professional’s consent prior to making any recording of a virtual care consultation.
- Inform a Practitioner or Supporting Healthcare Professional of any changes in your email address, mobile phone number, or other account information necessary to communicate with you.
- Understand that you may withdraw your consent for virtual care at any time.
If the Services include email, instant messaging and/or text messaging, you agree to:
- 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 hello@myjuniper.ca.
- Not rely on the Services if you require immediate assistance, or if your condition appears serious or rapidly worsens. Rather, you agree to take other measures as appropriate, such as calling Emergency Services or attending your nearest Emergency Department or urgent care clinic.