This Telehealth Agreement supplements the Treatment Consent. It describes how telehealth services are provided at Pasadena Clinical Group and the legal framework that applies to them in California.
"Telehealth" is the mode of delivering health care services and public health via information and communication technologies — typically a HIPAA-compliant secure video platform. We comply with California Bus. & Prof. Code § 2290.5, which requires informed consent prior to the first telehealth encounter and confirms a patient's right to refuse telehealth without losing access to in-person care.
Telehealth is appropriate for many but not all clinical presentations. Acute crises, certain assessments, and some clinical interventions are better delivered in person. Telehealth is not for emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or call/text 988. Your clinician will provide California-specific local crisis resources.
You must be physically located in the State of California at the time of any telehealth session. California licensure does not extend to other states. If you will be temporarily out of California, please notify your clinician — we will discuss whether session may proceed under any narrow exception, and otherwise we will reschedule.
Because we may not be physically with you during a telehealth session, we follow these emergency protocols every session:
If a telehealth session is interrupted by a technology failure, your clinician will attempt to reconnect via the platform first, then by phone at the number on file. If reconnection is not possible within a reasonable window, the session will be rescheduled. In the event of a clinical concern at the moment of disconnection, your clinician may contact you, your emergency contact, or emergency services as clinically appropriate.
Telehealth is available seven (7) days a week, subject to clinician availability.
Sessions may not be recorded by either party without specific, prior, written consent from the other.
Telehealth follows the same privacy framework as in-person care (see Notice of Privacy Practices) plus additional safeguards specific to the platform. We use only telehealth platforms covered by a Business Associate Agreement ("BAA") under HIPAA (45 CFR § 160.103; § 164.502(e); § 164.504(e)). No telehealth platform is a substitute for in-person clinical assessment when in-person assessment is clinically indicated; your clinician will discuss the right level of care with you when relevant.
Disputes between you and any of the PCG Parties (as defined in our Terms & Conditions) arising out of or relating to telehealth services are subject to the mediation-then-arbitration process in Terms & Conditions, Section 9, with the carve-outs identified there for administrative complaints, licensing-board complaints, and statutorily non-arbitrable claims.