1. Scope of Telepsychiatry Services

Telepsychiatry involves the delivery of psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment using secure, interactive audio and video technology. Services are provided solely by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) / Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) licensed to practice independently in your state.

By utilizing these services, you understand that care is delivered remotely, meaning you and the provider will not be in the same physical room.

2. Provider Licensing & Jurisdictional Boundaries

Healthcare services are legally deemed to occur at the physical location of the patient at the time of the appointment. To receive care, you must be physically located in either Washington State or the State of Arizona during your session.

Provider Credentials & Regulatory Registrations:

• Washington State: Licensed as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) with independent prescriptive authority. Governed by the Washington State Department of Health and the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC).

• Arizona State: Licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with independent prescriptive authority. Governed by the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

3. Benefits and Risks of Telehealth

• Benefits: Increased access to psychiatric care, convenience, and elimination of travel time or geographic barriers.

• Risks: While rare, potential risks include technological interruptions, dropped connections, or equipment failures. There are also inherent security risks with any electronic transmission, though strict security protocols are utilized to mitigate these. In rare instances, a provider may determine that a patient's clinical needs are too acute for virtual care, requiring a referral to local, in-person psychiatric services.

4. Electronic Security & Privacy Safeguards

All interactive audio-visual transmissions are conducted via end-to-end encrypted platforms that meet federal HIPAA compliance standards. No session audio or video will be recorded by the provider without your explicit, written consent. You are strictly prohibited from recording any portion of a telehealth session without the explicit permission of the provider.

5. Washington State Audio-Only Care Provision

In accordance with Washington State Law (RCW 70.41.020), if an interactive video connection cannot be established due to technical difficulties and care must be delivered via an audio-only telephone call, you must explicitly consent to audio-only delivery prior to or at the start of the session. You maintain the right to decline audio-only services and reschedule your appointment.

6. Emergency Procedures for Virtual Care

Because your provider is remote, you must provide your exact physical address at the start of every session. In the event of a clinical emergency during a session, you authorize your provider to contact local emergency services (911) or designated emergency contacts on your behalf.