Telemedicine
How remote visits work, including limitations, privacy, emergencies, records, and billing.
This page supplements Kinder’s Consent to Treatment, Financial Policy, and Notice of Privacy Practices. It applies when KPUC provides care through live video, audio, secure messaging, transmitted images, or another remote technology.
1. Nature of telemedicine
At the start of an encounter, the clinician identifies themself and verifies the patient’s identity, current physical location, callback information, and whether another person is present. The clinician establishes an appropriate provider-patient relationship, reviews available history and records, and decides whether remote information is sufficient to meet the standard of care.
2. Benefits, alternatives, and limitations
- Potential benefits include improved access and reduced travel.
- Alternatives include an in-person visit, primary care, another urgent-care facility, or an emergency department.
- Limitations may include the inability to perform a complete examination, incomplete records, poor image or sound quality, equipment failure, or interruption.
- A clinician may stop the remote visit and recommend in-person or emergency evaluation.
3. Risks and privacy
Electronic communications can fail, be delayed, or be accessed improperly despite safeguards. Participate from a reasonably private location and identify other people present. Kinder does not audio- or video-record an encounter without separate notice and consent, except that clinically necessary still images may be documented under the Consent to Treatment.
4. Emergencies
If an emergency appears to be occurring during a visit, Kinder may contact emergency services using the patient’s location information.
5. Prescriptions, testing, and follow-up
A visit does not guarantee a prescription, test, diagnosis, or particular treatment. The clinician may recommend testing, an in-person examination, specialist care, or primary-care follow-up.
6. Charges and outside services
Telemedicine charges and insurance coverage are governed by the Financial Policy and the patient’s plan. Outside laboratories, pharmacies, or suppliers may bill separately.
7. Records
The encounter is documented in the medical record. A patient or authorized representative may request access or transmission of the record as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices.
8. Consent and withdrawal
A patient or authorized representative may end the consultation at any time. Ending a visit does not affect the right to future care but may limit what the clinician can safely provide during the encounter.