Terms of Use

HiDoc Online Consent to Telehealth

Please read all the important information below because we explain:

How our medical team consists of doctors and nurse practitioners.
How many states require you to do a video consultation with one of our doctors or nurse practitioners.
When our duty of care begins.
The benefits and risks of using our service.
The importance of reading all the information we provide.
The importance of answering all questions fully and truthfully.
The risks of accepting our treatment plan.
The risks to electronic health information.
Promo code programs from an employer, health insurer or other organization.

Only use our service if you’ve read this information and subsequently made an informed decision that our service is right for you. If you have any questions, please send us a message through our contact page.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Our medical team is made up of doctors and nurse practitioners. Whenever we use the term ‘doctor’ we mean both our doctors and nurse practitioners.

Many states require you to do a video consultation with our medical team. The video consultation allows you to ask any questions and allows our medical team to judge your suitability for our online model of care.

We are an online doctor’s office and not a pharmacy. If you request that your medicines be delivered to you in the mail, we’ll arrange for an independent pharmacy to mail your medicines. If you want us to send your prescription to a local pharmacy in your area, please message or call us and we will do so at no extra charge. We do not send prescriptions to pharmacies based outside the U.S.A.

HiDocOnline.com is owned by MD Care, however, the service is hosted and operated by WePrescribe Inc dba CloudWell Health. All information in this consent agreement applies to HiDoc.

NOT FOR EMERGENCIES

I understand that I should never use HiDoc in a medical or psychiatric emergency. I understand that in an emergency, I should dial 911 or go to an emergency department.

WHEN OUR DUTY OF CARE BEGINS

I understand that the doctor will take responsibility for my care only after I have created an account, answered all the required health questions and provided a photo and/or have had a video visit and made payment, and the doctor has subsequently reviewed my request for treatment and the health questions that I have completed and any photos and/or information received from a video visit, reviewed all my information, and then subsequently determined that I am a good candidate for the telehealth services. I understand that the duty of care does not begin at the point of me answering questions or making payment or starting a video visit but at the point at which the doctor accepts the duty of care.

I understand that the doctor has the right to refuse to take responsibility for my care if the doctor makes a professional judgment that I am not a good candidate for this service. I understand that making a request for treatment (by completing a visit in the App or Website and making payment or by starting a video visit) or sending a message through the app does not in and of itself create a duty of care or create a doctor-patient relationship.

I understand that there may be a delay until the next business day before a doctor reviews my request for treatment and any messages I send.

I understand that the only content in the App or Website that constitutes professional medical advice is the personalized messages the doctor sends me (once I have completed the health questions and made payment, and the doctor has subsequently taken responsibility for my care) and any content that the doctor links to in such messages and advice that a doctor provides in a video visit. No other content in the App or Website constitutes professional medical advice. Specifically the information provided in our health questions about who we can and cannot treat does not constitute professional medical advice.

I understand that all other content in the App or Website does not constitute professional medical advice and is instead for information purposes only. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on our App or Website.

BENEFITS AND RISKS OF USING OUR SERVICE

I understand that by using the service, I’m seeking care that’s convenient and affordable.

I understand that important differences exist between HiDoc’s model of care and traditional healthcare. Specifically by using HiDoc I accept a greater responsibility to read and understand information throughout the App and Website about the limitations of HiDoc’s model of care, the risks of seeking care this way, and the risks and benefits of a proposed treatment plan.

I understand that I must read and understand the Consent to Telehealth, the Terms of Use, the Privacy Policy, the FAQs, the information provided about a service before I answer health questions, the information provided in the health questions themselves, messages I receive from HiDoc, and, very importantly, content provided via links in the message that the doctor sends me after the doctor has reviewed all my information and recommended a treatment plan and, when appropriate, prescribed a medicine.

I understand that to read important information I may need to both click on links and various titles to expand the information that’s visible below, and that without clicking on links and titles I will not be able to read important information that enables me to give my informed consent to a treatment.

I understand that by using HiDoc, I accept the responsibility to provide full and truthful answers to all questions and, when requested, to provide unaltered photos of me that are taken at the time of using our service.

I understand that the doctor is unable independently to verify the information and photos I provide and that the doctor will make a professional judgment based on the information and photos I provide.

I understand that I won’t receive any other medical services that go beyond the diagnosis and treatment of acne, birth control, the diagnosis and treatment of a possible UTI, the diagnosis and treatment of male pattern baldness, the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction, the diagnosis and treatment of acute bacterial sinus infection, the diagnosis and treatment of acid reflux and the diagnosis and treatment of flu, the diagnosis and treatment of high cholesterol, the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent cold sores, the diagnosis and treatment of depression, the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety, the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent genital herpes, and stop smoking treatments. I need to seek other sources of care for my other medical needs.

I understand that by using the service for a telemedical consultation, I won’t have an in person consultation and physical exam that might identify a medical condition that needs further investigation or immediate treatment.

I understand that I must check the App or Website for messages because this is the way that the doctor will communicate important information to me. I understand that if I don’t check the App or Website regularly, then my care may be delayed.

I understand that if I have any questions relating to my care that aren’t urgent, I can message the doctor through the App or Website. I understand that the doctor may not review and respond to my messages until the next business day.

IMPORTANCE OF READING ALL THE INFORMATION WE PROVIDE

I understand that HiDoc will provide detailed information in the App and Website to help me make an informed decision about whether to accept a proposed treatment plan. The most important information about a treatment plan is in the link that the doctor will send me when the doctor prescribes a treatment. This information includes detailed information to help me decide if the benefits of the treatment plan outweigh the risks, given the alternative options available to me, which includes the option of not taking any treatment.

I understand the importance of reading the information the doctor provides about adverse events, including the signs and symptoms of serious side effects and common side effects from taking a medicine, as this will ensure that I seek appropriate medical attention in a timely manner.

IMPORTANCE OF ANSWERING ALL QUESTIONS FULLY AND TRUTHFULLY

I understand that by using HiDoc I seek to enter into a relationship where the doctor relies exclusively upon information and photos that I provide to decide whether or not treatment is safe and appropriate.

I understand that the doctor has no way of verifying the information and photos that I provide and that the doctor will consider information to be accurate, true and complete, including my age, gender and all my answers to health questions, and the photos to be of me, taken at the time of me using the service, and unaltered.

I understand that if I provide information that isn’t true and complete, then I’ll be at greater risk of adverse events from any treatment that the doctor prescribes and I may take a treatment that isn’t necessary, appropriate, or safe.

I understand that if I provide photos that are altered, not of me or not taken at the time of me using the service, then I’ll be at greater risk of adverse events from any treatment that the doctor prescribes and I may take a treatment that isn’t necessary, appropriate, or safe.

I understand that even if I provide information that is true and complete, I’m still at risk of adverse events from any treatment that the doctor prescribes.

I understand that even if I provide photos that are unaltered, of me and taken at the time of using the service, I’m still at risk of adverse events from my treatment that the doctor prescribes.

I understand that it is important that I don’t create more than one account. Creating more than one account makes it impossible for the doctor to see the full history of care that I’ve received from HiDoc. This increases the chances that the doctor will not have access to important information and photos in my medical record that could influence the doctor’s clinical decision.

I understand that by using HiDoc I’m giving my explicit consent for the doctor to access medication history, where it’s available, from records provided by pharmacy databases via the services of Allscripts and/or Iprescribe. I understand that, if appropriate, the doctor may take this information into account when making a treatment and prescribing decision but this does not change how important it is that I provide full, true and complete information during the HiDoc visit.

RISKS OF ACCEPTING OUR TREATMENT PLAN

I understand that all the medicines that the doctor may prescribe or recommend, including over-the-counter medicines and ‘behind-the-counter’ medicines, can cause serious side effects and adverse events that include severe allergic reaction, permanent disability, and death.

I understand that it is my responsibility to make an informed decision whether to accept a treatment plan that the doctor proposes after weighing the risks and benefits of the medicine being prescribed, alternative treatment options and the risks and benefits of such alternatives, and the option of not seeking any treatment.

I understand the importance of reading the manufacturer’s instructions that come with a medicine, including an over-the-counter or behind-the-counter medicine, before I take a medicine because this includes important information about risks and warnings.

I understand that adverse events can be caused by a number of things, including an allergic reaction, side effects, or interactions between a medicine that the doctor prescribes and any medical conditions I may have, other prescription medicines or other things (e.g., supplements, herbs, over-the-counter medicines, or recreational drugs) I’m taking, and lifestyle choices such as smoking tobacco products or drinking alcohol.

Acid Reflux

I understand that adverse events from taking medicines to treat acid reflux include but aren’t limited to severe allergic reaction, permanent disability, and death.

I understand that if my symptoms keep bothering me then I should have an endoscopy that looks in my esophagus and stomach. I understand that taking medicine for acid reflux may delay a diagnosis of and treatment for a different underlying problem that is the real cause of my symptoms.

Acne

I understand that adverse events from taking antibiotics to treat acne include but aren’t limited to allergic reaction, permanent disability, and death.

I understand that by using HiDoc to diagnose and treat acne, there’s a risk that the doctor misdiagnoses the cause of my skin problem resulting in a delay in diagnosing the true cause of my problem and that I’ll take prescription or over-the-counter medicines unnecessarily and expose myself to the risks of taking those medicines.

I understand that by using HiDoc to diagnose and treat acne, the doctor won’t be able to do a complete and thorough skin exam of my whole body and that a doctor in person may conduct a more thorough skin exam. Because HiDoc doctors cannot do a thorough skin exam, there is a risk that they may not identify a medical condition that needs further investigation or immediate treatment. There is also a risk that the photos of my skin that I send to HiDoc are not representative of my condition and that based on the photos I send the HiDoc doctors misdiagnose my condition.

I understand that even if HiDoc doctors correctly diagnose me with acne and initially prescribe treatment, it may subsequently be necessary for me to seek additional care with a doctor in person if the treatment is not effective or the doctors consider my acne to be too complicated to manage online.

Birth Control Pills, Patch and Ring

I understand that adverse events from using hormonal birth control include but aren’t limited to stroke, heart attack, and death.

I understand that hormonal birth control offered by HiDoc that contains estrogen – namely combination birth control pills, the birth control patch, and the birth control ring – has a higher risk of serious side effects and adverse events, including blood clots, stroke, permanent disability, and death, than birth control that does not contain estrogen. Progestin-only pills do not contain estrogen and therefore present a lower risk of serious side effects. There are also birth control methods that do not contain hormones, such as barrier methods.

I understand that if I request a prescription for a combination pill, birth control patch or birth control ring – all of which contain estrogen – then it’s important that I provide a recent and accurate blood pressure measurement because it’s not appropriate to take birth control that contains estrogen if I have a history of elevated blood pressure.

I understand that if I take a combination pill, birth control patch or birth control ring without knowing my blood pressure then I have a significant risk of blood clots, stroke, permanent disability, and death.

I understand that I can request a prescription for many different types of birth control pills and that different types of pills have different risks of adverse events.

I understand that if I request a prescription for a specific birth control, then I accept any increased risk of adverse events and serious side effects associated with that particular medicine.

Cholesterol

I understand that HiDoc can help me manage my high cholesterol and that managing my cholesterol is only one part of looking after my heart and overall wellness. I understand it’s important to complement HiDoc with visiting a traditional doctor’s office when I need to.

I understand that HiDoc only prescribes statin medicines and not other classes of medicine to treat high cholesterol.

I understand that adverse events from taking statin medicines to treat high cholesterol include but aren’t limited to severe allergic reaction, permanent disability, and death.

I understand that if HiDoc recommends treatment or increase dosage of statin medicine and I decline then I accept that I may be at increased risk of preventable heart attack or stroke.

Depression and Anxiety

I understand that if I am threat to myself or to other people, I should not use HiDoc and should instead call 911 or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255.

I understand that the prescription medicine class prescribed, selective serotonin inhibitors (SSRIs), norepinephrine serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) and atypical antidepressant (bupropion) are FDA approved for depression and/or anxiety and are prescribed in that manner. I understand that taking these types of medicines may cause sexual dysfunction (problems with orgasm, ejaculation, and/or erectile dysfunction), and also potentially life-threatening side effects, the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and can cause a severe allergic reaction that can lead to disability and even death.

I understand that abruptly stopping any of the treatments may cause symptoms including but not limited to anxiety, irritability, agitation, dizziness, nausea and sensory disturbances such as the feeling of having an electric shock.

I understand that as part of treatment that HiDoc doctors will require me to provide an emergency contact person as well as ensuring any weapons at home are both unloaded and locked. I understand as part of treatment that HiDoc doctors will require me to abstain from any alcohol or substance use including but not limited to marijuana, cocaine, and stimulants (uppers). I understand if I am unable to abide by these terms of treatments that I may not be an appropriate candidate for this service.

I understand that there are alternatives to the prescription-only medicines available from HiDoc doctors, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for treatment of depression or anxiety.

Erectile Dysfunction

I understand that adverse events from taking sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra) include but aren’t limited to a painful erection lasting more than 4 hours, sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, sudden decrease or loss of hearing, allergic reaction, permanent disability, and death.

I understand that if I have a condition where sex is not advised then I should not take sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra).

I understand that if I am taking nitroglycerin or other medicines that contain nitrates then I should not take sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) or vardenafil (Levitra) as this combination can lower blood pressure unexpectedly and could be fatal.

I understand that sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra) are prescription medicines and not recreational drugs.

I understand that by using HiDoc to diagnose and treat erectile dysfunction, the doctor won’t have the opportunity to conduct a detailed physical examination that would be possible if I were to see a doctor in person. Because HiDoc doctors cannot do a detailed physical examination there is a risk that they may not identify potential physical causes of my condition that they would be able to identify and investigate further if I were to see them in person.

I understand that erectile dysfunction is often the first symptom of other health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes and that it’s important to have a range of investigative laboratory tests to look for the cause of my condition.

I understand that HiDoc doctors can order a set of investigative tests, help me understand the tests results and advise me on next steps. I understand that it’s my responsibility to seek follow-up care and ongoing care from a doctor in person and that it’s unlikely that HiDoc doctors will be able to provide follow-up care and ongoing care for any potential health conditions highlighted by the tests.

I understand that the investigative tests that HiDoc doctors will order do not include tests to identify potential hormonal causes of my erectile dysfunction. I understand that if I don’t follow the advise of HiDoc doctors to order investigative laboratory tests, then I will not be able to identify potentially serious underlying health conditions, which left untreated could result in premature death or permanent disability.

I understand that Minnesota and South Carolina state laws prohibit HiDoc from offering our erectile dysfunction service in Minnesota and South Carolina.

Flu

I understand that adverse events from taking antivirals to treat the flu include but aren’t limited to allergic reaction, permanent disability, and death.

I understand that by using HiDoc to diagnose and treat a flu infection, there’s a risk that the doctor misdiagnoses the cause of my symptoms as the flu and not some other cause. If this happens then I’ll take an antiviral medicine unnecessarily, expose myself to the risks of taking that medicine, and potentially delay the investigation of a more serious condition.

I understand that if my flu symptoms haven’t improved after 3 days of taking the antiviral medicine, then it’s important that I visit a doctor in person.

Hypothyroidism

I understand that I should only request levothyroxine from HiDoc doctors if a medical professional has previously diagnosed me with low thyroid.

I understand that only levothyroxine is prescribed from HiDoc doctors for hypothyroidism and will not be prescribed ‘off-label’ for other conditions or in combination with other thyroid treatments including but not limited to desiccated thyroid or triiodothyronine (T3).

I understand that adverse events from taking levothyroxine include but aren’t limited to allergic reaction, stroke, heart attack, permanent disability, and death.

I understand that by using HiDoc to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism, the doctor won’t have the opportunity to conduct a detailed physical examination that would be possible if I were to see a doctor in person. Because HiDoc doctors cannot do a detailed physical examination there is a risk that they may not identify potential physical causes of my condition that they would be able to identify and investigate further if I were to see them in person.

Premature Ejaculation (“PE”)

I understand that PE medicines are not recreational drugs, and that they come with the risk of serious adverse events, including but not limited to gastrointestinal bleeding, seizures, coma, impairment of cognitive or motor functions, irritability, death and disability.

I understand that if I have a condition where sex is not advised then I should not take PE medicines.

I understand that HiDoc doctors may prescribe sertraline, sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra) to treat PE.

I understand that the FDA has not licensed any medicines to treat PE and that HiDoc doctors will prescribe PE medicines ‘off-label’.

I understand that sertraline is licensed by the FDA to treat anxiety and depression, not PE.

I understand that I should not take sertraline for PE if I am taking another medicine to treat anxiety or depression (such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or tri-cyclic antidepressant), or if I have a history of suicidal thoughts, self-harming, bipolar disorder, or uncontrolled depression. Doing so may cause potentially life-threatening side effects.

I understand that if I take sertraline, I have the option to take it as needed before sex, or on a daily basis. Studies have shown that it is more effective when taken on a daily basis, but I understand that this increases the likelihood of adverse events, and difficulties when I decide to stop taking it.

I understand that abruptly stopping sertraline can cause symptoms including but not limited to anxiety, irritability, agitation, dizziness, nausea and sensory disturbances such as the feeling of having an electric shock.

I understand that although the FDA has licensed sildenafil 25mg/50mg/100mg, tadalafil, and vardenafil to treat erectile dysfunction, the FDA has not licensed them to treat PE.

I understand that the FDA has not licensed sildenafil 20mg tablets to treat ED.

I understand that by using HiDoc to diagnose and treat PE, the doctor won’t have the opportunity to conduct a detailed in person physical examination that would be possible if I were to see a doctor in person. Because HiDoc doctors cannot do a detailed in person physical examination there is a risk that they may not identify potential physical causes of my condition that they would be able to identify and investigate further if I were to see them in person.

I understand that Minnesota and South Carolina state laws prohibit HiDoc from offering our PE service.

Sinus Infection

I understand that adverse events from taking antibiotics to treat an acute bacterial sinus infection include but aren’t limited to allergic reaction, permanent disability, and death.

I understand that by using HiDoc to diagnose and treat a possible acute bacterial sinus infection, there’s a risk that the doctor misdiagnoses the cause of my infection as bacteria and not a virus or an allergy.

I understand that there’s a risk that I’ll be misdiagnosed with an acute bacterial sinus infection when in fact my symptoms are caused by a virus. If this happens then I’ll take an antibiotic unnecessarily and expose myself to the risks of taking that antibiotic.

I understand that if my symptoms haven’t improved after 3 days of taking the antibiotic treatment, then it’s important that I send HiDoc doctors a message or visit a doctor in person.

Stop Smoking

I understand that there are alternatives to the prescription-only stop smoking medicines available from HiDoc doctors, and that over-the-counter alternatives (such as nicotine patches, gum and lozenges) are less likely to cause serious side effects than the prescription-only alternatives.

Prescription-only stop smoking medicines can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior and can cause a severe allergic reaction that can lead to disability and even death.

UTI

I understand that adverse events from taking antibiotics to treat a UTI include but aren’t limited to allergic reaction, permanent disability, and death.

I understand that by using HiDoc to diagnose and treat a possible UTI, the doctor won’t be able to conduct a live interview and physical exam that might identify a medical condition that needs further investigation or immediate treatment. Also, the doctor won’t be able to carry out 3 tests that would help determine if I have a UTI or whether a different condition is the cause of my symptoms. Specifically, these 3 tests are a urine dipstick test, a urinalysis and a urine culture. Without carrying out these tests and solely relying on my answers to the questionnaire in the app, the doctor will correctly diagnose approximately 80% of patients who have a UTI and 80% of patients who don’t have a UTI. 20% of patients who actually have a UTI and 20% of patients who don’t actually have a UTI will be incorrectly diagnosed without these additional tests.

I understand that in cases where the doctor makes an incorrect diagnosis of a UTI, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic treatment that isn’t appropriate for my specific needs. This means I may take an antibiotic that I don’t need to take.

I understand that if my symptoms haven’t disappeared after 3 days of taking the antibiotic treatment, then it’s important that I visit a doctor in person for a physical examination.

RISKS TO ELECTRONIC HEALTH INFORMATION

I understand that although HiDoc implements a wide range of administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect my health information and comply with HIPAA, HiDoc cannot guarantee the privacy and confidentiality of my health information.

For more details about how HiDoc protects and uses your health information and complies with HIPAA, see our Privacy Policy.