Telehealth legality is important to understand as the counseling profession embraces online therapy. Some guidelines for ethical best practices for telehealth are listed below.
BBS says in the first teleheatlh meeting you must:
- Provide your client with their license or registration number.***
- Obtain client’s verbal or written consent to use telehealth when providing you services.
- Inform client of the potential risks and limitations of receiving treatment via telehealth (ie. limits to confidentiality).
- Ensure that you have contact information of relevant resources, including emergency services, in client’s geographic area.
During subsequent meetings:
- Must verify client’s full name and the address of client’s present location.
- Must consider whether the session is appropriate for telehealth.
- Must use industry best practices for telehealth to ensure client’s confidentiality, security of the communication medium, and client’s safety at all times
Resources to read before conducting telehealth appointments:
Telehealth Standards of Practice from the California Code of Regulations
BBS Best Practices on Telehealth
*** Anyone can verify a counselor’s license at https://www.breeze.ca.gov/datamart/loginCADCA.do.
Resources
Sodergren , S. (2023, March 6). Telehealth Best Practice Guidance Documents. https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/agen_notice/2023/20230316_telehealth_item_vii.pdf
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