Policy: Contacting the Local Health Department

Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for contacting the local health department when necessary situations arise during our telehealth service. Our telehealth service, www.yourmd.online, is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our patients, and we recognize the importance of partnering with local health departments to achieve this goal.

Scope:

This policy applies to all healthcare providers and staff members who work for www.yourmd.online and provide telehealth services to patients.

Policy:

www.yourmd.online will contact the local health department in the following situations:

Notification of reportable diseases: If a patient is diagnosed with a reportable disease as defined by the local health department, the healthcare provider will notify the local health department in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Suspected outbreaks: If there is a suspected outbreak of a communicable disease among our patients or staff members, we will notify the local health department in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Public health emergencies: If there is a public health emergency, such as a natural disaster or a disease outbreak, we will work closely with the local health department to ensure that our patients receive the care they need and that the public health is protected.

Procedure:

In the event that one of the situations described above occurs, the healthcare provider or staff member who becomes aware of the situation will immediately notify the appropriate supervisor. The supervisor will then determine whether the local health department needs to be contacted and, if so, will notify the local health department in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

The healthcare provider or staff member who becomes aware of the situation will also document the situation in the patient's medical record, including the date and time of the notification to the local health department.

In situations where the local health department requests additional information, the healthcare provider or staff member will provide the requested information as quickly as possible.

Training:

www.yourmd.online will provide training to all healthcare providers and staff members on the requirements of this policy and the importance of partnering with local health departments to protect public health.

Compliance:

www.yourmd.online is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations related to contacting local health departments. Any healthcare provider or staff member who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Review:

This policy will be reviewed annually by the management team to ensure that it remains up-to-date and effective. Any necessary revisions will be made in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.