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    • Clinical Telehealth Policies

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    The Canadian Psychological Association has created interim ethical guidelines for psychologists providing psychological services via electronic media (Telehealth, EMR, Online Practice Management System, Payments via Jane Payments, Credit card, INTERAC, etc.). These guidelines apply to clinical services that require a contractual relationship between a psychologist and client; they do not apply to the use of these media to provide general educational or resource information.

    Clinical work is the provision of psychological services where:

    (1)   A therapeutic, supervisory, or evaluative relationship exists

    (2)   A service is being requested of me due to my specialized training

    (3)   It is a one-way fiduciary relationship, which means the relationship exists only to serve the needs of the client

    (4)   Involves payment to me.

    (5)   It is confidential and secure as outlined in the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

    (6)   Is professionally regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP)

    (7)   It requires informed consent, meaning we both agree on certain conditions and expectations about the nature of our working relationship

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    (825) 809-5436
    secure@drtulapaul.ca

    10417 Saskatchewan Drive NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 4R8

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    Security

    I use appropriate encryption designed to prevent breaches in confidentiality and avoid access by unauthorized persons (i.e., firewall, password protection, employ strategies to manage computer privacy settings, and use secure websites)

    As well I have a policy against recording by any party.

    E-mail solely for non-clinical communication

    I do not use e-mail for any therapeutic communications. Email is for non-clinically relevant issues only (i.e., booking or arranging times to connect). PLEASE do not include any personal health information about yourself or someone else through e-mail, contact forms, phone, or any social media platform. E-mail is reserved to help you connect with Dr. Paul regarding booking or modifying appointments, not to receive treatment or advice.

    Primarily because email is not a confidential or secure method of interaction.

    If you do choose to communicate with me via e-mail, please be aware:

    1. All emails are retained in the logs of your and my Internet service providers. While it is unlikely that someone will be looking at these logs, they are, in theory, available to be read by the Internet service provider’s system administrator(s).
    2. Any e-mails I receive from you and any responses that I send to you become part of your legal, medical record.

    Alternatives to e-mail communication please feel free to mail communication to me at 10417 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, T6E 4R8

    If you need to message me quickly, please email me at secure@drtulapaul.ca and write TIMELY ISSUE in the subject line.

    I am available during appointment times and weekdays from 10 AM until 4 PM (except on identified federal and provincial holidays). I am not available on weekends or after hours. If you require services outside of office hours, please send an e-mail with “URGENT” in the subject line simply to inform me to contact you and proceed to access community emergency services (i.e., crisis lines, ER, walk-in medical clinics, etc.).

    Assess appropriateness of virtual therapy

    As part of our initial session, we will explore your goals and ensure your needs can be met via virtual means and that I can provide this service virtually. We will also outline when and how referrals to local or in-person resources may be made. Specifically, if it becomes evident that you would receive significantly more benefit from in-person services, and such services are available, I will provide in-person services or refer you to a qualified professional who can provide such services.

    Personalized crisis plan

    As part of our initial session, we will collaboratively develop a crisis plan that:

    1. Provides a name and contact information for someone to contact in case of an emergency.
    2. Identify local medical professionals (e.g., the family physician) who can provide local backup assistance
    3. Identify emergency services in the local area (i.e., local crisis hotline telephone number and local emergency telephone numbers).
    4. Identifies alternative contact information for between sessions and emergencies
    Plan for technology failures during session

    If technology failure services will shift to telephone counselling. I will call you on the number on file. If unreachable by that number, I will contact you by the alternative number provided at the beginning of the telehealth agreement.

    RISKS of virtual therapy

    The main risk of virtual therapy is the therapeutic limitations of potential miscommunications due to limited nonverbal cues. This requires both of us to commit to seeking clarification to help reduce the chances of miscommunications.

    Secondly, technology limitations (i.e., time delays, equipment failure, poor internet speeds, etc.) create a risk of interruptions to service. We have developed a plan to try to minimize interruptions but this may still occur.

    Possibility of interception of communications.

    Need for identity verification

    With virtual treatment, we need to add measures to increase identity verification through using the QR code for my clinic to check in.

    If a substitute decision-maker is needed to provide consent (i.e., a parent), the identity of the substitute decision-maker needs to be verified in person, either with another qualified health practitioner or me.

    BENEFITS of virtual therapy
    1. Improved Access
    2. Increased safety regarding COVID-19
    3. Convenience
    4. Comfort
    Jurisdiction limitations

    I am registered to provide psychological services to clients in Alberta. I can only provide services to people located in Alberta at the time of service while I am in Alberta.

    Complaint Process

    Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

    Using the contact form on this page

    Phone: (825) 809-5436

    E-mail: secure@drtulapaul.ca

    Dr. Tula Paul, M.Ed., Ph.D., R. Psych. (AB)

    10417 Saskatchewan Drive NW

    Edmonton, Alberta

    T6E 4R8

    If, for any reason, you do not feel comfortable doing this, please feel free to contact CAP.

    College of Alberta Psychologists

    1850 Sun Life Place

    10123 – 99 Street NW

    Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3H1

    PHONE 780.424.5070 or

    Toll-free in Alberta at 1.800.659.0857

    FAX 780.420.1241

    EMAIL psych@cap.ab.ca

    All information transmitted via the internet may not be secure. Internet participation may be discovered by others, is at risk of public discovery, is vulnerable to the possibility of hackers, etc.

    I have educated myself on the best practices to protect your privacy and have implemented procedures to reduce the risk as much as possible. I encourage all clients interested in exploring virtual therapy to ensure the security measures within their system are current and functioning well.

    References

    Kenneth Drude and Karen Messer-Engel (2021)

    "The Development of Social Media Guidelines for Psychologists and for Regulatory Use" in the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science

    Canadian Psychological Association

    Interim Ethical Guidelines for Psychological Services Via Electronic Media

    College of Alberta Psychologists

    Practice Guideline: Telepsychology Services (2018)

    Updates

    Continued use of my website constitutes agreement to the most current versions of this privacy statement, clinical telehealth policy, social media policy, and terms of use. However, despite my best efforts, mediums changes frequently, and these policies may need to be updated or missing critical components. Please feel free to let me know if there is a risk that I have missed within these documents, and I will do my best to follow up and mitigate concerns for you. I greatly appreciate your insight and commitment to protecting and safeguarding your privacy.

    Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Social Media Policy

    Reach out to us today!

    EMAIL: Please complete the form below to send a message or request to schedule an appointment. I will try my best to accommodate your request and will be in touch ASAP.

    CALL: (825) 809-5436

    EMERGENCY: If you require immediate assistance, please CLICK HERE for community resources.

    PLEASE do not include any personal health information about yourself or someone else through e-mail, contact forms, phone, or any social media platform. These forms of communication are reserved to help you connect with Dr. Paul not to receive treatment or advice.

    (825) 809-5436

    secure@drtulapaul.ca