Telehealth & Electronic Communications Notice
Gravida Psychiatry
Effective Date: June 21, 2026
This notice explains how Gravida Psychiatry uses telehealth and electronic communications, including video visits, phone calls, portal messages, email, and text messaging. It is designed to help you understand what is appropriate to send electronically, what is not, and what to do in an emergency.
This notice supplements our Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policy. It does not change your insurance benefits or clinical treatment plan.
1. Telehealth services
Gravida Psychiatry may provide some services through telehealth, such as video visits or phone-based appointments, when clinically appropriate and permitted by law and your insurer.
When you participate in telehealth:
- You will usually connect from your own device (such as a phone, tablet, or computer) from a private location.
- We use telehealth platforms selected to support privacy and security; these may be separate websites or apps with their own terms and privacy policies.
- You are responsible for using a private environment and secure internet connection to protect your own privacy as much as possible.
Telehealth may not be appropriate in all situations. We may recommend an in-person visit or a higher level of care if a telehealth format is not clinically appropriate.
2. What telehealth is not for
Telehealth visits and electronic messaging are not emergency services. They are not a replacement for urgent or emergency care.
If you are in crisis or experiencing an emergency—such as thoughts of self-harm, harming others, or any serious medical or psychiatric emergency—do not wait for a telehealth appointment or a message reply. Instead:
- Call 911
- Go to the nearest emergency room
- Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Messages and appointment requests are reviewed during business hours only and are not continuously monitored.
3. Communication channels we use
Depending on your care with us, we may use a combination of:
- Secure patient portal and/or IntakeQ or Optimantra: for forms, scheduling, secure messages when available, and clinical paperwork.
- Phone calls: for scheduling, brief follow-up questions, and telehealth sessions by phone when appropriate.
- Video platform: for live telehealth visits (link provided before your appointment).
- Email: for administrative and limited non-urgent clinical communication, as appropriate.
- Text messaging (SMS): if used, generally for logistics only (e.g., appointment reminders, confirmations, or links), not detailed clinical discussions.
We prefer to use secure portals for information that includes protected health information whenever possible.
4. Email
Email can be a convenient way to exchange basic information, but it is not always secure.
- Email may be used for scheduling matters, simple questions, and limited follow-up communication.
- Email is not appropriate for emergencies, crisis situations, or detailed discussion of sensitive clinical concerns.
- If you email us about urgent or complex issues, we may respond by asking you to schedule an appointment or by calling you, rather than replying with detailed clinical information by email.
If we use ordinary (unencrypted) email to respond to you, we will try to limit what we include and may ask for your preference or consent for email communication. You can always tell us if you do not wish to use email for health-related communication.
5. Text messaging (if used)
If text messaging is used, it is typically limited to:
- Appointment reminders or confirmations
- Simple logistics such as “I’m running a few minutes late” or “Can we reschedule?”
Texting is not appropriate for:
- Detailed clinical questions
- Medication changes or safety concerns
- Crisis or emergency communication
We do not provide therapy, diagnosis, or crisis support by text message. If you text with clinical concerns, we may call you or ask you to schedule a visit, and we may remind you not to use text for clinical information in the future.
6. Response times
We strive to respond to messages in a timely manner during regular business hours.
- Messages received through secure portal tools, email, or phone voicemail will usually be reviewed within 1–2 business days.
- We do not monitor messages 24/7.
- Response times may be longer on weekends, holidays, or during periods of high clinical volume.
If you have not heard back and your concern becomes urgent, or if at any time you feel unsafe, do not wait for a message response—seek emergency help as described above.
7. Privacy and security
We take reasonable steps to protect the privacy and security of your information when using telehealth and electronic communications. However:
- No electronic communication method is 100% secure.
- Using a shared computer, public Wi‑Fi, or an email account that others can access may increase privacy risks.
- When using email or text, we try to send the minimum necessary information and to avoid highly sensitive details.
You can help protect your privacy by:
- Using strong passwords and keeping them private.
- Accessing telehealth visits from a private, quiet location where others cannot overhear.
- Logging out of portals and closing browser windows when finished.
Our use of telehealth and electronic communications is also governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policy.
8. Appropriate content for messages
In general, it is appropriate to use electronic messages for:
- Scheduling or rescheduling appointments.
- Brief clarifying questions about existing treatment plans (for example, “Should I continue this medication until my next visit?”) when the question is not urgent.
- Requesting refills within established parameters.
- Administrative questions about billing or paperwork.
It is not appropriate to use electronic messages for:
- New, severe, or rapidly worsening symptoms.
- Thoughts of harming yourself or others.
- Substance use emergencies or withdrawal.
- Highly sensitive personal or legal information.
- Lengthy clinical updates that are better addressed in a session.
These issues should be discussed in a scheduled visit or, if urgent, handled through emergency services.
9. Telehealth consent
Before beginning telehealth services, you may be asked to review and sign a telehealth consent form. That document explains:
- The nature of telehealth and how sessions are conducted.
- Risks and benefits of telehealth (including technological limitations and privacy considerations).
- Alternatives to telehealth, when available.
- What to do if the connection fails during a session.
By participating in telehealth visits, you acknowledge that you have received information about telehealth and that you understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives as outlined in that consent.
10. Changes to this notice
We may update this Telehealth & Electronic Communications Notice from time to time to reflect changes in our technology, services, or legal requirements. When we do, we will update the Effective Date above and may post a brief notice on our website.
Your continued use of telehealth services or electronic communication with us after changes are posted indicates that you accept the updated notice.
11. Contact information
If you have questions about this Telehealth & Electronic Communications Notice or about how to communicate with us safely:
Gravida Psychiatry
59 E Queen Ave Ste 111 C
Spokane, WA 99207
Phone: 509-596-2199
Email (non-urgent, non-emergency): support@gravidapsychiatry.com
If you are experiencing an emergency or crisis, call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or call/text 988.