TELECONSULTATION OVERVIEW
These Teleconsultation Terms of Service are specific to the Teleconsultation Program and are part of the General Terms and Conditions published by Vital Vet, LLC (the “Company”). Please refer to these General Terms and Conditions for access and use of the website, www.vitalvet.org (the “Site”). By continuing to engage and use the Site, you agree to abide by the specific Teleconsultation Terms of Service AND the Site’s General Terms and Conditions.
Participants in the Teleconsultation Program are referred to as “You”, or the “Client(s)“. Teleconsultants who impart Teleconsultation services are referred to as “Consultant(s)“
Age Restriction
The Teleconsultation services and their contents are offered to users who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older. By using the Teleconsultation Program of the Site, Clients represent and warrant that they are of legal age (at least 21 years old) and have the requisite power and authority to meet all of the foregoing eligibility requirements.
Key Words
Veterinary Telemedicine is a tool of practice within the veterinary medical profession that uses electronic engagement, communication, or information technology, by a licensee in one location to engage with pet owners and remotely diagnose and treat a veterinary patients in another location. Most often, this service is performed within the scope of the Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR). Without a VCPR, any advice provided through electronic means should be general and not specific to a patient, diagnosis, or treatment.
Veterinary Telemedicine is NOT used by this Site. Instead, the Site uses Veterinary Teleconsultation.
Veterinary Teleconsultation, as defined by the Site, for the sole purpose of use and in conjunction with the Site and its Terms of Service, is a sub-category of telemedicine that uses electronic engagement, communication, or information technology to impart generalized healthcare information, ideas, suggestions, and education regarding pet care, training methods, and/or the use of tools and/or products, devices, or equipment for the purpose of increasing knowledge and of using such education, training, tools, and products/devices more efficiently and/or purposefully in general veterinary practice and pet care. “Teleconsultation” is the electronic service provided through the Site for the purpose of imparting general advice, assistance, and education to Clients. Teleconsultation is not used to diagnose, prognose, or treat patients. The service is performed outside the scope of the Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (non-VCPR). Consultants are independent of the Site and are using the Site as a way to communicate with the Client.
Clients do not have a Consultant-Client relationship with the Company. The Site does not provide any veterinary medical advice or professional, legal advice, or representations in any way regarding any veterinary medical, professional or legal issues associated with Consultants, goods or services offered by the Consultant, including but not limited to any compliance obligations or steps necessary to comply with any state or federal laws and regulations.
Veterinary Teleconsultant/Teleconsultants, as defined by the Site, for the sole purpose of use and in conjunction with the Site platform, are individuals who administer Teleconsultation services. These Consultants can include:
- Veterinarians [DVM/VMD with specialty degrees (e.g., DACVS, DACVSMR, CCRP/CCRT)]
- Veterinary Technicians, Assistants, and Nurses
- Physical and Occupational Therapists with additional training and certification in animal rehabilitation
- Licensed Massage Therapists with additional training and certification in animal rehabilitation
- Professional Canine and/or Equine Trainers and Handlers
- Products/Devices/Equipment Manufacturers, Specialists, and Merchants
Client/Clients, as defined by the Site, for the sole purpose of use and in conjunction with the Site platform, are individuals that seek Teleconsultation services. These Clients can include:
- Pet Parents
- Professional Pet Trainers and Handlers
- Veterinary Professionals (including general veterinary practitioners, technicians, assistants, and nurses, veterinary specialists and those with training and certification in animal rehabilitation, and therapists with additional training and certification in animal rehabilitation)
Teleconsultation Use
The appropriate use of Teleconsultation can benefit Clients in several ways:
- Pet Parent Clients are given knowledge, training, and education, are provided suggestions for therapeutic resources and assistive devices, and are guided toward appropriate professionals and veterinary care.
- Trainers and Handlers Clients are given knowledge, training tips and education, are provided suggestions and resources for training and handling and assistive training aids, and are guided toward appropriate continued training and veterinary professional practitioners (e.g., sports medicine specialists).
- Veterinarians and Veterinary Professional Clients are aided in reviewing difficult cases, discussing suggestions for treatment strategies, given recommendations for assistive devices and company contacts, and are taught new skills and applications for treating veterinary patients (e.g., kinesiology taping techniques, neural glides).
Furthermore, Products/Device/Equipment Manufacturer Consultants can benefit all Clients by helping to demonstrate proper uses and features of a device or piece of equipment, trouble-shooting if issues arise, and steering Clients toward a convenient resource if issues cannot be resolved through Teleconsultation.
TELECONSULTATION TERMS OF SERVICE
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. BY CLICKING TO AGREE OR ACCEPT THESE TERMS OF SERVICE WHEN PROMPTED OR ACCESSING THE SITE AND/OR USING THE TELECONSULTATION SERVICES, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS,THE PRIVACY POLICY, AND COMMUNITY CONDUCT AND ETIQUETTE, AND THESE TERMS OF SERVICE REFERENCED BELOW. IF YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE OR DO NOT AGREE, THEN YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO ACCESS THE SITE OR USE THE SERVICES.
We reserve the right to change these Terms of Service or to impose new terms or conditions on use of the Site, in which case we will post the revised Terms of Service on this Site. By continuing to use the Site after we post any such changes, you accept the new Terms of Service with the modifications.
The Site provides a platform for Consultants to communicate with Clients. The Site hosts materials that may contain information related to veterinary medicine, veterinary care, pet care, and pet lifestyle, and is intended for informational use only and is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for veterinary medical care given by a veterinary healthcare professional. Consultants do not provide any veterinary medical diagnostics, prognostics, or prescriptives.
1) The Company’s Responsibility
Consultants are recruited by the Company. An applicant’s information including background, credentials and certifications, additional advanced training, areas of expertise, ethical professional conduct, and good standing in the veterinary community are carefully reviewed by the Company prior to acceptance into the Teleconsultation program. Though the Company does its best to provide Consultants who are deemed experts in their field, the Company makes no guarantees regarding the voluntary use of the Teleconsultation program to and by its Clients or the outcome or results of this service upon its Clients and their pets.
Neither the Company nor the Consultant endorse any specific product, supplies, equipment, or devices. Consultants make recommendations at their own discretion and using their professional judgment.
2) Consultant’s Responsibility
The Site provides a platform for Consultants to communicate with Clients and provides the initial connection between Consultants and Clients in real time, via electronic communication agreed upon by both Consultants and Clients using live video conferencing, telephone, and/or secure messaging for the purpose of providing general healthcare and education to Clients.
Consultants must comply with all laws, regulations, medical or other board rules, or other rules and regulations applicable to them by the state and country in which they are licensed as a healthcare provider or other professional governed by their profession. Consultants are independent contractors.
Consultants are able to request and review the following Client information with the sole purpose of providing general advice, assistance, and education:
- Pet medical records including treatment plans
- Medical images
- Medical test results
- Client performance of at-home therapies, exercises, training, etc…
- Equipment, devices, assistive aids currently being used
- Pet in-home environment
- Pet working environment
Consultants agree to keep all Client information confidential.
Consultants have the right to refuse a Teleconsultation with a Client but must provide written (e.g., e-mail) explanation for refusal, which must be submitted to the Client and to the Site at: contact@vitalvet.org.
If it is deemed that the Client’s pet requires veterinary professional services or attention, Consultants agree to refer said Client to their local veterinary professional or specialist.
3) Client’s (You/Your) Responsibility
You agree that you are twenty-one (21) years of age or older and have the requisite power and authority to meet all of the foregoing eligibility requirements.
You understand that the Teleconsultation service is not an emergency service. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, please contact your veterinarian.
You understand that your chosen professional Consultant may suggest that your pet be seen by your veterinarian, and that Teleconsultations may be terminated early if your session is not appropriate or your pet requires medical assistance.
You agree that the scope of the Teleconsultation includes general help and recommendations regarding services specified by the chosen Consultant and you understand that the Consultant is not able to give you a diagnosis, prognosis, or prescription.
You agree to provide the required information on your pet in a timely manner as requested by the Consultant, and attest that this information is for your personal pet and that it is current and accurate.
You agree that any recommendations that you acquire from a Consultant will be solely for your personal use.
By using the Site and Teleconsultation service, you acknowledge that there are inherent limitations to electronic healthcare including a lack of access to your pet or to your pet’s complete medical records to make complete or specific recommendations.
You acknowledge that there are no guarantees of outcome or results for your pet, and that you and/or your pet may not experience the same outcome as do other Clients.
Cancellations
We understand that “life happens”. If you need to cancel your Teleconsultation, please do so directly with the Consultant at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled Teleconsultation appointment. No refunds are issued for missed appointments or cancellations made with less than 24-hours notice.
Follow-Up Appointments
You are welcome to schedule additional appointments with the same or another Consultant. Follow-ups with the same Consultant can be made directly with that Consultation or you can choose to book again through the Site. For follow-up appointments that are made directly (not through Vital Vet), Consultants may have different rates and regulations. Contact your Consultant for more details before booking a follow-up appointment.
Returns and Refunds
For Teleconsultation services that are not performed or remain unclaimed for more than 30 days, the Client will be refunded in full (minus administrative fee of $6.95). No refunds are issued for Teleconsultations that are terminated early due to the inappropriateness of the pet’s condition or your inability to complete your session for personal reasons. No other refunds or returns are offered for these services.
If you have a dispute concerning any payment transaction, please contact our Support department at: contact@vitalvet.org. We reserve the right to dispute any Chargeback and take all reasonable action to authorize the transaction.
Electronic Communications
When you use the Site or Teleconsultation service, and send e-mails, video recordings, messages, and other communications from your desktop or mobile device to the Company or your Consultant, you are communicating with us or your Consultant electronically. Your Consultant may record and preserve (text, audio, and video) all or part of your interaction with you (“Recordings”). These Recordings are deemed confidential by the Consultant and are treated as such stated above in the Consultant’s Responsibilities.
Client Consent To The Use of Teleconsultation Services
I have read and understand the information provided above regarding Teleconsultation services, and understand the benefits and limitations of the teleconsultation and I hereby give my informed consent to participate in a teleconsultation visit under the terms described herein.
By checking the box containing “I ACCEPT TERMS & CONDITIONS ” I hereby state that I have read, understood, and agree to the terms of this document.