Medical Emergency Disclaimer

1. When to seek emergency care

Emergency symptoms can vary.

Examples of symptoms or situations that may require immediate emergency medical attention include, without limitation:

• Severe or crushing chest pain;
• Signs or symptoms of a heart attack;
• Severe difficulty breathing;
• Choking;
• Blue or gray lips or skin;
• Signs or symptoms of stroke;
• Sudden weakness or numbness;
• Sudden difficulty speaking;
• Loss of consciousness;
• New severe confusion;
• Seizure;
• Severe bleeding;
• Serious trauma;
• Significant head injury;
• Severe burns;
• Suspected poisoning;
• Severe allergic reaction;
• Swelling of the face, tongue, or throat;
• Severe abdominal pain;
• Sudden severe headache;
• Severe dehydration;
• Suicidal behavior;
• Immediate threat of self-harm;
• Immediate threat of harm to another person;
• Drug overdose;
• Alcohol poisoning;
• Severe pregnancy-related symptoms;
• Heavy bleeding during pregnancy;
• Other symptoms that appear life-threatening, rapidly worsening, or otherwise require immediate medical attention.

This list is not exhaustive.

A medical emergency may exist even if a symptom is not listed above.

2. Do not use Medcare to delay emergency care

Do not delay calling 911 or seeking emergency medical attention because:

• You have an unused Medcare visit;
• You are waiting for a Medcare provider;
• You have already submitted a visit request;
• You are waiting for a response through the patient portal;
• You are waiting for an email or text;
• You want to avoid an emergency-room visit;
• You believe telehealth may be less expensive;
• You are unsure whether Medcare can treat the condition.

When there is reasonable concern that a condition may be an emergency, seek emergency care.

3. Medcare communication channels are not emergency monitoring systems

Medcare's:

• Website;
• Patient portal;
• Email;
• Text messaging;
• Telephone messages;
• Contact forms;
• Customer-support systems;
• Administrative communications;

should not be treated as continuously monitored emergency communication channels.

A message sent through one of these systems may not be reviewed immediately.

Do not send emergency medical information through these channels expecting an immediate clinical response.

4. Telehealth has limitations

Telehealth does not provide all of the capabilities of in-person emergency medicine.

During a video visit, a healthcare provider may not be able to immediately:

• Perform a complete physical examination;
• Obtain laboratory testing;
• Obtain imaging;
• Perform an electrocardiogram;
• Administer emergency medication;
• Provide intravenous fluids;
• Control serious bleeding;
• Perform emergency procedures;
• Provide advanced airway management;
• Transport a patient;
• Provide hospital-level monitoring;
• Perform surgery;
• Provide other services available in an emergency department.

For this reason, some symptoms require immediate in-person evaluation.

5. A provider may direct you to emergency care

A Medcare healthcare professional may determine during a telehealth encounter that emergency or urgent in-person evaluation is appropriate.

If this occurs, the patient should follow the provider's recommendation and seek the appropriate level of care.

A provider's recommendation to seek emergency or in-person care does not mean that the Medcare visit was unsuccessful.

It reflects the provider's clinical judgment concerning the appropriate setting for further evaluation or treatment.

6. Calling 911

In the United States, 911 generally connects callers with emergency services.

When calling 911, be prepared to provide:

• Your location;
• Your telephone number;
• A description of what is happening;
• Information requested by the emergency dispatcher.

If you are outside the United States, use the appropriate emergency number for your physical location.

7. Patient location matters

Telehealth providers may need to know where a patient is physically located at the time of a visit.

This is important for matters including:

• Provider licensing;
• Emergency referrals;
• Local emergency resources;
• Clinical decision-making.

Patients should provide accurate location information when requested.

Providing incorrect location information may interfere with appropriate care or emergency response.

8. Children and minors

Parents, guardians, and caregivers should seek immediate emergency medical attention for a child when emergency symptoms are present.

Do not use Medcare as a substitute for emergency pediatric care.

Young children may deteriorate quickly, and some symptoms may require immediate in-person evaluation.

9. Pregnancy-related emergencies

Pregnancy-related concerns may sometimes require immediate emergency evaluation.

Potential warning signs may include, without limitation:

• Heavy vaginal bleeding;
• Severe abdominal or pelvic pain;
• Loss of consciousness;
• Seizure;
• Severe difficulty breathing;
• Severe headache with concerning symptoms;
• Chest pain;
• Signs of severe allergic reaction;
• Other symptoms that appear dangerous or rapidly worsening.

Medcare should not be relied upon as a substitute for emergency obstetric care.

10. Mental health and safety emergencies

If an individual is in immediate danger of:

• Suicide;
• Self-harm;
• Violence;
• Harm to another person;
• Severe psychiatric crisis;

do not rely solely on a routine Medcare telehealth visit.

Seek immediate emergency assistance through 911 or the appropriate emergency service for the individual's location.

11. Poisoning and overdose

Suspected overdose, poisoning, severe medication reaction, or dangerous exposure may require immediate emergency care.

Do not wait for a routine telehealth evaluation if emergency treatment may be necessary.

Call 911 or seek immediate emergency medical attention as appropriate.

12. Medcare membership does not include emergency services

A Medcare membership is intended to provide access to eligible telehealth services.

It does not provide:

• Ambulance transportation;
• Emergency department services;
• Hospital admission;
• Emergency procedures;
• Emergency diagnostic testing;
• Emergency medications;
• Trauma services;
• Other emergency healthcare services.

Any emergency medical services received outside Medcare may involve separate charges.

13. The 10-minute service message does not apply to emergencies

Medcare may describe expected or typical provider connection times during normal business hours.

Such statements are not instructions to wait for Medcare when emergency symptoms are present.

14. Do not drive yourself when it is unsafe

Depending on the emergency, driving yourself may be unsafe.

Where appropriate, call emergency medical services or have another responsible person assist with transportation.

Follow instructions provided by emergency dispatchers and healthcare professionals.

15. Information on the website is not emergency triage

General information appearing on MedcareTelehealth.org is provided for informational purposes.

It should not be interpreted as:

• Emergency triage;
• A diagnosis;
• A determination that a condition is safe to treat at home;
• A determination that an emergency does not exist.

Symptoms can have multiple causes, including serious causes that cannot be ruled out through general website information.

16. Technical failures

Telehealth depends on technology.

Internet outages, device problems, software failures, telecommunications interruptions, or other technical problems may delay or prevent a Medcare encounter.

Do not rely upon telehealth technology when immediate emergency intervention is required.

17. No guarantee of immediate response

Medcare does not provide an emergency-response guarantee through its website, portal, email, text, or other routine communication systems.

A provider may not be immediately available.

A message may not be reviewed immediately.

For emergencies, use emergency medical services.

18. Medcare does not control emergency services

Emergency departments, ambulance providers, hospitals, public-safety agencies, and other emergency resources may be operated independently of Medcare.

Their availability, response times, fees, policies, and services are outside Medcare's control.

19. Clinical judgment

Healthcare professionals determine the appropriate level of care based upon the information reasonably available to them.

A provider may recommend escalation to:

• Urgent care;
• Emergency department;
• Hospital;
• Specialist;
• Other in-person healthcare.

Patients are responsible for deciding whether to follow recommendations, except where different legal rules apply.

Delaying recommended emergency evaluation may create serious health risks.

20. Medcare is for appropriate non-emergency care

Medcare is intended for healthcare concerns that are reasonably appropriate for telehealth.

Examples may include certain routine, minor, or non-emergency concerns.

Whether a condition is appropriate for telehealth depends on:

• Symptoms;
• Medical history;
• Patient age;
• Patient location;
• Clinical circumstances;
• Provider judgment;
• Other relevant factors.

A condition that begins as a minor concern may become an emergency if symptoms worsen.

21. If symptoms worsen

If symptoms become severe, rapidly worsen, or develop into a possible emergency:

Stop relying on routine telehealth care and seek emergency medical attention.

Do not wait for a follow-up message or another Medcare visit.

22. Acknowledgment

By using Medcare's telehealth Services, users acknowledge that:

• Medcare is not an emergency medical service;
• Telehealth has limitations;
• Emergency symptoms require appropriate emergency evaluation;
• Routine Medcare communications should not be treated as emergency monitoring systems;
• Provider availability and technology cannot substitute for emergency medical response;
• Patients should call 911 or seek immediate emergency medical care when an emergency is suspected.

23. Relationship to other Medcare terms

This Medical Emergency Disclaimer supplements Medcare's:

• Terms of Service;
• Membership Terms;
• Telehealth Consent;
• Privacy Policy;
• Notice of Privacy Practices;
• Other applicable clinical notices.

If applicable law imposes requirements that differ from this Disclaimer, applicable law controls.

24. Legal interpretation

Nothing in this Medical Emergency Disclaimer is intended to:

• Waive a patient's non-waivable legal rights;
• Alter the applicable professional standard of care;
• Eliminate obligations imposed by applicable healthcare law;
• Create a guarantee that every possible emergency symptom has been identified in this document;
• Create contractual rights beyond those required by applicable law;
• Expand Medcare Telehealth Inc's obligations beyond applicable legal requirements;
• Waive any defense, right, privilege, limitation, exemption, immunity, or remedy available to Medcare Telehealth Inc under applicable law.

This Disclaimer should be interpreted consistently with applicable federal and state law.