Harbor Wellness, PLLC
How we protect your confidentiality, handle your health information, and communicate with you as a patient of Harbor Wellness.
Please cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance for you or your child, by texting or calling the Practice or through the online patient portal. A cancellation made less than 24 hours before the appointment, or a no-show, carries a $100 fee, because that time is held exclusively for you. Arriving late may shorten the session. Three or more no-shows or late cancellations within the 24-hour window may result in discharge from the practice.
You may owe a copay, coinsurance, or deductible depending on your plan. These amounts are set by your insurance carrier and must be charged to you, so a sliding scale is not available for them. Outstanding balances are due within 30 days. Once three unpaid sessions accrue, your provider will not schedule further sessions until the balance is paid. Keep an up-to-date form of payment on file; repeated declined charges may require a written payment plan, and non-adherence may end services, with community referrals provided.
To reach your provider between sessions, text or call the Practice at 508-422-0404 or email billing@harborwellness.health. Staff are often in session, but someone will attempt to return your call within 24 business hours. In a true emergency, call 911 or 988, contact a crisis service, or go to the nearest emergency room first, and contact your provider afterward. Neither your provider nor the Practice can guarantee an immediate response to an emergency.
Communication through social media carries a high probability of compromising your confidentiality, so our providers do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site. Information you find about a provider online may not be accurate; please raise it in session. Because confidentiality restrictions prevent providers from responding to public reviews, we ask that you not rate providers while in treatment and instead bring any feedback directly to your provider.
Confidentiality cannot be ensured over electronic media, including text messages, so your provider will communicate through the online patient portal or other Practice-approved methods, and only regarding scheduling or cancellations. Messages containing clinically relevant information may become part of your clinical record. Services delivered by telephone, internet, fax, or email are considered telemedicine in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. You may withhold or withdraw consent at any time without affecting your right to future care; all confidentiality protections apply; you have access to information transmitted during a telemedicine consultation; and no identifiable images or information are shared with researchers or other entities without your consent. Telemedicine carries both benefits, such as improved access and continuity, and risks, including a provider's reduced ability to make in-person observations.
If you are a minor, your parents or guardians may be legally entitled to some information about your therapy. Your provider will discuss with you and your guardians which information is appropriate for them to receive and which issues are more appropriately kept confidential.
Ending a therapeutic relationship deserves a closing process, and its length depends on the length and intensity of treatment. A provider may end treatment after discussion if psychotherapy is not being used effectively or if payment is in default, and never without first exploring the reasons. If therapy ends or you request another provider, contact the Practice through the portal or at 508-422-0404 to discuss working with another Harbor Wellness clinician, or ask for a list of qualified providers in your community. If no appointment is scheduled for six months without prior arrangement, the professional relationship is considered discontinued.
You have rights regarding your Clinical Record and disclosures of protected health information, including requesting an amendment to your record, requesting restrictions on what is disclosed, requesting an accounting of most disclosures you did not consent to or authorize, determining where disclosures are sent, having complaints about our policies recorded in your record, and receiving a paper copy of this agreement, the Notice form, and our privacy policies. Your provider is glad to discuss any of these rights with you.
From time to time, student nurse practitioners complete supervised clinical hours with the Practice. Under supervision, a student may observe sessions, review clinical charts, or participate in case discussions for educational purposes, and is bound by the same confidentiality and privacy obligations as all healthcare professionals. Participation in observed sessions is entirely voluntary, and you may decline or withdraw consent at any time without affecting your care.
By signing the Practice's intake paperwork, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the items contained in these policies. If you have any questions about any section above, please raise them with your provider before your first visit, or contact the Practice directly.
Call or text the Practice at (508) 422-0404, or send us a message and we will get back to you within one business day.
