Pierce County Public Health Department
AGREEMENT ON USE OF ELECTRONIC MAIL FOR CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS
This Agreement on the Use of Electronic Mail (E-mail) for Client Communications is between Pierce County Public Health Department (the “Department”) and an individual client
The Department has guidelines about the use of e-mail communications.
1. Use of E-mail Communications. You may use e-mail about your care, treatment or administrative matters with the Department. If you need an immediate response, call the Department by telephone or come to our offices during business hours. E-mail should not be used for emergencies or when you need a quick response.
The Department will generally return an e-mail message within two (2) business days. If you do not receive a response by five o’clock on the second day, then call or visit us the next day. We will use our professional judgment to decide when a response by e-mail is appropriate or practical. We may reply to your e-mail by mail. We may also request that you either speak with us by telephone or make an appointment for an in-person visit.
2. Composing E-mail Messages. E-mail messages should include your full name, date of birth, and a description of why you are sending us an e-mail message and how we can help you.
3. Access to Client's E-mail Communications. It may be necessary for Department staff, other than the staff to whom the message is sent, to access e-mail messages, in order to provide a timely response. This agreement allows any PCPHD staff to access your e-mail messages.
4. No Liability. You agree that e-mail communications with the Department is offered as a convenience to yourself. You shall not hold Pierce County responsible for any expense, loss, or damage caused by, or resulting from: (i) a delay in the our response to your e-mail, or any damage to you resulting from such delay, due to technical failures, including, but not limited to, technical failures caused by an internet service provider, power outages, failure of the electronic messaging software, failure by our staff or yourself to properly address e-mail messages, failure of our computers or computer network, or faulty telephone or cable data transmission; (ii) any interception of e-mail communications by a third party; or (iii) your failure to comply with these guidelines.
5. Confidentiality. The Department will exercise reasonable efforts to ensure the confidentiality of your e-mail. However, e-mail communications are not secure, and there is some possibility that another party may gain access to your e-mail messages. Communication about highly confidential matters should not be discussed in your e-mail messages. You should telephone, write a letter, or personally visit us about highly confidential matters.
6. Archiving. The Department may keep copies of e-mail messages you send.
7. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by either the Department or you at any time or for any reason. If you wish to terminate this Agreement you must provide written notice of termination to the Department. Your notice must be signed and dated, and will not be effective until the Department receives the original termination notice. This termination will not affect communications exchanged prior to the date of receipt of the notice of termination.
If you have questions
regarding this agreement, call 715-273-6755.
This Agreement has been fully explained to me, and I have received a copy of
this Agreement.
ORGANIZATION: CLIENT:
By __________________________ ______________________________
Department Signature Client Signature*
__________________________ ______________________________
Date Date
______________________________
Print: Client's Name and Date of Birth
Please sign in ink – return to Pierce County Public Health Department; P.O. Box 238, 412 West Kinne St.; Ellsworth, WI 54011