Physician Code of Conduct
Our standards for clinical care.
This document serves as the universal code of conduct for clinicians who provide care to patients of the edit. through the affiliated medical practice, Arora Health & Aesthetics, LLC, practicing on the underlying telehealth platform. Its purpose is to align the values and philosophies of The Edit Health LLC and the affiliated clinicians who care for our patients, and to ensure that patients always receive the highest quality of care.
Introduction
The mission of the edit. is to help as many people as possible with their health needs and to improve the way that people interact with the medical system when addressing certain health conditions. the edit. is operated by The Edit Health LLC, a Texas limited liability company functioning as a management services organization (MSO). The Edit Health LLC does not practice medicine and is not a pharmacy. All clinical care is provided by independent, licensed clinicians at Arora Health & Aesthetics, LLC, who hold sole and independent authority over every medical decision and prescription. This Code will continue to be updated based on feedback from affiliated clinicians in order to ensure patients are always receiving the highest quality of care. Throughout this Code, "clinician" refers to any physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who delivers care to our patients, and "the medical operations team" refers to the administrative support function that routes clinical and compliance escalations to the affiliated medical practice.
Best practices on the platform
Be patient
Telemedicine is a new experience for many patients. They may ask questions that seem obvious (for example, "How does telemedicine work?"). Please be sensitive to their concerns and work with them to determine the best course of treatment.
Always explain
Always provide a detailed explanation to a patient, whether you find it appropriate to write a prescription or not. Patients come to us because they are in need of your guidance and care.
Follow up
The platform will automatically follow up with patients who receive treatment plans after 2 weeks, 1 month, and every 3 months thereafter. If you think a patient needs additional follow up, you can automate follow ups in the messaging system or contact the medical operations team.
Document
Always thoroughly document your decisions. For example, if you approve a patient for treatment and the system flagged one or several of their responses as a potential contraindication or risk, please make sure to document your rationale (for example, that you spoke to them via phone, video, or message and received additional clarifying information).
Check in
The clinicians with the highest rate of patient satisfaction check their messages at least once per day. If you will be unavailable for more than 48 hours, please give the medical operations team one week of notice so that we can ensure your patients receive timely responses to any question. In case of an emergency, please try to notify us as soon as possible.
Conduct expectations on the platform
Verify identity
ID and photo match: The first step for any clinician is to confirm the identity of the patient and ensure that the image uploaded matches the patient's government ID. This is also double-checked by automated software. Personal information: After you have confirmed the ID matches the face photo, confirm that the basic information entered during the online visit (first name, last name, date of birth) matches the information on the government ID.
Follow state protocols
The platform will always require you to confirm that you established a patient-clinician relationship according to the state-specific requirement. Never provide any medical advice or treatment until you have adequately established a patient-clinician relationship. When in doubt, please contact the medical operations team or the affiliated medical practice's compliance contact.
Treat the oldest first
Please always treat patients who entered the platform first. We pride ourselves on providing timely service to our patients. This can only be done if those who have been waiting longer are served first.
One at a time
If another clinician has started to treat a patient, do not attempt to provide additional treatment unless specifically asked for a second opinion. In addition, clinicians should complete only one consult at a time before moving on to the next patient. Each consultation requires your undivided attention.
Safety, security, and privacy
Drug interactions
Always pay attention to reported medications and be alert to drug interactions. Please make sure to always check a patient's previous plans on the platform before making a treatment decision.
When there is doubt, there is no doubt
When in doubt about a specific drug interaction, please contact the medical operations team, who will route your question to the affiliated medical practice's clinical leadership. If anything is unclear from the visit, please follow up with the patient. It is always better to be 100% certain that you have all the necessary information. Never create a prescription for a patient if you are unsure whether it is safe. It is always better to get a second opinion or refer the patient to their in-person primary physician when in doubt.
Pay attention to underlying causes
Our patients' mental health is as important to us as their physical health. Always follow up with patients who provide answers concerning their mental health. Please refer to the Emergency Plan located in the Manuals and Protocols folder for guidance on how to respond if a patient is experiencing a medical emergency.
Consistently review protocols
Please reference the condition-specific clinician protocols regularly. They contain the most important points on safe practices on the platform and should serve as a continuous reference for clinicians. Most importantly, all medical decisions should be made solely at your discretion according to the standard of care.
Never share
Never share your clinician app password with anyone. Never share any patient information with anyone outside of the affiliated medical practice, and only share information that is required for someone to complete their job.
Secure PHI
Never share protected health information (PHI) using any software tool that is not HIPAA compliant. You may use password-protected links to patient charts. Never work on the platform in open areas where someone may be able to see your screen and see PHI.
Ethical expectations for platform clinicians
Clinicians are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards called upon by the medical profession.
Do no harm
First, do no harm. The practice of medicine is a calling. Always put your patients' safety first. Patient safety is the first and primary priority. You will always be compensated exactly the same, regardless of whether a prescription is written.
No self-referral
Patients who come through the platform should never be self-referred to your own practice. If a referral is needed, please refer them to their primary healthcare provider or another outside physician.
Sound body and sound mind
Never engage in the practice of medicine on our platform while under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances.
Keep the medical operations team informed
In case of a board complaint, hospital administrative action, malpractice suit or judgment, or any other administrative or disciplinary action against you (including a criminal charge or conviction related or unrelated to the practice of medicine), please promptly notify the medical operations team.
Reporting concerns
Clinicians and staff may report any concern about patient safety, unethical conduct, or a violation of this Code without fear of retaliation. Reporting and compliance concerns may be directed to the affiliated medical practice's compliance contact at medicalcompliance@arorahealthgroup.com.
Contact
The Edit Health LLC
Attn: Clinical Compliance
5900 Balcones Drive STE 100
Austin, TX 78731
hello@theedithealth.com