While patients typically trust their doctors' expertise, legal issues can arise if
informed consent is not adequately implemented before or during the course of treatment. In addition, how their data is going to be used in the course of providing them care, this is typically contained in privacy policies and other terms that may be contained in the intake form.
Informed consent refers to the legal and ethical responsibility of healthcare professionals to ensure patients fully comprehend and can agree to the planned use of their personal medical information and health data, they can be reassured that confidentiality is preserved amongst the practising team and whoever that contains and that they can understand any suggested medical procedures and treatment plans before undergoing them.
In the context of new patient intake forms, informed consent also means ensuring patients grasp the information they are providing to their doctor, as well as how that information will be used to inform their treatment.
To ensure that healthcare providers comply with these legal and ethical requirements, their medical intake forms must be written in clear, simple language free of medical and legal jargon.
For example, instead of saying “comorbidities”, doctors can simply say “other health conditions.” Using simple, common language in both patient intake forms and over the course of treatment helps ensure patients understand what they are reading and signing; minimizing the chances of legal and ethical issues arising.
Beyond informed consent, medical practitioners must also ensure that their patient intake forms comply with privacy regulations like
HIPAA which were enacted to protect sensitive patient information. We've added example sections for regulations spanning across the US, UK, EU, CA, AU, and NZ in our example, pick whatever is relevant to your jurisdiction.
Ultimately, by prioritizing clear communication and adhering to legal guidelines, medical professionals can ensure their patient intake form templates are both effective in streamlining their practice, and compliant.
