MyChart: Terms & Conditions of Use
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY. YOUR CONTINUED USE OF THIS SITE AND RELATED SERVICES WILL INDICATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS INFORMATION, YOUR AGREEMENT THAT YOU WILL FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN, AND YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE RISKS AND TERMS OUTLINED BELOW. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS PLEASE EXIT THIS SITE.
Texas Children's, which includes Texas Children's Hospital, Texas Children’s Pediatrics, Texas Children’s Health Plan, and its medical staff, professional staff, employees, and volunteers, now offers MyChart Online and MyChart Mobile (hereinafter collectively referred to as "MyChart System". These Terms & Conditions outline how Texas Children's handles the information that we communicate with you over the internet and through your mobile device. These Terms & Conditions also outline your responsibilities when using the MyChart System. By using the MyChart System, you are agreeing to these Terms & Conditions.
MyChart System is a secure internet and mobile communications and information service, which Texas Children’s is offering for the convenience of our patients at no cost. MyChart Online includes online access to portions of clinical and financial records of a patients or the clinical and financial records of the patient for whom an adult has Proxy Access, as those records exist in Texas Children’s patient care systems, as well as online communication functions to facilitate your interactions with Texas Children’s. MyChart Mobile is a secure mobile application that allows access to portions of clinical and financial records of a patient, or the clinical and financial records of the patient for whom an adult proxy has Proxy Access, from any compatible mobile phone, tablet, e-reader, or internet/wi-fi capable mobile device. Texas Children's reserves the right to deny, suspend, or revoke access to MyChart Online and/or MyChart Mobile at any time, for any reason.
MyChart System also offers Texas Children’s patients with the option to obtain certain health care services via telehealth (hereinafter referred to as “E-Visits”). Under certain circ*mstances and if accepted for such services by Texas Children’s, patients may obtain health services from Texas Children’s health providers remotely through the transmission of video, audio, images and other types of data through MyChart System E-Visits. E-Visits are subject to additional terms and conditions of use.
MyChart System Enrollment Eligibility:
You are eligible for enrollment in the MyChart System service if you meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- you are a registered patient with Texas Children’s or the proxy for a registered patient of Texas Children’s; and
- you are 18 years or older or have had the disabilities of minority legally removed; and
- you maintain full compliance with your obligations under this Agreement and successor Agreements; and
- you meet other Texas Children’s eligibility criteria that Texas Children’s may develop at its sole and reasonable discretion.
Proxy Access:
Proxy Access allows you access to the MyChart Online or MyChart Mobile account of someone other than yourself. You may request Proxy Access if you are:
- the parent or legal guardian of a minor child under the age of 18, or
- a legally appointed guardian or healthcare decision maker for a patient over the age of 18.
Texas Children’s reserves the right to collect, examine or make copies of any information it considers necessary to determine whether legitimate proxy rights exist and to deny eligibility if this information is lacking. Texas Children’s reserves the sole right to determine whether proxy eligibility exists and to whom it will grant Proxy Access rights.
When the patient reaches the age of 18 or obtains a court order removing the disabilities of minority, all Proxy Access will be discontinued and/or denied. At that point, the patient is an adult and may request access to his/her own MyChart System account.
There are certain types of medical information that a parent or legal guardian of a minor may be restricted from viewing under various State and Federal laws, and Proxy Access to this medical information may be denied. The posting of medical information to MyChart Online or MyChart Mobile is at the discretion of the patient’s individual physician(s).
Privacy:
Our patients’ privacy is very important to us. Texas Children’s uses its patient’s confidential medical information in order to provide healthcare services. Please refer to the Texas Children's Hospital Terms of Use for detailed information about Texas Children's use or disclosure of protected health information to provide medical treatment, to collect payment for services provided, and to facilitate Texas Children's Hospital’s healthcare operations. All messages within the MyChart System that contain medical information are subject to State and Federal laws governing the security and confidentiality of medical records.
MyChart System Member Responsibilities:
By using the MyChart System, you understand that all health and health-related information contained within this Web site and/or in the mobile application is general in nature and is not a substitute for a visit with a health care professional. The information provided through this Web site and/or mobile application is not, in any way, a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult a healthcare professional regarding the medical conditions, treatment and needs of you and your family.
Emergency Care: The MyChart System is not designed to be used in an emergency. If you or the person for whom you are a Proxy experiences a medical problem and you are uncertain of its severity, you should call your personal physician, go to the nearest hospital emergency room, or call 9-1-1 for assistance.
Access to Information: You may only use the MyChart System
- to access personal health care information that you are legally entitled either as a patient or approved Proxy for another patient, or
- to engage in communications with Texas Children’s staff that are consistent with this access and the patient’s healthcare needs.
If you have Proxy Access and your legal right to obtain Proxy Access for the patient changes, you must notify Texas Children’s immediately of that change and must not access that Patient’s MyChart System account at any time after your legal Proxy Access rights to that Patient’s personal or health information have expired or been terminated. Any attempt to access information you are not entitled to receive is a breach of these Terms & Conditions, and Texas Children’s reserves the right to revoke or suspend your access to the MyChart System and to take any appropriate legal action.
Information Accuracy: You are responsible for ensuring that all information that you provide during sign up and continued use of the MyChart System is accurate and true at the time you provide the information. Any deliberate falsification of information that you provide is a breach of this these Terms & Conditions, and Texas Children’s reserves the right to revoke or suspend your access to MyChart Online and/or MyChart Mobile and to take any appropriate legal action.
Username and Password Protection: Your username and password provide access to your personal records or the records of the patient for whom you are a Proxy. You should not share this information with anyone else. Furthermore, if you believe or learn that this information has been or may have been obtained by anyone other than you, you should promptly notify Texas Children’s at 1-877-361-0111 so that your access information may be changed.
Acceptance of Changes to Terms & Conditions: Texas Children’s reserves the right to make changes to these Terms & Conditions at any time and for any reason. When you use MyChart Online and/or MyChart Mobile, you agree to all terms and conditions of the posted MyChart Agreement, which are in effect on the date that you access and use the MyChart System. If you find that the current Agreement is unacceptable to you, you must stop using the MyChart System and terminate your MyChart System enrollment immediately. You can do this by contacting Texas Children’s at 1-877-361-0111.
System Unavailability: The MyChart System may become unavailable from time to time. Alternate means for communicating with Texas Children’s and obtaining access to personal and health information includes communication by phone, mail, or personal visit to a Texas Children’s office.
Electronic Communications: Physicians and the Texas Children’s healthcare team may communicate electronically with patients or their Proxies only on request. Your use of the MyChart System represents your request for such communication. You must notify Texas Children’s if you withdraw your approval for electronic communication. Not all healthcare providers at Texas Children’s communicate with patients or their Proxies electronically. Physicians and their medical personnel may choose to respond to electronic communications from you by other means (for example, by telephone).
As a MyChart System member, you may receive electronic notices to the e-mail address(es) you provide to Texas Children’s Hospital in connection with your enrollment and continued membership in the MyChart System. These notices will let you know when new information is in your MyChart System account or the account(s) for which you have Proxy Access. These notices will not include private medical information. You are responsible for keeping your email address(es) current. We will not use your e-mail address for any marketing purposes, such as eNewsletters.
Texas Children’s healthcare providers may communicate with you through your MyChart System Inbox. While the notices to your email account will not include private medical information, the messages in your MyChart System Inbox may contain detailed health and medical care information. It is your responsibility to monitor the messages in your MyChart System Inbox. Additionally, Texas Children's healthcare providers are only able to respond to communications that you send through the MyChart System based on the information you provide. If you do not provide enough information, your healthcare providers may not be able to provide an accurate response. You agree that you will not hold Texas Children's liable for any loss, injury, or claims of any kind resulting from MyChart Online and/or MyChart Mobile messages
- that you do not read in a timely manner, or
- that are in response to insufficient or inaccurate information provided by you.
MyChart System communications are part of the patient’s official medical record and other healthcare providers may read the communications.
You agree that you will use the electronic communication privileges of the MyChart System in a courteous, respectful, efficient and informative manner, and that you understand that this service is not for social dialogue. You are responsible for all information you send to the MyChart System. You may not post or transmit any information that is illegal, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, ethnically or racially offensive or discriminatory, profane, invades the privacy of another person or any other information or materials that constitute a crime, give rise to a civil action or otherwise violate any law or confidentiality agreement. Texas Children’s reserves the right to refuse to post any such message, to revoke or suspend your access to MyChart Online and/or MyChart Mobile, and/or to take any appropriate legal action related to any inappropriate use of the MyChart System or the information it contains.
Texas Children’s does not encourage or condone the copying and pasting or otherwise posting information from your MyChart Online and/or MyChart Mobile account into any other form of electronic communications, including but not limited to email, social media sites (such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, for example), blogs, message boards, or any other Web 2.0 applications. Texas Children’s will not be liable for improper disclosure of confidential information that results from such activity.
E-Statements: By using the MyChart System, you agree to receive electronic statements in lieu of paper statements. Texas Children’s will send a notification to your email address when your statement(s) are ready for review. You may then sign into your MyChart System account to view and pay your statements. It is your responsibility to monitor and review each statement in your MyChart System account. Electronic statements may be printed from your personal computer at your convenience. You may elect out of receiving electronic statements by updating the profile settings in your MyChart System account.
Texas Children’s Responsibilities:
MyChart System Services: Texas Children’s will support, change or improve its MyChart Online and/or MyChart Mobile service as it deems necessary to meet the needs of its patients, Texas Children’s or to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Although Texas Children’s intends to offer the MyChart System services 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, there will be times when MyChart Online and/or MyChart Mobile becomes unavailable due to necessary maintenance, system changes or a technical malfunction. Texas Children’s will employ commercially reasonable practices to maintain the MyChart System service availability. Texas Children’s will provide support services to assist you in your use of the MyChart System. Please use the contact information provided on MyChart Online or MyChart Mobile to contact these services or call 1-877-361-0111 if either MyChart Online and/or MyChart Mobile is unavailable.
Information Security: Texas Children’s employs and will continue to employ industry standard methods to protect the confidentiality and security of its patient’s personal information and to meet applicable State and Federal regulations related to privacy and information security, including the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). However, because of the risks outlined in these Terms & Conditions of Use, Texas Children’s cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of web-based communications, and will not be liable for improper disclosure of confidential information that is not caused by Texas Children’s intentional misconduct.
Fees for the MyChart System Service: Texas Children’s is offering the MyChart System services, excluding those related to the delivery of telehealth services, at no cost to all MyChart Members. In the event that Texas Children’s elects to charge a fee in the future for all or portions of the MyChart System service, or to offer new MyChart services for which payments are required, it will notify you. Texas Children’s will not charge any fee for MyChart Online or MyChart Mobile services without your prior consent. In the event you are using a MyChart service that becomes subject to fee requirements and you do not agree to pay the fee, that portion of your MyChart service will be terminated by Texas Children’s on the date such fee would have been due.
Information Accuracy: Texas Children’s will engage in commercially reasonable efforts to accurately collect, store and display through MyChart Online and MyChart Mobile data that is collected from or about you, the patient, or the Proxy in the course of your relationship with Texas Children’s. Texas Children’s will also make reasonable efforts to correct erroneous data on file when notified of the error. Texas Children’s does not and cannot guarantee that all information collected from or about you, the patient, or the Proxy in the course of your relationship with Texas Children’s is true and correct, and by accepting these Terms & Conditions you acknowledge and accept that errors related to your personal data may occur.
Member Acknowledgement and Agreement
I UNDERSTAND THAT TEXAS CHILDREN’S TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY ARISING FROM ANY INACCURACIES OR DEFECTS IN SOFTWARE, COMMUNICATION LINES, VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK, THE INTERNET OR MY INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER (ISP), ACCESS SYSTEM, COMPUTER HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE, OR ANY OTHER SERVICE OR DEVICE THAT I USE TO ACCESS THE MYCHART SYSTEM.
I acknowledge that I have read and fully understand the information provided in this form. I understand the risks associated with using electronic systems to contact and receive information from Texas Children’s. I agree to the terms listed above, in addition to the terms and conditions of the texaschildrenshospital.org Terms of Use and Notice of Privacy Practices. In addition, I agree to the instructions outlined here, as well as any other instructions or that any Texas Children’s representatives may create pertaining to electronic communications between Texas Children’s and its patients or their proxies. I understand that Texas Children’s may discontinue this service at any time. Any questions I may have had have been answered.
