Department of Otolaryngology Email Policy
Before Sending Email to Faculty
Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not wish your email address released in response to a public records request do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
Email communication is intended only for existing patients. It is strongly suggested that you read the rest of the department’s email policy and UF’s Health Science Center email alert on the UF Health Information Privacy website.
Finally, before using email to communicate with a faculty member, submit an email authorization form on-line or by mailing in the completed form provided in the instructions listed below.
Email Authorization Form Instructions
Email Authorization Form: the PDF format can be printed on your printer, completed by hand, signed, and then mailed or faxed to your health care provider. If you mail the form, be sure to make a copy for yourself before mailing. You can also scan the completed document and email it to your provider.
- Go to PDF form.
The PDF file requires Adobe Reader to view; if is not installed already, it is available as a free download on Adobe’s website.
Confidentiality
All messages distributed via an email system, may be read by individuals to whom they were not directed. You should have no expectation of privacy in anything that you send by email.
Response
Email is vulnerable to transmission loss or corruption. The intended recipient may also not be available to receive or respond to email messages. Therefore, The University of Florida Department of Otolaryngology cannot guarantee response to messages sent by email. If you need to speak with someone in the University of Florida Department of Otolaryngology, please contact (352) 273-5199. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911 for immediate assistance.
Concerning Virus Transmission
Computer viruses can be transmitted via email. You should check all emails and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The University of Florida Department of Otolaryngology accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by email. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The University of Florida Department of Otolaryngology therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
Patient-Doctor Relationship
Submission of an email message or response by a University of Florida Department of Otolaryngology staff member does not establish any relationship for delivery of care. Communication with a University of Florida Department of Otolaryngology physician or staff member about a medical problem should be done only with the understanding of the limitations email as described above.
Patients should also understand that communication by email may provide inadequate information for a physician to act upon. Email communication with your physician is no substitute for direct interaction. If you wish to communicate with your physician via email, this should be agreed upon during a face-to-face interaction.
Prohibited Actions
- Sending or forwarding emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist or obscene remarks.
- Forwarding a message or copying a message or attachment belonging to another user without acquiring permission from the originator first.
- Sending unsolicited email messages or chain mail.
- Forging or attempting to forge email messages, or disguise or attempt to disguise your identity when sending mail.