By using SMS text messaging to communicate with Vernon Midwifery, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

Text messaging (SMS) is not a fully secure method of communication. Messages sent to and from your phone may be stored on your mobile device and your cellular carrier's systems, and could potentially be accessed by others with access to your phone or account.

Vernon Midwifery uses Quo, a password-protected, encrypted platform for our side of this communication. However, once a message is delivered to your phone as an SMS, it is subject to the security of your personal device and carrier only.

The server infrastructure for Quo hosted on Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud platform, meaning that some or all of your data may be stored on servers in jurisdictions outside of Canada. If located outside Canada, your information may be subject to the laws of that jurisdiction. For this reason, we do not recommend texting us very sensitive or privileged health information, especially images, only simple text-based and non-sensitive inquiries.

By proceeding, you consent to receiving health-related communications via SMS and accept the associated privacy risks. You may withdraw this consent at any time by notifying your midwife — alternative communication methods are available upon request.

This consent is collected in accordance with British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Vernon Midwifery uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the care we provide. Before communicating with us through Quo, please read and acknowledge the following:

How we use AI: Your midwife may use AI-assisted tools to help draft or summarize messages, and to support clinical documentation and dictation. We never use AI tools as a substitute for clinical decision making and care planning, only to reduce administrative and paperwork burden. This means that content from your messages may be processed by a third-party AI system as part of your care.