Medical and directory disclaimer.

This Medical and Directory Disclaimer applies to HandshakeMD, located at handshakemd.com, and any related directory, search, referral, educational, or technology features operated by shrinkMD Publishing LLC, a Florida limited liability company (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

We refer to these services collectively as the “Platform.”

1The Platform is not a healthcare provider

The Platform is an informational, directory, provider discovery, and professional referral resource.

The Company does not provide:

• medical care;
• psychiatric care;
• psychological services;
• therapy;
• nursing services;
• diagnosis;
• treatment;
• prescribing;
• emergency services;
• utilization review;
• insurance services; or
• other healthcare services through operation of the Platform.

Use of the Platform does not create a physician and patient, therapist and patient, clinician and patient, or other healthcare relationship between you and the Company.

2No medical advice

Information on the Platform is provided for general informational and directory purposes only.

Nothing on the Platform should be interpreted as individualized:

• medical advice;
• diagnosis;
• treatment recommendations;
• prescribing advice;
• emergency guidance; or
• substitute for evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.

Users should consult an appropriately licensed healthcare professional regarding individual medical or mental health questions.

3Not for emergencies

The Platform is not an emergency service and should not be used for urgent or emergency medical or psychiatric situations. Nobody monitors it.

If you believe you or another person may be experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 or seek appropriate emergency care.

If you are in the United States and are experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis, you may also call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time.

4Professional listings are informational only

The Platform may display information concerning healthcare professionals and practices, including:

• names;
• credentials;
• specialties;
• locations;
• practice affiliations;
• telehealth availability;
• populations served;
• conditions treated;
• insurance information;
• fees;
• languages;
• availability;
• referral criteria;
• professional biographies; and
• other professional information.

This information is intended to assist users in identifying possible healthcare professionals or practices.

It is not a substitute for independent verification.

Almost all of it is written by the clinician about their own practice, which makes it useful and also makes it a self description. What the Company checks, and what it does not, is set out in the Verification Standards.

5No endorsement or recommendation

A professional or practice appearing on the Platform is not necessarily:

• endorsed;
• recommended;
• approved;
• preferred;
• credentialed;
• employed;
• supervised; or
• affiliated

with the Company.

A listing does not mean that the Company has determined that a professional is appropriate for a particular patient or referral.

One disclosure belongs here rather than only on another page. HandshakeMD was built by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, who also founded shrinkMD, an independent multistate telepsychiatry practice. shrinkMD is not listed on HandshakeMD yet. When it is, it will be listed on the same terms as every other practice, with no boost, no priority, and no fee, and its listing will carry an affiliated practice disclosure. See our disclosures.

6Verification has a limited meaning

The Platform may display terms such as:

• “verified”;
• “Practice email verified”;
• “license verified”;
• “Practice affiliation verified”; or
• similar verification language.

These terms have a limited meaning.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, verification means that the Company compared certain information against one or more sources that we considered reasonably appropriate at a particular point in time.

These sources may include:

• the National Provider Identifier registry;
• state licensing databases;
• professional licensing boards;
• practice websites;
• business domain email addresses;
• public business records;
• practice administrators; or
• other public or professional sources.

Verification does not mean that the Company has performed comprehensive healthcare credentialing.

The Verification Standards says what each badge means, which sources are used for it, and what it does not cover.

7Verification is not credentialing

The Company is not a hospital credentialing committee, health plan, medical staff office, accreditation organization, or credential verification organization.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, our verification process does not include comprehensive review of:

• education;
• training;
• residency;
• fellowship;
• malpractice claims;
• criminal history;
• disciplinary history;
• peer references;
• professional competence;
• clinical outcomes;
• exclusion databases;
• controlled substance registration;
• board certification;
• privileging; or
• other credentialing elements.

Hospitals, employers, health plans, practices, and other organizations must conduct their own credentialing and primary source verification as required by applicable law and policy.

8No guarantee of licensure status

Professional licenses and registrations can:

• expire;
• lapse;
• become restricted;
• be suspended;
• be revoked;
• become subject to disciplinary action; or
• change between verification checks.

The Platform does not guarantee that a license remains current after the date it was last reviewed.

Users should verify current licensure with the appropriate licensing authority when licensure status is material to a decision.

9No guarantee of specialty or certification

A listed specialty, subspecialty, certification, fellowship, or professional designation may be based on information supplied by the professional, the practice, or a public source.

The Company does not guarantee the accuracy or continuing validity of every professional designation unless expressly stated.

Users should independently confirm credentials that are important to a referral or healthcare decision.

10No guarantee of clinical competence

The Platform does not evaluate clinical competence, quality of care, bedside manner, professional judgment, or patient outcomes.

The fact that a professional is licensed, listed, or verified does not guarantee:

• quality;
• safety;
• appropriateness;
• expertise;
• effectiveness; or
• suitability

for a specific patient.

11Referral decisions remain with the referring professional

Healthcare professionals using the Platform to identify referral options remain responsible for exercising independent professional judgment.

The Platform does not determine:

• whether a referral is clinically appropriate;
• whether a patient requires emergency or higher level care;
• whether a professional's scope of practice is suitable;
• whether a referral satisfies professional or legal standards;
• whether a particular treatment is appropriate; or
• whether a professional has the expertise required for an individual case.

The Platform is a discovery resource, not a clinical decision maker.

12Patients and consumers must make independent decisions

Patients and consumers remain responsible for determining whether a healthcare professional is suitable for their needs.

Before obtaining care, users may wish to independently confirm matters such as:

• current licensure;
• specialty;
• credentials;
• insurance participation;
• fees;
• appointment availability;
• telehealth eligibility;
• hospital affiliation;
• office accessibility; and
• treatment approach.

13Availability information may change

The Platform may display whether a professional is:

• accepting new patients;
• accepting referrals;
• accepting limited referrals;
• maintaining a waitlist;
• unavailable; or
• otherwise open for scheduling.

Availability can change quickly.

The Company does not guarantee that displayed availability remains accurate when a user contacts the professional or practice.

Every listing shows the date the clinician last confirmed it, and a listing that goes unconfirmed stops showing as open. The date is there so you can judge how current the information is rather than assume it. How those windows work is set out in how it works.

14No appointment guarantee

The Platform does not guarantee:

• that an appointment can be scheduled;
• how quickly an appointment will be available;
• that a professional will accept a particular patient;
• that the professional will remain available; or
• that a referral will result in care.

15Insurance information is not guaranteed

The Platform may display insurance or payment information supplied by healthcare professionals, practices, or other sources.

Insurance participation can vary by:

• provider;
• practice;
• location;
• plan;
• employer group;
• network;
• product;
• contract;
• date of service; or
• other factors.

A professional's listing of an insurer does not guarantee that the patient's specific plan will cover services.

Patients should verify benefits and network status directly with the healthcare professional and the insurer before receiving services.

16Fees and pricing are informational

The Platform may display:

• cash pay fees;
• consultation fees;
• membership fees;
• estimated charges; or
• other pricing information.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, pricing information is informational and may change.

The final amount charged by a professional or practice is determined by that professional or practice, not by the Platform.

17Telehealth information

A professional may indicate that telehealth services are available in particular states or jurisdictions.

Telehealth legality may depend on:

• where the patient is physically located;
• where the clinician is licensed;
• temporary practice rules;
• telehealth registration requirements;
• scope of practice rules;
• prescribing laws; and
• other jurisdiction specific requirements.

The Platform does not determine whether a particular telehealth encounter is legally permissible.

Professionals and patients must independently confirm applicable requirements.

18Referral fit information

Professional listings may contain information such as:

• “good referrals for me”;
• preferred populations;
• conditions treated;
• areas of interest;
• services offered;
• exclusions;
• age ranges; or
• circumstances that are not a good fit for the practice.

This information is intended to help users understand the professional's practice.

It does not establish that a referral is clinically appropriate.

19No guarantee of acceptance

Even if a professional indicates that a type of patient or condition is generally a good fit, the professional or practice may decline a referral based on:

• clinical complexity;
• urgency;
• scope of practice;
• available resources;
• insurance;
• scheduling;
• geographic restrictions;
• treatment setting; or
• other professional considerations.

20No responsibility for independent professionals

Healthcare professionals and practices listed on the Platform are independent from the Company.

The Company is not responsible for their:

• professional conduct;
• medical decisions;
• diagnoses;
• treatment;
• prescriptions;
• billing;
• scheduling;
• privacy practices;
• recordkeeping;
• communications;
• malpractice;
• employment practices; or
• clinical outcomes.

21No responsibility for the patient and professional relationship

Any healthcare relationship created after a user contacts or receives care from a listed professional exists between the patient and that professional or practice.

The Company is not a party to that relationship.

22No insurance, credentialing, or utilization determination

The Platform does not:

• authorize care;
• verify insurance benefits;
• determine medical necessity;
• perform utilization review;
• approve referrals for insurance purposes;
• credential professionals for health plans;
• determine network participation; or
• guarantee reimbursement.

23No referral fee or financial endorsement

The Company does not buy or sell patient referrals, and does not accept payment to direct a specific patient to a specific clinician. That is a flat commitment rather than a present intention, and it is stated in the Terms of Use and on the list of things we will never do.

Placement on the Platform does not mean that a professional paid for a patient referral or that the Company receives compensation for directing a specific patient to that professional.

If sponsored content, advertising, or paid services are offered in the future, they will be clearly identified as such.

24Search results are not rankings of quality

Search result order should not be interpreted as a ranking of:

• competence;
• quality;
• safety;
• clinical outcomes;
• reputation; or
• professional superiority.

Search placement may depend on factors such as:

• relevance;
• geography;
• filters;
• specialty;
• availability;
• completeness;
• recency of confirmation;
• technical considerations; or
• other Platform factors.

Position is never for sale. No payment, listing tier, or arrangement moves a professional up a result list, because none of those things exist.

25Public and third party information may contain errors

Some listing information may come from:

• public records;
• government databases;
• professional websites;
• practice websites;
• public directories; or
• third party sources.

These sources may contain errors, outdated information, or incomplete information.

The Company may correct information when we become aware of a material problem, but we do not guarantee that all errors will be identified. If you find something wrong on a listing, tell us and we will look at it.

26No guarantee of completeness

The Platform does not include every healthcare professional or practice that may be available.

Absence from the Platform does not imply that a professional is:

• unlicensed;
• unqualified;
• unavailable; or
• inappropriate.

Presence on the Platform does not imply superiority over professionals who are not listed.

27Reviews and testimonials

The Platform does not display patient reviews, star ratings, or testimonials, and none of what you see is derived from them.

Users should not interpret a professional's profile, or any verification label, as a substitute for reviews. A confirmed listing means a person confirmed specific facts on a specific date. It says nothing about how anybody experienced their care.

If reviews, testimonials, professional comments, or endorsements are introduced in the future, they may reflect the opinions or experiences of individual users, they will not necessarily represent the views of the Company, and no review or testimonial can guarantee a similar result for another patient.

28Professional communications

If the Platform includes referral boards, professional discussions, or communication features, information exchanged through those features should not be treated as formal medical consultation unless the participating professionals independently establish an appropriate professional relationship and use a legally appropriate communication method.

Public or non secure Platform features must not be used to exchange patient identifiable health information.

29No protected health information through ordinary features

Users must not send patient identifiable health information through directory, public referral board, profile, or ordinary communication features unless the Platform expressly identifies a feature as designed and authorized for that purpose.

The Platform is not intended to function as an electronic health record or a routine clinical communication system.

30Educational and compliance resources

The Platform provides educational articles, forms, templates, calculators, notices, and compliance tools.

These materials are general resources only.

They do not constitute:

• legal advice;
• medical advice;
• billing advice;
• regulatory advice; or
• individualized compliance advice.

Users remain responsible for determining which laws and rules apply to their own circumstances.

31Good Faith Estimate tool

The Platform provides a Good Faith Estimate generator. Use of that tool is governed by the separate Good Faith Estimate Tool Terms and Disclaimer.

The Company does not determine whether a Good Faith Estimate is legally required for a particular patient or service, and does not guarantee that a generated estimate satisfies all applicable legal requirements.

32Local browser processing

Where a tool is expressly identified as processing information locally in a user's browser, the Company does not receive or store information entered into that tool. The Good Faith Estimate generator is one of these.

Users remain responsible for the security of their own devices, browsers, extensions, networks, and environments.

33No attorney client or consulting relationship

The Platform may discuss healthcare regulation, privacy, billing, professional requirements, or other legal topics for informational purposes.

Use of such information does not create an:

• attorney client relationship;
• compliance consulting relationship;
• accountant client relationship; or
• other advisory relationship

with the Company.

34External links

The Platform may link to:

• professional websites;
• licensing boards;
• insurers;
• scheduling systems;
• government resources;
• maps;
• hospitals;
• professional organizations; or
• other third parties.

The Company does not control and is not responsible for external content, availability, privacy, security, or accuracy.

35Information may change

Healthcare law, licensure rules, insurance participation, professional availability, and regulatory requirements can change.

The Company may update information periodically but does not guarantee that every page or listing reflects the most recent information at all times.

36Use at your own judgment

Use of the Platform is voluntary.

Users should exercise their own judgment and obtain appropriate professional advice when making healthcare, referral, legal, insurance, or compliance decisions.

37The Terms of Use control

This Disclaimer supplements the Terms of Use.

The Terms of Use contain additional provisions concerning:

• warranties;
• liability;
• indemnification;
• intellectual property;
• acceptable use;
• disputes; and
• other matters.

If there is a conflict between this Disclaimer and the Terms of Use, the Terms of Use control unless expressly stated otherwise.

38Contact

Questions regarding this Disclaimer may be directed to:

Email: legal@handshakemd.com

shrinkMD Publishing LLC, a Florida limited liability company
Operator of HandshakeMD
General correspondence: by email. We do not publish a general mailing address, because the address below is our registered agent rather than an office, and post sent to it for anything other than formal legal notice may not reach us.
Registered agent for service of process in Florida: Northwest Registered Agent LLC, 7901 4th St N Ste 300, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
Every contact route in one place: Legal notices and contact information