Terms Of Use

Consent for Service, Limits and Terms of Use Agreement 

Anyone registering, paying, and choosing to use New Directions Assessments agrees to the following Consent for Service, Limits and Terms of Use: 

Company Name / Client Reference Hereafter 

New Directions Assessments, LLC, is hereafter referred to as "NDassessments" or “NDASSESSMENTS”. NDassessments is a Limited Liability Corporation, established in the state of Ohio. The term “NDassessments" refers to the corporate entity, New Directions Assessments, LLC, as well as its website (NDassessments.com), directors, officers, agents, employees, successors and assigns. Hereafter, registered users of the NDassessments.com website shall be referred to as "you/your", "client" or "the client". 

Adults/Minors Requesting Service 

You agree that you are 18 years old or older, and if you are not, you will have a parent or guardian establish the registration, payment and Consent for Service and Terms of Use Agreement on your behalf. However, minors using our service to obtain an assessment, agree to complete the online questionnaire portion of the assessment without the assistance of parent, guardian or any other third parties.  

Solo Participation & False Identity 

You agree to answer questions and questionnaires without the presence or assistance of any third party and agree not to have any third-party present at an in-person, telephone or video/webcam interview without first making a direct request to NDASSESSMENTS and stating the reason that you wish for a third party to be present. NDASSESSMENTS has the right to deny any such requests if they deem them inappropriate for any reason. You explicitly agree to not have another party stand in as your representative or falsely present themselves in an interview using your identity. 

Online Service Limitations 

NDASSESSMENTS provides in-person as well as online services. You understand that use of online services may not be an appropriate form of care for persons in an emotional or mental health crisis. We reserve the right to assess your situation and decline to offer you services if we believe it is not in your best interests to do so. If we are working with you and a mental health crisis develops we will refer you to your local emergency services and mental health providers where you can be seen in-person. Any fees paid to NDASSESSMENTS prior to a mental health crisis will qualify for consideration of a partial or full refund, at the discretion of the NDASSESSMENTS Director, and depending on the amount of services rendered before a referral to a local agency is made. 

Consent for Treatment 

You understand and consent to treatment for professional services from NDASSESSMENTS. NDASSESSMENTS services are provided by certified and/or licensed mental health practitioners and as such may render a mental health diagnosis where appropriate and indicate such diagnoses in your written records. You also consent to the release of information for therapeutic, billing, supervision and other purposes in connection with your treatment, between and among NDASSESSMENTS therapists, staff and service contractors who perform supervisory work on behalf of NDASSESSMENTS. You understand that for a more detailed description of how your (or your child’s) health information may be released and used is contained in the current Notice of Privacy Practices. This is available in brochure form in the physical office of New Directions Substance and Behavioral Services as well as on the NDassessments.com website. 

General Information Security Practices 

NDASSESSMENTS recognizes the absolute importance of keeping client records private and confidential. This section of the Agreement includes our general security practices to keep your information private: 

  • all records are stored on SSL encrypted servers  

  • account passwords are set to health industry standards to include appropriate length and sufficient variation in characters to minimize chances of access by any third party 

  • sessions conducted via webcam/video are not recorded by NDASSESSMENTS 

  • NDASSESSMENTS does not sell your email or other personal contact information to any parties 

  • Occasionally for training and supervision purposes we may request that you allow an audio recording of your clinical interview. You are free to decline such requests and any recordings agreed to will be destroyed within 30 days of the recording 

Limits to Confidentiality and Privacy 

Privacy and confidentiality are not only important to have a trusted exchange of client/ clinician information. NDASSESSMENTS complies with federal confidentiality guidelines under Federal Confidentiality regulations (42 CFR Part 2. This protection of confidentiality also specifically (42/Part 2) protects the records of mental health, alcohol and drug abuse patients, including the prohibition of re-disclosure of information from client/patient records. A general authorization for the release of medical or other information is not sufficient for this purpose.   

Furthermore, in compliance with the aforementioned federal laws, NDASSESSMENTS has the obligation to limit client/customer confidentiality and report specific information in the following circumstances: 

  • NDASSESSMENTS is mandated to report suspected or known abuse of children and vulnerable adults to local law enforcement and/or local child/adult protective agencies. 

  • NDASSESSMENTS is mandated to report specific information to local law enforcement in situations where a client is at significant risk for taking their own life or the life (or lives) of another (others). NDASSESSMENTS will make a concerted effort to assist clients in accessing appropriate professional care in such circumstances. 

  • NDASSESSMENTS is obligated to release your records for legal proceedings if ordered by a court to do so. 

NDASSESSMENTS uses security encrypted (SSL) transmission for all professional assessment and counseling services completed online. If you choose a webcam/video/telephone service, including uploading, downloading, or faxing personal information to or from NDASSESSMENTS, you should be aware that risk of interception of your information, though unlikely, is a possibility.  NDASSESSMENTS client records are stored on encrypted secure servers or in secure facilities where access is limited to the professional evaluator assigned to the client and their clinical supervisors. Identifying names are not used by the evaluator if discussing client circumstances with a professional supervisor. 

There is also no express or implied warranty for any client losses, damage or harm occurring from the use of electronic services, which would include: unauthorized data interception or data/records theft by a third party, unintended utility charges by a third party, computer/electronic viruses, accidental deletion of data or records, or any other claim of harm arising from your choice to engage NDASSESSMENTS services using electronic means (telephone, fax, internet, wireless, email, video/webcam or any other electronic delivery services that might be used in the future). 

Use of Email  
Unless you specifically request that your NDASSESSMENTS assessment report or other private information be sent via mail you consent to the following: 

  • To receive your report by email with an understanding that use of email does involve security risks and that NDASSESSMENTS and its associates are not liable or responsible for breeches in your privacy which may happen for any number of reasons. 

  • That you agree to specifically make request in writing (email is acceptable) if you do not wish for your report or other private information to be sent by us in an email 

Responsibility for Transfer of Your Records to Requesting Parties 

You understand that NDASSESSMENTS will email a copy of your assessment report to the address you provide at registration. As noted elsewhere in this document you are responsible to review the document in its entirety before releasing it to any person or company. You may provide the official document to any requesting party at any time (e.g.  court, probation officer, attorney, employer, etc.) If you would like us to send your document or report you will be required to complete a Release of Information found in your account dashboard under the “Send My Assessment” tab or you can elect to fill this information out upon completion of your questionnaire on the NDASSESSMENTS website.  

Delivery Timeframes 

Standard report deliveries are within 5 business days of the time of your clinical interview.  The report will be delivered to your account by the end of the appropriate business day (5pm) in your time zone.  Your account with us will include a time stamp showing the date and time your report is posted.  

Rush Order timeframes are defined as follows:  
Same business day delivery –  by 5pm in your time zone on the day of your clinical interview. If ordering an assessment near the end of the business day you may be required to pay a same-day rush order fee in order to have the report ready by a morning deadline of 8am or 9am. 
 
Next business day delivery –  by 5pm in your time zone on the next business day after your clinical interview 
 
Two to three business day delivery – by 5pm in your time zone on the third business day after your clinical interview 

Saturday, Sunday, evenings and holidays are not considered business days and services rendered during such times may be quoted with additional convenience fees determined at the time you contact us for an assessment. 
 
Note:  if you need your rushed report earlier than 5pm on the due date please let us know by phone and document this agreement for your records by email exchange with our administrative staff or your evaluator.  

Financial Responsibility & Fees 

You understand that payment for service is due before receiving services from NDASSESSMENTS. Additionally, you understand that NDASSESSMENTS has no contractual obligation with your insurance company or yourself that would guarantee reimbursement for expenses you incur for any and all services provided by NDASSESSMENTS. 

You also understand that fees for services are posted on our website except in certain cases where fees are dependent on time demands of your case (e.g. in depth assessments for child custody, FAA assessments, ILC evaluations, some license reinstatement assessments, or other services which are determined and mutually agreed upon at the time of the service request). 

Drug Testing Terms 

You understand that substance use or drug and/or alcohol evaluations may include chemical tests on a case-by-case basis. In the event you are not present in our office at the time of your assessment, you may be asked to obtain an independent chemical test (e.g. urine drug screen, hair test sample, etc.) from a professional lab (or a bonafide urgent care facility) to present with your final assessment report. Chemical test fees are not included in the cost of your NDASSESSMENTS assessment and are the sole responsibility of the client.  

Client Cancellation Policy and Broken Appointment Fees 

You understand and agree that a fee will be charged to your account if you cancel your interview or appointment with less than 24 hours’ notice. You also understand and agree that NDASSESSMENTS reserves the right to cancel your service and refund your payments minus any broken appointment fees if you cancel 2 or more scheduled interview or appointment times with less than 24 hours’ notice. Broken appointment fees are $50.00 per appointment and are charged to partially offset the loss of revenue which occurs when a time has been reserved for a client but which can no longer be booked due to the short notice in cancellation.  

Client Will Accurately Report Information 

As a client, you agree to provide accurate information about yourself and the circumstances surrounding your need for an evaluation or counseling to the best of your ability. This includes an agreement to not omit information relevant to your situation or present inaccurate information. If inaccurate information is provided or important information is purposely omitted, you will not be eligible for a refund if your assessment is not accepted. 

NDASSESSMENTS is not a Government Entity 

You understand that NDASSESSMENTS is not a state or federal organization. While our assessments and clinical reports are generally accepted by other professionals and government agencies you also understand that any clinical conclusions, diagnoses or professional recommendations provided by NDASSESSMENTS may or may not be accepted or approved by courts, state or federal agencies. Furthermore, courts, state and federal agencies are not bound to agree with our assessments or clinical recommendations. 

Refund Terms & Limitations 

You understand and agree with our conditions and limits to grant a refund. Refunds are only given in circumstances where the requesting party (court, physician, probation department, etc.) will not accept the assessment we provided and the following procedures are followed: 

  • All refund requests must be initiated through your NDassessments.com account by clicking on “my transactions” and “refund requests” in your account dashboard 

  • All refund requests must be applied for within 30 days of your assessment interview. 

  • NDASSESSMENTS will first attempt to contact any third party that does not accept your assessment to see if there is some additional information needed in order to gain acceptance of your report or service. In this circumstance you will need to first sign and return (fax or scan/email) a release of information form to allow your evaluator to speak with the third party. 

  • If we cannot make contact with the requesting party, you must provide written proof that your evaluation was not accepted by the requesting party. The document stating your assessment was not accepted must be on the letterhead of the requesting party and have an address, phone number and contact name included on it. 

  • Refunds are not granted in situations where:  

  • client omitted key information or; 

  • client provided inaccurate information or; 

  • client missed an assessment completion deadline because: 
    a) NDASSESSMENTS was not informed of the due date, 
    b) client did not meet with the evaluator at the originally scheduled time, 
    c) client did not provide NDASSESSMENTS evaluator with necessary  
        documents requested by evaluator or required to be reviewed by the  
        authority requesting the assessment 
    d) client had their report on time but did not submit it on time or  
         show up to their hearing on time 

  • client’s assessment was approved initially approved in the original context but not acceptable in another context (Note for example: assessments for court are not guaranteed to be accepted by State Licensing or Motor Vehicle agencies and vice-versa) 

  • client used our service without following guidelines given by the authority in regards to assessment type or evaluator credentials (e.g. – client was directed to get an evaluation from a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist or client was advised to get a specific type of assessment but chose to use an NDASSESSMENTS assessment which was not equivalent or acceptable 

  • client purchased a rush order and report was completed within the  timeframe that was ordered (evaluation fee and rush fee are both non-refundable)   

  • all assessments used in context of child custody proceedings are non-refundable (due to the contentious nature of child custody proceedings) 

  • all assessments used to apply for a license reinstatement are non-refundable 

  • all assessments related to safety-sensitive employment are non-refundable services (e.g. aviation/FAA substance abuse evaluations, DOT evaluations, nursing or other medical boards) 

  • we do not refund assessments in situations where you might obtain a new assessment before we have been given the opportunity to seek approval of the assessment we provided 

  • If a portion of your fee was for a rush order, the portion above and beyond the standard fee is NOT eligible for a refund. 

  • If a refund is granted according to our terms and conditions, it will be processed within 15-30 days of the decision date. 

  • If you have obtained a new assessment NDASSESSMENTS is not responsible for fees for your new assessment. Getting a new assessment or second opinion is not a valid reason to request a refund from NDASSESSMENTS. 

  • If your appeal for a refund involves a claim that another assessment was immediately required you agree to submit copies of any such subsequent assessment(s) for consideration of your case.  

Limits of Electronic Connections and Liability 

You understand that there is a chance that internet or phone connection could be lost during your services. In the event your connection is lost, the counselor will attempt to contact you at the number you provided in your registration. If you have not heard from your counselor within five minutes, you agree to call our main number to reestablish connection and plan for continuance of your service. You also agree to hold NDASSESSMENTS harmless with regard to any and all claims of damage from an electronic disconnection during services (also referred to in the Hold Harmless section of this agreement). 

Limited Use of Assessments 

You understand and agree that professional assessments prepared for one authority (e.g. a court, a licensing agency, a child services agency, etc.) may not be accepted by another authority.  For example, a state licensing agency may require a different reporting format, provider credentials, etc. than a court, therefore making a court assessment unacceptable to their agency. Accordingly, you agree to accurately represent to NDassessments.com what authority is requesting your assessment. (see refund terms and conditions) Furthermore you understand and agree that each requesting authority has their own acceptable timeframe to consider an assessment as valid. NDASSESSMENTS cannot be held responsible for your submission of an assessment to an authority after what the requesting authority considers a reasonable timeframe.  

Respect of Copyrights 

All assessment, evaluation, educational and other material made available on our website and provided in our offices is copyrighted. You may use our materials for the purpose of an NDASSESSMENTS assessment, counseling or education services only. You agree not to use any aforementioned NDASSESSMENTS materials in any other manner, including copying, reproducing, scanning, distributing, publishing, selling or otherwise conducting commercial activity with NDASSESSMENTS materials. Efforts to engage in such activity are punishable by state and federal laws. 

No Guarantees of Clinical Outcome 

You agree that you are using NDASSESSMENTS services at your own risk and without guarantee of any specific clinical diagnosis or treatment recommendations (education, counseling or other treatment services); that there is no warranty for our services; that third parties are not bound by any contracts or laws to accept or agree with our assessment, evaluation or other clinical conclusions.  

Complaints 

To file a complaint with us, contact the Director of the practice at: 
New Directions Assessments 
1480 Manning Pkwy B  
Powell, Ohio 43065 
800-671-8589 
You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint. 

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Disputes and Jurisdiction 

Any dispute arising from this Consent for Treatment and Terms of Use Agreement shall be governed by the laws and jurisdiction of the State of Ohio. 

Notice of Changes 

NDASSESSMENTS may notify clients of changes or additions to its services by publishing such notice on the NDASSESSMENTS website. Clients may give notice to NDASSESSMENTS at any time by any of the following: 
Email: info@NDassessments.com 
Fax: 614-888-3239 
U.S. Mail: NDASSESSMENTS 1480 Manning Pkwy B Powell, OH 43065 

Modifications / Entire Agreement 

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you, the client, and NDASSESSMENTS. The content represented herein supersedes all previous written or verbal terms of use agreements. NDASSESSMENTS may amend, modify, clarify, or remove any part of this agreement with notice through the NDassessments.com website. Any use of NDASSESSMENTS services by you after any amendments, modifications, clarifications, or deletions shall be deemed to constitute acceptance by you of the updated terms of the agreement. You understand that if a court deems any part of this agreement to be illegal or a violation of Ohio statutes, the remaining parts of the agreement shall be considered valid and enforceable until proven otherwise in an Ohio court of law. 

By signing in person or clicking on the "agree" button below this Consent for Service, this Limits and Terms of Use Agreement shall be construed and controlled by the applicable laws of the state of Ohio and the United States of America. 

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