What is virtual healthcare?
Virtual healthcare, sometimes referred to as telehealth, has been defined as “any interaction between patients and/or members of their circle of care, occurring remotely, using any forms of communication or information technologies, with the aim of facilitating or maximizing the quality and effectiveness of patient care”.
Because healthcare in Canada is a provincial/territorial responsibility, what’s available and what’s covered varies depending on where you live.
- Ontario
- Quebec
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
- Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nunavut
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
What services can virtual healthcare provide?
- Virtual appointments: Similar to an in-person visit, a doctor will work to understand your case and medical history, and determine appropriate treatment. If unable to help, they’ll advise an in-person visit to a clinic or hospital.
- Mental health support: Get access to psychologists, therapists and other mental health professionals for therapy sessions or mental health consultations.
- Specialist referrals: In some cases, virtual consultations can lead to referrals to specialists, who may also provide consultations remotely.
- Prescriptions: Doctors can prescribe medication during virtual appointments and send them electronically to your pharmacy.
- Remote monitoring: Remote patient monitoring lets health care providers electronically monitor patients in their home. This allows patients with chronic conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure or diabetes to actively manage their health. This monitoring helps them address issues before they become critical, avoid hospital stays and emergency room trips.
The limitations of virtual healthcare
- Accessibility – If you don’t have good internet access you might not be able to access virtual healthcare.
- Digital literacy – If you struggle with technology, you might find it more difficult to use virtual healthcare.
- Limits of technology – There’s only so much regarding a physical examination that can be done with virtual healthcare.
- Situational limits – Virtual healthcare may not be appropriate for emergencies or situations that require a hands-on examination or immediate intervention.
The benefits of virtual healthcare services
- Convenience – Most virtual healthcare services have extended hours, are available on evenings and weekends and allow you to avoid paying for parking. It also helps people who have limited access to transportation or are nervous with having to wait in a crowded waiting room.
- Accessibility – For people who don’t have a family doctor, it allows them to speak to a medical professional for their healthcare concerns. It can also be used by people in more remote areas who don’t live close to a clinic or hospital.
- Patient engagement – Because virtual healthcare provides easier access, it can help motivate patients to be more proactive with their health.
- Better monitoring – Virtual healthcare can help healthcare practitioners to keep a closer eye on patients and their overall health. Remote medical monitoring technology lets doctors get real-time updates about their health. Especially for those with chronic diseases, this can help make managing their conditions easier.
- Less stress on healthcare system – Virtual healthcare can help reduce the pressure on hospitals and clinics by offering an alternative for non-emergency situations.