Virtual Care from a Healthcare Provider
Getting the Most Out of Your Experience
Despite many conceptual advantages, combined with technologies that have been available for several decades, healthcare in Canada has been slow to include the use of virtual care, including telemedicine. The COVID-19 pandemic has, however, created unprecedented changes across numerous domains of life, including accelerating the broad implementation and use of virtual care.
Social distancing and isolation measures have created a need for complementary approaches in maintaining adequate medical care, and have been the basis for redefining the standard of healthcare provider and patient interaction. Despite the ability to sustain medical care in the face of these social constructs and the use of current information and communication technology to facilitate these activities, much is being learned about optimizing the approach to this redefined standard of interaction. As a patient, successfully embracing this mechanism of healthcare delivery and realizing the potential benefits afforded to you by this approach begins with preparation.
One important consideration in virtual care is that interacting via telecommunication technologies is less secure than a private, in-person appointment, and that there is a risk (however small) of your personal health information being exposed. However, there are several simple ways that you can reduce this risk. You should always consider the environment of your appointment carefully, with an appropriate setting being quiet and private. This can be challenging from home, but focusing on scheduling appointments at times when you are likely to be alone and in locations where others are not likely to interrupt you, such as a home office or basement, can help. Communication via a personal telephone or computer, rather than an employer or third-party device, over a secure network or internet connection is also important to mitigating risk.
The use of videoconferencing highlights the importance of being familiar with how to register and use the software in advance of the appointment. Many platforms offer simple interfaces and tools to ensure that your internet connectivity meets the required standards of the platform being used, which you should test prior to your appointment.
Make sure you have provided your healthcare provider with updated contact information (including preferred and alternate telephone numbers). Establish a back-up plan with your healthcare provider in the event of a video conference technical failure (for example, for them to contact you at your preferred telephone number for technical assistance, or to complete the appointment by telephone). Furthermore, if you are uncomfortable with the technology, having the assistance of a trusted friend or family member may be helpful. This may also be useful in the event of any identified communication barriers that may represent additional challenges to conveying information during the appointment.
You should also know all pertinent details of your medical history, have access to an updated list of medications, and ensure that you have contact information at hand for your preferred pharmacy and local outpatient laboratory (including telephone and fax numbers). Where feasible and safe, establish a short-term management plan for your health conditions with the supervision of your healthcare provider.
At the end of your appointment, you should confirm your understanding of details related to topics discussed, as well as any follow-up arrangements. Finally, should there be any serious concerns related to your health, you should discuss arrangements for being assessed physically (with adherence to appropriate infection control protocols) with your healthcare provider, or seek prompt medical attention at your local Emergency Department.
While virtual care is arising more from necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, it will serve a useful purpose well into the future.