Virtual Care

Virtual care, sometimes referred to as telehealth, is important to primary care networks (PCNs) and patient medical home (PMH) initiatives. 

Virtual care enables physicians to provide care remotely through technologies that increase access to quality patient-centered care and lower disease transmission risk, while reducing waiting and commute times. 

Virtual Care Tool Subsidies

Zoom licenses available free of charge for community providers​. DTO, in partnership with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), is providing Zoom for Healthcare licenses to community providers (family physicians, nurse practitioners, and specialists). For further information: 

Virtual Care Physician and MOA Engagement 

Getting Patients Back to Practice – Navigating the New Norm. (May 7) A physician-led overview of the Getting Patients Back to Practice Guide, which provides tips on how to promote virtual care visit availability and best practices for virtual care exams and proactively connecting with at-risk patients.

Virtual Group Medical Visits (May 14) An overview of best practices for conducting group medical visits (GMV) and billing considerations. See Guide to Using ZOOM for Healthcare for Group Medical Visits and Team Meetings.

Quick start to virtual care for physicians. A physician-led overview of the DTO Virtual Care Quick Start Guide, followed by a remote patient treatment Q&A (March 19). 

•Video recording(link is external)

•Presentation slides (PDF)

Quick start to virtual care for MOAs. DTO hosted an MOA/physician-led webinar on April 2 to provide an overview of virtual visit workflows for MOAs. 

Virtual Care Learning Series. DTO’s Virtual Care Learning Series highlights the learnings of physicians and clinical staff who have implemented online tools for virtual care and patient communication. Resources include video tutorials and recorded webinars (available on the Doctors Technology Office YouTube channel(link is external)), quick start guides, and/or presentation slide decks.

DTO Virtual Care Support Network. The DTO and PSP are mobilizing a network of physicians and MOAs as well as the Practice Support Program (PSP) Regional Support Team members to provide clinics with virtual at-the-elbow coaching services to implement virtual care in their practice. 

For more information or to request one-on-one support from a PSP regional support team coach or peer mentor, please email DTOinfo@doctorsofbc.ca(link sends e-mail).

DTO Virtual Care Resources

The resources below provide tools, education, and knowledge that community physicians need to support implementation of virtual care solutions. 

DTO - Virtual Care Quick Start Guide (PDF) An overview of the foundational processes, tools, and templates that a clinic should have to implement virtual care. 
DTO- Virtual Care Toolkit (PDF) A more comprehensive overview of virtual care with templates and tools to help clinics navigate patient consent, billing, and communicating.
Guide to e-faxing when working remotely (PDF) An overview of workflows and tools for physicians and MOAs who need to fax documents from outside the clinic.
Getting Patients Back to Practice Guide An overview on how to build practices back up to full capacity using a blended virtual/in-clinic model, how to promote virtual care visit availability and how to connect with & prioritize at-risk patients.
Virtual care FAQ for physicians and MOAs FAQ about virtual care, working from home, obtaining consent, and preparing patients for virtual visits. Document will be updated as new information becomes available. Contact DTOinfo@doctorsofbc.ca(link sends e-mail) to request updates or changes. 
Virtual Care for Patients – FAQ & Troubleshooting Tips Information to help patients prepare for virtual care visits. Designed for clinics to share with their patients as a resource guide. For an editable copy or to request changes, email DTOinfo@doctorsofbc.ca(link sends e-mail)
Patient notification poster for clinics transitioning to virtual care Editable/printable poster (MS Word) for clinics to notify patients that they are providing some of their care and visits virtually, either over the phone or through video. There is room for the clinic to fill out their email, phone number, and clinic name. This can be posted on the clinic entrance and/or in the waiting area; it can also be added to clinic websites.

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