Telehealth

The app is being used to support pharmacy COVID-19 testing and prepare for influenza vaccine season

Today the COVID swab result finally arrived for my patient . . . six days after it was sent. She has respiratory symptoms; I tested and sent in the sample on the same day she called, two days sooner than offered at her local Assessment Centre. A potentially sick person in the GTA area with result backlogged six days, never mind if you are rural, or in the midst of a second wave! From this I fear we are heading into autumn with limited lab capacity, overwhelmed testing facilities, along with an undefined test strategy, insecure PPE supply, and uncertain availability of either the flu or COVID vaccines for all who wants them.

Handwashing, disinfecting and distancing more important than PPE based on what's happening so far in Australia and New Zealand.

My troubled personal history with the telephone before and during the pandemic

The government of Alberta has given patients the ability to create their own secure messaging account to connect with healthcare providers. Brightsquid Secure-Mail has been integrated into the provincial MyHealth Records (MHR) portal. Patients registered for MHR can create their own Secure-Mail account to communicate virtually with community healthcare providers.

Adracare, a leading provider of telemedicine and practice management solutions based in Toronto, announced the launch of its self-serve platform, available to Canadian and U.S.-based clients immediately. With the Adracare self-serve platform now fully functional, healthcare professionals can sign-up and start running their virtual practice in under 90 seconds

In support of the ongoing fight against COVID-19 and as part of the province's plan to end hallway health care, the Ontario government is announcing five new Ontario Health Teams and is providing additional funding to better connect care. "Over the past several months, Ontario Health Teams have demonstrated remarkable responsiveness to the COVID-19 outbreak by simplifying the purchase of personal protective equipment, supporting the staffing of long-term care homes and assessment centers, and expanding virtual care options," said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, in a press release. "They've done so by breaking down long-standing barriers to better connect care, both in support of patients and our brave frontline heroes. (This) announcement of five new teams will build on this success as we continue to implement our plan to defeat COVID-19."